Dr. Oz’s 13 Natural Immunity Boosters
Dr. Oz always has his thinking cap on. So glad he’s around to remind us of really simple (and some fascinating) ways to boost our immunity when everyone is dropping like flies from the flu! Thanks, Dr. Oz. You make us like being healthy.
Click on this link to see Dr. Oz’s post: http://www.doctoroz.com/slideshow/boost-your-immunity-naturally
#1 Interesting … “Larch” is not something I’ve ever heard of, but this is classic Dr. Oz. He’s not just repeating the same old stuff – he’s doing the work to dig up amazing and different things for us to try out. Remember when he was the first to tell us about resveratrol, the good-for-you stuff in red wine?
#2 – Oregano oil – is easy to find in the natural foods/supplements section of your grocery store/neighborhood co-op. I’ve used this in the past as recommended by my friend Charlotte the Amazing Acupuncturist, and have to say, it really seemed to do the trick!
#3 and #4 – Just hit the farmer’s market this weekend and pick up fresh veggies. The Barton Creek Farmer’s Market here in Austin has tons of amazing farmers bringing the goods into town, although you can find the cruciferous vegetables everywhere – they’re in season! Roasted cauliflower is on this household’s list for the next few weeks for sure. Organic is best, as pesticides and other chemicals can’t possibly be good for the immune system, whether you’re fighting viruses or not.
#5 – Avocados are out of season and tend to be more watery-tasting in the winter, but you can still find some in the larger stores. Mexico often still grows them into winter, but look for organic if you can.
#6 Ginger! Spicy, tangy, even kind of sparkly in the mouth. Favorite winter recipe: simmer cut-up ginger pieces in a small pot of water for a few minutes, add a teabag of green tea toward the end to steep for a couple minutes and pour the hot liquid into a cup. Stir in a tsp of honey and add a squeeze of fresh lemon (Meyer lemons make it super special and are available at farmer’s markets right now). Sip carefully while admiring the aromas.
#7 Currants. Will now be on our permanent dried fruits list!
#8 Oatmeal is just so flexible. Steel-cut oats make me pretty dang happy (chewier than regular), and you can cook up a large batch and eat from it for several days without spoilage (3-4 days max, though, just to be safe). Add bananas, dried fruits, coconut milk, cinnamon, walnuts… the options are endless.
#9 We were just discussing pomegranate seeds over Christmas! How is it that I’ve never had them fresh? They’re on the farmer’s market shopping list for this weekend, although I’ve seen them at our local co-op, too. And a major bonus: they boost the skin’s natural plumpness by promoting collagen.
#10 Pumpkin seeds are just sooo good. Get them, eat them. Organic ones are often available in the bulk bins if you’ll take a peek. Unsalted is best because we tend to take in too much salt, especially over the holidays. Take a break from it when you can.
#11 Sage extract is an expectorant? Leave it to Dr. Oz to blow my mind. On the list.
#12 Eggs for hair. Check.
#13 Graviola? This has been totally off my radar. On the list, although it looks pretty exotic. We’ll see what we find.
Also good for immunity: plenty of sleep, hydrate with water, take probiotics (current favorite: Kombucha!), get fresh air and exercise, brighten your surroundings to boost your mood (helps keep immune system rebooted), keep a bottle of Get Well Soon Room Spray around to naturally sanitize doorknobs and freshen the air in sick rooms (or any room), and spend time with your favorite people! <3