Last week we talked about the amazing immune tonic herbs we have available to support and nourish our immune system and “prime” it for winter. This week I’m sharing the other three steps which guarantee optimal health for winter.

Our 4 easy steps to prevent “illness-sabotage” this winter

1. Eat Well
2. Exercise regularly
3. Relax & have Fun
4. Supplement with immune tonics

Step 1: Eat Well

Did you know that the Food you eat has the power to keep you well or contribute to you getting sick?
 For example the vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients in our food are integral to the functioning of your immune system. If they are readily available in the body the immune system can draw upon them in times of need (i.e. when we are exposed to a virus). A healthy immune system attacks the virus and renders it harmless – most of the time we would never know that we have been exposed to a bug.
If however we have a diet high in sugar, processed foods, preservatives and unhealthy fats, our immune system is compromised because these foods actually deplete our immune system. They “disarm” it.  So when the time comes to fight a virus, our immune system is not only weakened by the sugars, fats, and refined foods, it also doesn’t have the available nutrients to draw upon to “fight the battle”. The result being, the virus infiltrates your line of defence and takes up residence in your body. And you soon know about it!

Last week the Mammoth Health Naturopath team attended a practitioner seminar on our role in supporting people who have been diagnosed with and being treated for cancer. It has been researched that 70% of people who have been diagnosed with cancer sought and used complementary medicine in addition to receiving conventional care₁

With an estimated 114,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed in Australia in 2010, it is expected that one in two Australians will be diagnosed by the age of 85 (Cancer Council of Australia, 12/12/11).
A diagnosis of cancer brings a very different set of emotions and fears than that of say, cardiovascular disease. Even though cardiovascular disease claims more lives than cancer it produces far less fear and social stigma.

One key factor of a cancer diagnosis is the disempowerment  a  person may feel  following diagnosis. It can be difficult for people to know where to start after receiving such life-changing news. Many cancer patients feel there is nothing they can do to manage their disease except return for recommended follow-up visits. This contributes to feelings of helplessness and loss of control₂ Our role as natural healthcare practitioners is to lessen the fear and give hope. We can help transform the fear into understanding and empowerment by giving our time, our support and our holistic and professional advice. Our aim is that of support and empowerment.

In the past couple of years mention the word “svelte” or “leptin green coffee”, “high protein diets like  Dukan  or Atkins ” and you’ll have anyone wanting to lose some weight come running…  generally on the empty promise of a quick fix and a magic pill.  And in terms of high protein diets – you run the risk of producing high levels of metabolic waste that can potentially cause accelerated ageing and long term health problems!

The amount of enquiries is always astounding  whenever “magic pills” or “magic diets” are advertised in the media. It’s hard to believe anyone in this day and age, with access to so much information, can truly believe that taking a pill or a powder is the answer to their weight issue.

Thank goodness the trends for 2012 are changing and the focus is on wellness and not just weightloss. While a focus on weight control is important, body fat levels are but one piece of the puzzle that makes up complete health and well-being. Weight loss programs that not only show you how to eat and exercise, but help you sleep better and deal with stress are more likely to get results. In addition, making lifestyle choices that reduce blood pressure and blood fats can not only boost heart health, but can also boost quality of life.

Channel 9 news recently reported (16/4/12) that each year 80,000 Australians will get the flu. 15,000 of these flu victims will end up in hospital with a further 2,000 deaths.

We have noticed in-store and in our clinics a much higher influx of clients and patients with colds, flu, gastro and viruses… and winter hasn’t even started yet!

The thing to remember though is that the flu is a virus that has been around for thousands of years and every year, at about this time, we are at higher risk of infection from viruses because of increased exposure to them. We have no control over this exposure but we do have control over our immune system and we can “prime” it so that it can beat off any nasties floating around.