Immune Boosting Tea for Dispelling Colds and Flu

I thought you might enjoy this simple yet effective tea to help strengthen the immune and soothe colds and flu.

It's super easy to prepare, uses 4 ingredients and is ready in a jiffy.

Here is the recipe

Immune Boosting Tea for Dispelling Colds and Flu

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic

Few slices daikon or 2 radishes cut into quarters

Few slices fresh ginger

2 spring onions sliced

2 cups water

Few grains sea salt

Preparation

Place the water into a pan and bring to a boil.

Add the garlic, ginger, daikon and spring onions. Cover with a lid.

Simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the sea salt.

Strain the vegetables.

Drink the warm broth only.

Enjoy this tea throughout the day if you feel a cold coming on or for a boost of energy.

Love Chef Mel x

Tantalising Watermelon Salad

 

This super easy salad is absolutely delicious on a hot day. 

Light and refreshing with a sparkle of flavors.

Tantalising Watermelon Salad

Ingredients

3 cups watermelon cubed or balled

1 medium cucumber

2 tablespoons fresh mint

1 cup tofu diced

2 tablespoons umeboshi vinegar

 

Dressing Ingredients

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

Juice of a small lime

Generous pinch sea salt or to taste

½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste

Sprigs of mint

 

Preparation

Place the tofu and umeboshi vinegar into a small bowl and mix well. Set to one side and allow to marinate.

Score the skin of the cucumber with a fork. Cut into cubes. You can remove the seeds if preferred. I usually leave them.

Place the cucumber and watermelon into a salad bowl. Mix gently.

Place the dressing ingredients into a small bowl and whisk with a fork to combine.

Add the tofu to the salad. You can include any juice from the umeboshi vinegar.

Add the dressing and mix gently.

Right before serving, finely slice the mint leaves and sprinkle over the salad. If added too early, the mint can become brown.

Serve garnished with a few sprigs of mint.  Enjoy!

 

 

Strenghtening Immunity – another approach

We live in a time when immunity is greatly challenged. It seems we are becoming more sensitive and immune compromised as a result of pollution, human made chemicals, drugs, toxic foods, electromagnetic radiation and stress. The over-use of antibiotics has created stress on the gut immune and various bacteria are now resistant.

As a result we are being asked to become more immune savvy. We need to learn how best to empower our immune system and to become wise in how we move through life. The more intelligent our immune is, the greater the chance to survive and thrive.

Sadly the modern medical system is designed to fix what is broken and not to cultivate health or offer ways to strengthen immunity.

Immune challenges are actually sending us a message that we need to grow stronger as a collective. This means that when we align with good intentions, when we share wisdom and help each other from love and consciousness, we become a powerful immune system.

The classic immune definition is that immunity is charged with protecting and defending against anything the body considers foreign, hostile, damaging or invasive.

Hostile, foreign or damaging could mean bacteria, viruses, pathogens, allergens, toxins, thoughts, feelings, beliefs and all kinds of experiences that arise from outside of us.

Let’s look at the goal of a strong immune system

Protect against all kinds of harm

Enable us to move through the world with confidence

Be in a position of strength

Give us the ability to fully self express

Help us to be wisely vigilant and relaxed at the same time

 

If the immune system is compromised

We become prey to many hostile pathogens

It is easier to get sick

We are weakened

We feel constantly on guard

We have less energy to do the things we love and reach our potential

We can become afraid to be in the world

With the constant barrage of confusing messages about health and nutrition, it is easy to grow apathetic, afraid, jaded and confused, all of which have a negative effect on the immune.

Immunity is approximately
50% Conscious
50% Unconscious

We can adopt an empowered approach to immunity which includes
• Accessing our courage, inspiration and positivity in the face of what seems like incredible odds
• Empowering ourselves with information
• Understanding that our world will never be perfect, nor will
our health
• Finding little things to enhance and support the immune

 

It is important to be aware of our toxic world but also just as important to learn to live in it, to celebrate it and live life with joy. Life is a paradox.

It is important to understand that immunity is built over time.

It is actually a self learning system which naturally fluctuates and can become compromised quickly. Our immune can show our weaknesses. It teaches us about our environment and asks us to listen, act, and fortify.

Our immunity keeps us safe, protects our health, creates boundaries and negotiates with our environment. It helps us to become effective humans in the world. In an ideal world, our immune grows smarter over time which means learning is an ongoing journey.

The gastro intestinal immune is a separate yet interconnected immune system in the gut. It accounts for 40-70% of total body immune tissues. It especially handles allergens and food-borne toxins. It becomes compromised by poor diet, stress, and antibiotics.

In many ways, our parents are our first “immune system”. They protect us from the outside world along with our home environment. As children we may have needed more protection and this can impact our immunity on different levels. Our beliefs about the world and about life help to form our psychic and emotional immune system.

So, immunity is more than just strengthening one’s metabolism,
taking immune supplements, or doing various natural immune protocols even though these help a lot

Immunity is often associated with the idea of a biological war. It is considered the archetype of the warrior. Our immune fortifies, fights, attacks, defends and is a natural killer.

 

Many times sensitive people with low immunity feel vulnerable and need to fortify themselves against anything that could deplete or cause harm.
In many ways, the world is like a jungle and our immune system is here to protect us

Immunity is about examining our life and seeing where we need more
fortification, more courage, more self
protection, more “no”, less apologizing…

Personal Power = Metabolic Power

The immune says no to anything it deems as harmful

For many of us the challenge to say no in various parts of life is also connected to low immunity.

Can we say no to poor quality foods, unsupportive social situations or toxic environments?

Can we say no to our partner, parents, kids, coworkers, or bosses?

Some immune questions

Who or what do I need to say no to?

Where do I self attack?

Do I have the courage to be with the fact that not all people will like me or approve of me?

Do I believe in my own life, being willing to fight for my health, my dignity, my heart and my soul?

Do I protect myself?

Am I willing to stand for myself, for others or for a cause?

Low Immunity often goes together with

Depression

Fatigue 

Stress – everyday challenges, toxic thoughts and beliefs, locked in emotions, speed, fear

There are many many factors that can compromise immunity.

Some examples are

Surgery, hospitalization, antibiotics

Drug use - prescription, recreational, alcohol

Removal of tonsils, thymus, gut tissue, spleen

Over exercise

Lack of sun

Lack of nature

 

Environmental factors that affect immunity

Animals, household chemicals, body care products, air quality,

EMFs, workplace toxins, mold

Foreign travel

Weather, seasons

“Cleanliness”

Vaccinations

Heavy metal exposure

Dietary Factors that affect immunity

Overall poor quality diet

Food allergies

Excess sugar

Excess caffeine

Poor quality animal and dairy foods

GMO foods

Poor quality water

Chronic dieting 

Long term restrictive diets

Damaging cleanse or fasting program

Low probiotic diet

Stress state eating

Not eating with the seasons

Poor eating rhythm

Chronic over eating

Pyschological Factors that compromise immunity

Self attack and judgement

Toxic nutritional beliefs

Relationship challenges

Any way we make ourselves “small” or “less than”

Money concerns

Unexamined anger, rage, resentment, judgment

The feeling of “not belonging”

Belief that “I am unlovable as I am”

 

Some simple things we can do to support our immune

Enjoy a plant based diet – seasonal, local, home grown, organic foods - include fermented and fresh herbs

Spend time in nature everyday

Spend time in the sun

Slow down – slow eating, slow breathing, slow driving, slow walking, slow parenting..

Experiment with different cold water therapies

Use air purifiers and water filters - have plants in the home

Use essential oils – lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree

Use supplements wisely

Exercise moderately

Get enough sleep even a nap

Have fun and marvel at our beautiful world

Be kind to the self and to others

Work together to create a loving, conscious world

 

Thank you to Marc David and The Institute for the Psychology of Eating from where this information is based

Spicy Lentils

  

I decided to share this lovely dish as it is easy to make and is super nourishing. Lentils come in different sizes and colors - red, yellow, brown, green, and black. They are a powerhouse of nutrition including fiber, magnesium, iron, calcium, protein, and folic acid. Lentils are wonderful for the bones and help to strengthen immunity. They are stamina producing, and soothing for the emotions. You can add lentils to salads, stir fry's, soups or stews. This recipes adds a gorgeous zip with a variety of vegetables and spices. You can change the vegetables choice if there are ones that you prefer. 

Happy Cooking!

Spicy Lentils

Ingredients

1 cup french lentils rinsed (these ones are smaller and black in color)
1 onion diced
1 tomato diced
1 celery stalk diced
1 cup pumpkin or sweet potato cut into chunks
1 carrot diced
3 inch strip kombu
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinammon
Cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro finely chopped
1 tablespoon white miso diluted in a little water
Olive oil
Spring water

Preparation

Warm the oil in a heavy pot. Add the onion and saute for a minute.
Layer the tomatoes, celery, pumpkin, and carrot on top of the onions.
Place the kombu and lentils on top of the vegetables.
Cover the lentils with spring water.
Bring to a boil and add the spices. Do not add the sea salt or fresh ginger at this point.
Simmer, with a lid, on a low flame until the lentils are soft. It should take around 30 minutes.
Mix gently and season with the sea salt.
Continue to cook for another minute, mix again and turn off the flame.
Add the miso, fresh ginger, and cilantro and mix through.
Serve hot with freshly cooked brown rice and a lovely salad.

*You can add more or less of the spices depending on your taste

Enjoy!
Love Chef Mel xx

Please Pass the Watermelon

On a scorching, hot day, there is nothing more refreshing than a large slice of juicy watermelon. The burst of sweetness and bright red color is both uplifting and delicious.

This vine-like flowering plant is actually native to Southern Africa, where many wild varieties grow in abundance and range from super sweet to bitter.  

Watermelon is both a fruit and a vegetable and the rind, flesh and seeds, can be consumed in various ways from soup to pickles. 

Watermelon can be served with a pinch of sea salt which helps to balance the potassium and high wáter content. It can actually make the watermelon taste even sweeter.

Watermelon has a long list of health benefits as a result of its unique nutrients. These include high levels of vitamin A and C, calcium, magnesium, fiber, protein, and a significant amount of potassium. It also contains a wide variety of carotenoids and phytonutrients, including lycopene.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of this delicious veg/fruit

Watermelon contains a rich supply of the amino acid, citrulline which  can help artery function, reduce muscle soreness, and relax blood vessels. Citrulline also provides other cardiovascular benefits such as increased blood flow and a drop in blood pressure.

It is good for weight management as it helps you to feel full for longer and is very low in calories, containing less than a gram of fat per slice. The citrulline in watermelon has been shown to reduce the accumulation of fat in the fat cells.

Watermelon is at least 90% wáter which is perfect for staying hydrated in hot weather. It is also good for lowering body temperature, and preventing heat stroke. The high wáter content and anti-oxidants in the fruit slow down the aging process especially wrinkles and age spots.

Watermelon is rich in phenolic compounds like flavonoids, carotenoids, and triterpenoids which makes it a wonderful choice for antioxidant and anti inflammatory health. Choose a lovely, ripe fruit because then the levels are even higher.

The high levels of the antioxidant, lycopene, makes watermelon a great choice for building stronger bones. The high potassium levels, which help to retain calcium in the body, are also nourishing for the bones and joints.

Watermelon is a good source of vitamin C which is vital for immune health and healing in general.

It is is a natural diuretic and is helpful for washing out any toxic deposits in the kidneys. It can also help to lower the concentration of uric acid in the blood. The fruit contains glutathione which can improve liver function and help lower colesterol.

It is alkaline forming which keeps the immune strong and reduce the risk of illness. Munching on a few pieces of watermelon can also help with heartburn.

The lovely rich ,red color of the fruit means it is high in beta carotine which converts to Vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is super nourishing to the eyes,  skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, and mucus membranes.

Watermelons can be good for diabetes as the  mild, sweet taste is very satisfying and gives few calories.  At least ninety percent of its total weight comes from water and roughage. The potassium and magnesium content aid in the proper functioning of insulin in the body, thus helping to keep blood sugar levels down.

The high wáter and fiber in the fruit is great for colon health as it helps the elimination process. A common problem for people with colon issues is dehydration. Incorporating more liquids into the daily diet is key in achieving a cleaner colon, and smooth digestion. Watermelon helps to lubricate digested food and provides hydration to help break it down.

Fasting

A watermelon fast a wonderful and simple way to cleanse and detox the body during summer months. This fast is a great way to get started with a healthy eating plan as it resets your appetite, and eliminates cravings for unhealthy foods.

It is super easy and all  you do is consume a large bowl of freshly cut watermelon, nothing else, for 3-4 meals throughout the day. You can fast for one day or few if your health allows. You can also make a delicious juice from watermelon, including the rind. This part has a high concentration of minerals and makes balance with the sweetness of the flesh.

Fasting or not, watermelon is a marvelous addition to any summer menú. Enjoy x

I decided to post this article here as it has lots of great information. I actually wrote it for the SHA magazine in 2016

https://shawellnessclinic.com/en/shamagazine/the-health-benefits-of-watermelon/