Flu Season; Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Health Tip:
Here’s a good tip I heard from a patient. When she goes into her medical doctor and they ask what supplements she takes, she simply writes “multi-vitamin”. This allows for honesty as well as simplicity for you (the supplements I use are whole food supplements and homeopathics). As many nutritional programs change, you don’t need to remember everything that changes. It also allows them to know that you are taking something and if they need more detail they will ask.
Monthly Article:
Flu Season or Something Else??
Dr. Llana Call Smith
Welcome to Fall! Weather is starting to cool, the trees are turning colors and dropping leaves, we get to think about ‘sweater weather’…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 of the Month:
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
2 large sweet potatoes
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and uncooked
½ teaspoon coconut oil
1 cup butter lettuce or other, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Salsa
1 baby cucumber, diced
½ mango, peeled and diced
8 small yellow or red cherry tomatoes, diced
2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
½ red pepper, chopped
½ lime, juiced
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Wrap each sweet potato in foil. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. In a saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil, and then add quinoa. Cover and reduce to simmer, about 15-18 minutes. Fluff with a fork and add salt and pepper. Set aside. Combine all salsa ingredients. Cut sweet potatoes open, add coconut oil, and top with quinoa, lettuce, and salsa.
SP Detox Balance Program book
Upcoming Activities and Announcements:
Roots to Health talk Tuesday November 15 & December 6 at 6:15. 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!
CONGRATULATIONS! Lauren is getting married November 12! We wish her a very happy marriage and look forward to her future! Dr. Smith’s assistant will be changing roles after her wedding but we still plan on her being part of our team. We plan on adding nutrition counseling after she finishes her training. Watch for it this fall/winter!
Closed Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 24, 2022.
Are you happy with your care and progress? Please tell others! We love getting online reviews to spread the word. Not happy? Please tell us so we can fix it!