I love bringing in whole food nutrition to keep my family healthy year round. Superfoods are my go to for a punch of naturally occurring immune supporting nutrients. In our household we are active; we go to the beach, we hike, we surf, ski and snowboard and enjoy our days. Point is no one likes to get sick, because that means we are all inside.
KALE
I love kale and add it into a juice or smoothie daily. I have mentioned before, Kale is the multivitamin of the vegetable kingdom. So it’s only fitting that we up our kale intake when we get sick. Adding into a juice is great. Blend on high; 2 oranges, large handful of kale, 1 carrot and a liter of water. Sip this through the day and for a little extra throw in a handful of chopped kale to your chicken soup before you serve it. Kale has you covered as a full spectrum nutrient.
GARLIC
This one may be hard for kids but for us adults, it is sure to fix you up quick. Garlic contains allicin a powerful compound with antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties. Allicin is released from the garlic 15 minutes after crushing it. I recommend adding the crushed garlic to 1/4 cup of organic virgin olive oil with a pinch of Himalayan sea salt. Let this sit for 15 minutes then add to warmed whole grain or sourdough bread. It is strong, so I definitely recommend your partner eats this with you to curb any 'whoa, did you eat garlic!!' :)
SWEET POTATO
When sick it’s important to add warm foods into your diet to nourish and heat the body. Sweet potatoes are great boiled or baked and they contain beta-carotene which converts to Vitamin A in our bodies to help support our immune system. Leave the skin on to increase natural mineral content. I love adding sweet potatoes in red curries, lentils, Buddha bowls and even chicken soup.
LEMON
When anyone gets a sore throat lemon is my first line of defense. A big boost of vitamin C, I add 1/2 a juiced lemon into boiling water with a bit of sliced turmeric or ginger and raw local honey to sweeten it up. The hot water with the citrus and warming ginger/turmeric feel great on the throat and the honey soothes any scratchiness. I swear it fights off any cold before it takes hold.
CAMU CAMU BERRY
This Superfood is incredible but you won’t find this at your local farmers market. Found in flooded areas in the Amazon, camu camu berry has been compared to the equivalent vitamin C content as 10 oranges! An incredible exotic fruit it is more readily found in powdered form as a superfood powder. Add to a smoothie or water as a quick tonic and get a big boost of vitamin C to help your body fight off that virus.
KIWI FRUIT
Of all the fruits I like to keep kiwis on hand when I see my kid's noses start running. Another great fruit full of vitamin C, I know my kids love it and it provides them with a big dose of vitamins to help strengthen their immune system.
BONUS: VITAMIN D
Although I do keep vitamin D3/K2 drops on hand for the snowy winters in Lake Tahoe, I get out into the sun daily to soak in my Vitamin D. Such an easy nutrient to enjoy, vitamin D keeps our bodies functioning and running in optimal form. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to so many diseases, imbalances and dysfunctions. Such an easy, and inexpensive fix! Plus it's great for mental health. Get outside!
These are just a few superfoods to keep on hand that are great for keeping your immune system strong and ready for anything. Stress is a big trigger as well so if possible make sure everyone is getting good sleep and not worrying about silly things.
In Health,
Kristin
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