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Drink water
Its essential for most functions in the body, primarily getting oxygen to the cells. It’s crucial to remove toxins as your body detoxifies all the time. Water is essential for elimination of waste and if this is not efficient it adds to ‘body burden’ This is the toxic load on your body. Your gut and liver have to work harder and immunity is lowered. Water also cleanses the body and enables moisture for our eyes and mouth. This prevents infection from gaining access.
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Eat a rainbow
A broad colour palette of foods increases variety and will ensure you have the essential nutrients. Embracing this also helps the diversity of gut bacteria that are necessary for the immune system. Different coloured foods possess different phyto chemicals natural chemicals that protect against harmful substances called free radicals this is associated with lower levels of inflammation that affects the immune system.
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Exercise and Vitamin D!
You might be familiar with the benefits of feel good brain chemicals secreted while exercising. As long as not too strenuous they may also help build immunity. The temperature rise may help the body fight infection better. It may also flush out bacteria from airways and it speed up circulation of antibodies the immune cells that detect illness. Exercising outdoors will enable your body to make vitamin D when exposed to the su. Many of us are low especially at this time of year. Low levels have been linked to low immunity and auto immunity. The sun isn’t high enough to give us enough in the winter so supplementing can be beneficial. More on Vitamin D later!
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Prebiotic Foods
Prebiotic foods can be better than probiotic supplements as they help the good bacteria get established! Foods like sweet potato, garlic, onions, asparagus, bananas contain certain carbohydrates that help the beneficial bacteria in our guts thrive! We need this balance as 70% of our immune system is in our gut! Fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut are also fabulous. Probiotics have a place in helping introduce friendly bacteria and dislodging ‘bad’ ones!
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Relaxation
Stress causes release of stress hormones that impact on immunity by affecting our gut and blood sugar balance. Make time to relax as we often work longer hours at home away from normal routine! We also aren’t going anywhere so make sure you plan some down time reading, a bath, online social meet ups, The hormone oxytocin is known as the “love hormone,” although simplistic as this hormone has many functions and it plays a significant role in social interactions and bonding because it is released when people snuggle up or bond socially. This is an important aspect of resilience during Lock Down.
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Call me for more information on consultations, health reboot sessions or testing or vitamin supplement queries happy to help Marjorie 07884024380