Day 19-Surviving Winter-Tips~Have a Good Laugh~

Do you know that laughing is a mighty immune booster ?

What a simple and delicious way to add protection to our health.

If you don't have someone around who is good at bringing a laugh to the table....then
keep a joke book with-in reach and read something from it everyday.

My grandson and I make a game of taking very proper words and turning them into silly ones, then making a sentence using the silly words.

Try it...it will bring a smile.

PS: The Winter Wheat is planted, the seeds for the spring gardens are ordered, and the new beds all laid out ready for action.

I can sip my tea and enjoy the wonderful down time of winter bliss.

Happy Sunday all~

Bea Kunz

Day 17 & 18-Surviving Winter-Tips~

Antioxidant compounds that help protect against viruses are a must...especially during the winter months when our immune system is subject to more frequent attacks.

Adding broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kale to our daily diet will give us a hefty dose of these isothiocyanates.

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Getting the proper amounts of Vitamin C is another requirement.

Red, green, and yellow Bell peppers are the richest sources of immune-boosting vitamin C; other good sources are: strawberries, peaches, papaya, apricots and broccoli. ( that stuff again ) while vitamin C alone may not prevent colds. high doses ( 5g a day ) will certainly shorten the duration and the severity.

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Remember too that Sage Hill Farms has a variety of specially blended herbs and spices to add flavor and add even more cold/flu fighting warriors to your diet~

Take special care and stay well~

Bea Kunz

Day 15 & 16-Surviving Winter~Tips~

A Potent Brew For The Common Cold~

Traditional Chinese medicine recognizes several different types of colds and uses different herbs to treat each one.

When we treat a cold we are treating only the symptoms, so it makes sense to use products that put only good ingredients into our system and not negatives that only end up weakening our immune system even more.

For a strong medicinal strength tea that will be as comforting and offer a quicker recovery period try brewing chrysanthemum and peppermint leaves into a tea; strain, sweeten with honey and sip two or more cups per day.
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Another must to have and especially during the winter months is plenty of sleep-and, there is a documented truth to back this up...during deep sleep our bodies release powerful immune-enhancing compounds.

Ensure sounder sleep by going to bed at the same time every night, keeping the bedroom dark and free of activity that stimulates at least an hour before sleep time: such as...TV, serious discussions, and reading that doesn't relax the mind.
Eating or drinking close to sleep time is not a good idea either, especially anything with caffeine.

Sleep well and stay healthy~

Bea Kunz

Day 14-Surviving Winter-Tips~

Any form of exercise is a good thing...use it or lose it has never been more real than with our bodies.

Yoga positions are especially beneficial in building and maintaining a strong immune system.

The cobra, fish, bow and the pigeon stimulate the thymus system. the locus of the immune system; breath of fire helps the respiratory tract; and camel relives congestion.

If you are not at ease with these postures, check with a reputable yoga instructor and ask for help.

Walk, stretch, use stairs instead of the elevator, ride a bike at every choice, all these things add up to a healthier body, mind, and spirit.

Go for an active New Year~

Bea Kunz

Day 13~Surviving Winter-Tips~

A little magic can always be appreciated.

So...put Mushrooms in your diet. These delicious goodies support the thymus gland's production of immune cells., strengthening resistance to infection.

Shiitake, reishi, and maitake are the best, but eating any mushroom-even button, cremini, or portobello-will help.

**Not too far from us is a guy who teaches classes on how to grow mushrooms on logs.
I plan to look into this and hopefully can attend his classes soon.**

Anyone ever grown mushrooms ? Do share~

Make it a JOYFUL January~

Bea Kunz

Day 12-Surviving Winter-Tips

Don't forget the benefits of Zinc: Oysters, crab, beef and beans are all high in this immune-boosting mineral.

Having a Zinc deficiency can impair white blood cell activity and weaken defences.

If you don't get the proper amount of the foods listed above then my all means take a supplement; look for the gluconate form, which is thought to be the most effective.
And, don't over-do it; the upper limit for adults is 40 mg, and high doses can interfere with iron and copper absorption.

Have a wonderful New Year week.

Bea Kunz

http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com

Day 11~Surviving the Winter Tips

The Chicken Soup Cure

The old wives' tale cure has scientific proof; some studies have shown that chicken soup contains a number of substances with anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Spice up your soup with garlic, cayenne, and turmeric; all have immune-enhancing properties.

Now...for the real magic in your soup try to buy organic chicken that has no growth hormones added.

Stew the whole chicken with bone in...the good stuff is in the bone marrow.
This I learned from my great-grandmother...we wouldn't be without good chicken soup at least once a week.

To your best health in 2010~

Bea Kunz