Simple Steps for Family Health
When the media starts talking about the cold and flu season, where do your thoughts go? Are you checking your medicine cabinet for an array of over-the-counter medications? Are you on the phone with your primary care physician or the local drug store getting ready for a flu shot or one of the new ‘boosters’ only approved for “Emergency Use”? Did you know that a virus cell is so tiny you can put 10,000 of them on the head of a pin? What are you really blocking with that face mask?
What if I told you that with a few simple steps and an overall change of mind, you could avoid all of the above? Would you believe me? It’s true.
One of the best lessons you can share with family members is the effect one’s thoughts have on their health. I have seen and I really believe that what we give our energy and our focus too becomes prominent in our lives. Do you choose to believe that you are healthy, and your body has the ability to restore or maintain that health? Or, do you believe that ‘everyone gets sick’ and, eventually, you will too? If you believe in health, there are a few things that you do at home to support a healthy home life. Despite the current shape of the world around you.
Over the last fifty years, our environment has become toxic, our air and oceans are polluted, and our soil has become lifeless. The resulting food supply has been altered to be full of processed sugars, chemically processed/laden components, genetically modified ingredients (GMO) and artificial flavors and colors. All this has resulted in our children being nutritionally deprived with rates of cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes skyrocketing. So what’s a parent to do? Here are a few easy steps you can take to support those positive, healthy thoughts.
1. Eat fresh, healthy food – as often as possible. Visit your local farmer’s market when you can. Do your best to avoid artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavorings. Steer clear of genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, both whole and manufactured substances that contain soy (91%), corn (85%), canola (rape seed), sugar beets, alfalfa, and milk with rBGH. Papaya grown in Hawaii has been genetically modified too.
2. Buy organic when you can. Even products like honey could potentially come from GMO crops or pesticide laden flowers depending on where the bees are allowed to gather their pollen. Read the labels of the foods you buy. Some rice has been modified to add Vitamin A, some sugar cane has been made more disease resistant, and some tomatoes have been modified for a longer shelf life. Potatoes (Atlantic, Russet Burbank, Russet Norkatah, and Shepody) used for chips, along with snack and processed foods containing potatoes, cotton and cotton seed oils. Most vegetable oils contain one or more genetically modified ingredients, and even the vitamins we take may be made from genetically modified ingredients. This includes: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which is made from corn, vitamin E, which is usually made from soy, vitamins A, B2, B6, and B12 are often derived from GMOs. Vitamin D and vitamin K may use carriers derived from GM corn sources, such as starch, glucose, and maltodextrin, to improve their delivery process. Consider replacing the chemically prepared supplements with whole food/herb supplements. Instead of that multi-vitamin you are taking, substitute it with Spirulina or Chlorella. Both are blue-green algae products that are naturally high in protein, vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6, B-12, manganese, and zinc – and that just the beginning – in addition, they’re even safe for the kids.
3. Don’t buy anything that has more than seven (7) ingredients in it – and make sure you know what every ingredient is. Yes, shopping is going to take a bit longer than usual – at least until you get to know the food you are eating on a more personal basis. You might start by using a meal planner several free options are available on-line.
4. Drink water. Wow – that sounds easy. The problem arises when we ingest the chemical-laden “water” that comes out of our kitchen faucets. If you are concerned with the environment and don’t want to add to the plastic in the landfills, invest a little in a filter that will fit on your faucet. They can be purchased for around $25. I’ve had a Purr filter on my kitchen faucet for better than 20 years. Start your day off by drinking at least 16 ounces of water before breakfast or, if you can, up that amount to 32 ounces. Consider adding a slice of fresh lemon to your morning water. Lemon actually alkalizes in your body, helping to balance the blood’s pH levels.
5. Be aware of the ingredients in the products you use on your body. The skin is the biggest organ we have. Everything you put on your skin is absorbed into your blood stream. That means the soaps, creams, shampoos, conditioners, and even the water we shower or bathe in can potentially add toxins to our body. Consider adding a filter to your overhead shower. They cost about the same as the filter for your kitchen faucet but are just as important.
Treat the organs inside your body with respect. This includes your liver. The liver acts as your body’s filter, removing toxins and foreign materials from the blood. That takes into account all those chemicals that are being absorbed into your body through your skin. When your liver is working properly, it controls the amount of fats and cholesterol circulating in the body. It converts plasma proteins into amino acids and acts as a storehouse for vitamins and iron. But, if you aren’t eating foods that are high in vitamins and minerals, your liver may be out of balance. When it is overloaded with chemical additives and toxins, it is unable to fully clear these things from the blood. As a result, we get sick. We also get sick when our immune system becomes compromised. This may be from the foods we eat, the amount of antibiotics we take, or the use of other types of pharmaceuticals used to treat other types of illnesses.
It is possible to rebuild your immune system by eating high quality foods, including organic, whole milk yogurt and mushrooms, especially chaga, reishi, and shiitake. The constituents in mushrooms offer antiviral and antimicrobial benefits. They have been shown to stop and even reverse the growth of harmful bacteria and viruses. Mushrooms also offer anti-inflammatory actions that can reduce the respiratory inflammation seen in individuals with asthma, autoimmune disorders, and even allergies. I used to take mushrooms and chop them up real small then mix them into our meals. As long as my children were unable to see them, they would eat them.
If you have underlying health issues, talk to your medical professional before making any major changes in your diet or lifestyle, especially when it comes to adding supplements. If your medical professional is unsure on how to support you in your desire to focus on a healthy lifestyle vs treating illness, find one who will. Unbelievably, less than 25% of medical schools include nutrition as part of the curriculum for new doctors, and those that do typically include one semester of classes.
If you try all these things and you still get sick, and it does happen, remember a few things to support your path back to wellness. First, avoid over the counter (OTC) medications unless you absolutely have to take something to get through the day. Stay home, if at all possible. If you are running a fever, keep your head and feet uncovered. The body eliminates excess heat through those areas. You are running a fever because your body is working to ‘burn off’ the virus or bacteria that has made you sick. If you take an OTC fever reducer, your body will be unable to do its job and the bacteria or virus may remain alive and active in your body. Finally, keep your thoughts positive, relax, meditate, and pay attention to the messages your body is sending.
Feel free to answer any of the above questions, or pose new ones, in the comments section below or email me, at mary@marymernsberger.com, for a more personal response. Check out my website at http://www.marymernsberger.com. I look forward to continuing this conversation.
