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Writer-s-Bloc

How's your immunity?

Looking at our immune system holistically 

By Raina Dawn Lutz

Our immune system. Our food intake and diet. Our digestion and our stress levels. So many connections.

But it comes full circle back to stress for many of us.

Our immune system is simply the grouping of cells, organs and tissues that network to protect our body from foreign invaders.

Our immunity is our ability to fight off these invaders. There is a great deal of evidence from research showing effects on our immune system, and our immune system effects on our overall health.

How balanced is your immune system?

Immune suppressants: surgery, antibiotics, stress, travel, low self-esteem, emotional extremes, sugar, alcohol, smog, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, cigarettes, excess vegetable oils, low protein absorption, aging, excess iron, excess eating, lack of sleep, allergies...

These are choices to completely avoid or at least minimize or if we want to improve our immune system. A balanced attitude, healthy lifestyle habits and the following keys will support your immune system...

Top 5 immune supporters: 

  • Healthy digestive function (deep breaths before you eat a meal!)
  • Exercise and yoga
  • Clean whole foods and a plant-based diets (a diet consisting of lots of plants)
  • Proper balanced intake of vitamins, minerals
  • Love, laughing, meditation, relaxation

Our stress, our stories that our mind creates, our worries, our anxiety of the future or sadness from the past keeps us down.

Down equals slower functioning immunity.

You've heard this before, the caveman reaction in our body that we can't control fools our body into a round of stress.

Foods to support your immune system to eat today include:

  • Whole grains (such as brown rice)
  • Raw fermented foods (sauerkraut, kombucha)
  • Green vegetables (like spinach, kale and chard)
  • Wild fish (like salmon)
  • Nuts and seeds (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts).

Whole-foods nutrition isn't a magic pill, it's something we have to want, to work for, to take time to do and to respect ourselves enough to do it. It's education and it's preparation and it's time.

But it's do-able. And we have the time right now, don't we?

Now's the time. What can you do today to support, not suppress your immune system?

Raina Dawn Lutz is a registered holistic nutritionist and kombucha brewer in the Okanagan who helps women to get the tools, motivation and excitement to eat well. She specializes in weight loss, digestive issues and anxiety. LutzNutrition.ca[email protected]

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

Welcome to Writer’s Bloc, an opinion column for guest writers to share their experiences and viewpoints with our readers.

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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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