At the beginning of November I talked about what to do when you’re sick in order to heal well. Today, we’ll take a look at the immune system with a view toward promoting a healthy system for life.
We either receive and thrive from what we put in our bodies or wrestle against the ill-effects of certain foods and medications. Our bodies are comprised of approximately 37 trillion cells, yes 37 trillion!! They are the building blocks of our bodies and determine health outcomes, such as whether we develop acne, hardening of the arteries, metabolic functioning, immune strength, cancer growth, and energy levels to name just a few.
What we put in our bodies affects the way these cells function. Envision a brand new beautiful car. Fuel this car with low-grade gas, used oil, and don’t pay too much attention to those warning lights that eventually come on. This car may run well for awhile, but eventually all the systems will be affected by the poor quality fuel and lack of attention to care. Take that same brand new beautiful car and from day one use only premium fuel, high-quality oil, and be sure to have it serviced in regular intervals. Do you think the outcome will be different? You bet! Sure, the car will still get some scratches from a shopping cart and maybe a flat tire from time to time, but overall the systems of the car are working better, longer.
We can think of our bodies in a similar fashion. What we fuel our cells with will affect how all the systems of our bodies function. If we are constantly consuming foods that are low in nutrients we shouldn’t be surprised when we struggle with various health issues.
This directly correlates with the strength of our immune system. In order to function well our immune system must be able to detect a wide variety of pathogens (foreign invaders like viruses, certain harmful bacteria, and parasites) from healthy tissue and then attack that which will lead to illness. How efficiently and effectively our body is able to do this is dependent on a few major factors, including what we are fueling our bodies with at the cellular level.
- Say “hello” to nutrient-rich foods – And “good-bye” to packaged and processed foods. There’s no way around it. A well-functioning immune system requires ample phytonutrients (compounds found in plants) to function at its prime. This means a diet filled with foods that supply your body with these powerful nutrients. Foods with the greatest amount of phytonutrients include the following: vegetables (especially dark leafy greens), fruits, beans, nuts, and seeds. Going on and off different diet plans will not serve you well if long-term health is your goal, but maintaining a consistent nutrient-rich diet as a lifestyle is key.
- Keep it simple. – Dr. Fuhrman uses G-BOMBS as an acronym to help us remember the six most nutrient-rich foods that fuel a well-functioning immune system. Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, and Seeds are the most health-promoting foods on the planet. Find ways to incorporate them into your day and allow these foods to crowd out your previous choices. Enjoy a large salad with greens, black beans, red onion, sautéed mushrooms, salsa and avocado. Add berries and flaxseed to your morning oatmeal. That sure was simple!
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- It won’t happen overnight. – I have many individuals tell me they made attempts at more healthful eating for a week or maybe a month but it “just didn’t work.” Your immune system didn’t get in a funk from one week or one month of poor eating and lifestyle habits, so it won’t be strengthened and flourishing in such a short time either. Rarely do good things in life come quickly or easily. Likely you didn’t become proficient in your current profession in one month, nor did you feel comfortable in your role as a parent that quickly, certainly you didn’t become a stellar spouse overnight, or grow your 401K within a month either. It takes time. Be patient and keep the goal in focus. By eating more nutrient-rich foods now you may not avoid every illness this winter, but after a year you’ll likely be noticing a difference next year. What about five winters from now?! Wow!
You may find that making these changes and keeping your eyes on the long-term goal is easier with support. Grab a friend or family member to embark on this journey with you or allow me to guide you for a time through a one-on-one counseling session in-person, by phone, or FaceTime.
Here’s to looking forward to a better functioning immune system in the year to come!