Eat a rainbow – if you do find yourself with a little extra time, learn to put some recipes together that feature real food – lots of colours are good! Colourful veg especially means that you are getting a good range of nutrients in the diet. In addition, I take a bit of Magnesium (calming) a bit of Vitamin C, a multi which includes zinc, and krill oil (omega 3).
Look after your gut! Who knew? 70% of your immunity lies in your gut – your microbes are mighty when it comes to protecting your health. Could you consider making your own fermented cabbage (yikes!) or other fermented items? Some recipes are here and here.
Balance Your Blood Sugar – this means keeping a key hormone stable (insulin). Insulin keeps your blood sugar stable (energy) and plays a part in the inflammatory cascade. It is thought that inflammation is the beginning of all degenerative disease. Avoid food that is: Sweet, Fluffy and/or White (white bread). Eat real food. The first meal of the day should be the one that counts, anyone for turmeric scrambled eggs and mackerel, with chives?
Movement – You don’t have to be training for a marathon, in fact very intensive training could actually compromise your immunity by spiking a stress hormone called cortisol (cortisol depresses the immune system).
Qi Gong is similar to a Chinese martial art, but is known as a healing art. It is very powerful – it doesn’t look much – but boy, you just have to do one Qi Gong move and you are IN CONTROL like nothing else. In China it is evidenced and studied in hundreds of academic papers. Here is my favourite (remember this is very subtle so at first you think – What AM I actually doing?…)
I also love Yoga By Adrien – at the moment I am on day 5 of HOME – join me!
By Kate Cook, Founder, Director at The Nutrition Coach.
