Flu Season; Nutrition Advice; Pumpkin Chia Pudding
Health Tip:
There are 3 levels of nutrition care/advice:
General one-size-fits-all recommendations — everyone needs fish oil, everyone needs a probiotic, etc.
Matching supplements to symptoms — thyroid issues need iodine, digestive complaint needs enzymes, etc.
Determining the cause of the symptom and providing targeted nutritional support — Nutrition Response Testing program determined specifically for YOU because YOU are different than everybody else!
Article:
Flu Season or Something Else??
Dr. Llana Call Smith
I know I include this article every year. BUT those of you that know this may need a reminder and those that are new need to hear this for possibly the first time!
Weather is starting to cool, the trees have lost their leaves, we get to think about ‘sweater weather’ (this of course changes weekly!)…but also with it can come attacks on our immune systems. We are often told that this is “flu season”. When I did a quick search online, I found that in the US flu season starts about October and goes through May. Peak flu activity is December to March. We are also often told that the “best” way to prevent flu is with the flu vaccine.
I’d like to challenge what you have been told. I don’t think “Flu Season” is the correct term. I think the flu is simply the effect and not the cause. Sure, we don’t get enough sunshine and therefore vitamin D since it is colder weather and we stay inside more and that could decrease our immune systems. I still don’t think that is the cause… I’ve even heard people say that it’s because we are in closer contact with other people so it spreads more and faster…. Nope, still don’t think that is the main cause.
Here is what I think is the cause and what we should be calling this time of year instead of “flu season”: it is Sugar Season! Follow me here while I give you a little story time-line…
October: Halloween is at the end of the month. We see the candy hit the shelves in vast quantities before the end of September. People often stock up on the candy they “plan to give out to the kids on Halloween night”. Many actually have to repurchase before that night since all the candy has already been consumed! (they may also not actually have any trick-or-treaters at all!)
November: Thanksgiving. Lots of food! Lots of dessert!! Need I say more??
December: Christmas! Parties….often several of them. Family get-togethers, again, often several. Plenty of food and desserts to go around here, too!
January: Happy New Year! Let’s toast with some champagne and snacks, and treats, and some more alcohol! (Starting to get the picture?)
February: Valentine’s Day! Chocolate!!! Those strange candy hearts with phrases on them!
March/April (depending on the year): Easter! Bunny’s laying chocolate eggs…lots of baskets filled with sweet treats and hunts with treats as well.
May: Time to get outside and start having picnics in the sunshine. More about the grill and less about the sweets.
Get the picture? From October to March/April we are loaded with holidays that seem to focus on sugary desserts. Starting in about May through September we are more focused on being outside and grilling rather than quite as many sweets. I’m not saying there are none, but there seems to be less. Add in additional sunshine and movement and our immune systems are simply more likely to be stronger during the summer.
Here is what sugar does to your immune system: it decreases your immune system’s ability to detect and fight invaders by 50%!! And it does so for about 5 hours! See why I think it should be called “sugar season” instead of “flu season”?
Knowing this about sugar and your immune system, do we really need a flu shot? (There are risks with any medical treatment that goes in your body and the flu shot is no exception!) Instead, how about we be mindful of what we choose to consume this time of year. I will cover more on this next month as well. For now, let that Halloween candy stay on the shelves. If you want a sweet treat, try to pick a healthier option. This can sometimes just mean you make it at home with healthier ingredients that buying already prepared. Stick to eating the things you REALLY like. Don’t just put anything in there! The more mindful you are of how much sugar you are consuming the more likely your immune system will be strong enough to fight off even the most stubborn viruses. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.
Recipe:
Pumpkin Chia Pudding
Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 Cups almond milk
½ cup chia seeds
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
4 teaspoons maple syrup
Pinch each: sea salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg
2 tablespoons chopped pecans, for topping
1 ripe pear, diced
Instructions:
1. Combine all of the ingredients together, except for the pecans and diced pears, and divide into two pint jars.
2. Cover and refrigerate until ready to eat. The mixture will thicken as it stands. Mixture is ready after fifteen minutes, but can also be prepped as early as a week in advance.
Stir before serving and top with nuts and diced pears.
Upcoming Activities and Announcements:
Roots to Health talk Tuesday December 5 at 6:15 pm. Please sign up at the front desk. Bring a friend and write a question! This is a casual time to learn about the real Roots to Health! Following dates: January 9 at 6:15pm, January 20 at 10 am.
Christmas Schedule: We will be closed the week of Christmas and also New Year’s Day, December 25-January 1. We will resume normal hours January 2, 2024. Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year!!
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