Build Immunity All Summer

by Letha Hadady, D.Ac.- This spring’s unusual flu season may be an indication that more is to come this fall. It would be wise to act preventively now and throughout the summer. Many alternative health experts agree, “At least 70% of our immunity against illness comes from a healthy colon.”

Why? We require healthy bacteria in the colon, not only to digest food and eliminate wastes, but also to insure proper nutritional absorption, energy, emotional balance, and ultimately immunity. It is an old idea. Ancient Chinese doctors, during the first century BCE, created herbal formulas to eliminate fevers and prevent contagious disease by ridding the body of “evil winds” Today we might call such “evil winds” germs or allergens. The purifying treatments encouraged sweating and elimination of wastes often with moistening herbal laxatives.

An easy way to boost immunity daily is by adding 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder to yogurt and/or green tea. Turmeric is an antibiotic gentle enough for children and daily use. It is a useful anti-inflammatory for arthritis.

Foods high in nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Zinc, when used in combination with other herbs and spices work synergistically to support the immune system. An excellent source of vitamin C is amla powder, a wild cherry from India. Trifala (AKA Triphala) pills and powder, available in East Indian markets, are an herbal cleansing/balancing treatment made from three valuable fruits that tone the digestive tract, brace energy, and balance the body and mind, while eliminating impurities. Add ¼ tsp of the powder to tea daily or take the pills.

Consume more fermented foods and supplements in your diet, especially fermented soybean (The Japanese call it NATO) that contains probiotic bacteria, isoflavones, saponins omerga-3 fatty acids, and phytosterols. These help to build one’s immunity by helping to maintain peak levels of natural killer cells and macrophages (types of white blood cells) and by supporting cytokine production, which responds to infections.

If you hate the taste and texture of Nato–some have compared it to chewing gum–you might enjoy the taste of naturally fermented vegetables made at home without using salt or vinegar. I make sauerkraut by fermenting sliced cabbage and spices such as turmeric, cumin, garlic, dill, coriander seed, and ginger. Wash the vegetable ingredients, air-tight glass jar, and your hands carefully. Pack sliced cabbage, vegetables such as sliced cucumber and spices tightly into an air-tight, sterile jar. Leave one inch at the top to give room for the contents to expand from fermentation gases naturally coming from the cabbage. After waiting for at least one week, the vegetables will taste sour because enzymes in the cabbage have cured their flavor.

Inflammatory reactions provoked by smoking, stress, pollution, and illness can contribute to organ and tissue damage and pneumonia. Individuals at high risk include those whose immune systems are already compromised by pneumonia, chronic infections such HIV/AIDS, diabetes and also the elderly. To help diminish damaging inflammatory reactions, barring allergies, increase fermented soy supplements, Curcumin, Resveratrol, Selenium, Green tea, Beta Carotene, Co-Q10, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Quercetin and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Green Tea has very effective antiviral properties. One cup of green tea provides 10-40 mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant effects greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots, or strawberries. The high antioxidant activity of green tea makes it beneficial for protecting the body. Add a pinch of turmeric powder per cup of tea.

Resveratrol is a compound found in large amounts in red wine, grape seeds, and Japanese knotweed. Resveratrol is known to be absorbed into the blood. The root of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum multiflorum aka “He Shou Wu”) is the richest known source of Resveratrol. It has long been used in a variety of herbal medicines in China and Japan, where it is considered a tonic and life prolonging plant. People in Asia drink the tea or take the pills to prevent gray hair and dehydration.

You can easily find sliced dried he shou wu or pills Shou Wu Pien in our NY Chinatown. Simmer a handful of sliced he shou wu in a quart of water for 45 minutes, allow it to cool. If you do not have diabetes you can add a little honey. This is a cooling, refreshing, nourishing and relaxing beverage for between meals. If you have bloating, slow digestion, of chronic diarrhea, cook this herb with ginger and limit its use. 

WATCH:

Part 1. Prevent colds and flu
by Letha Hadady at YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vJnwuHI3c

Part 2. Colds and Flu
by Letha Hadady at YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeWnDVQ3kPc

Letha Hadady leads walking tours of Asian food/herb markets for NY Open Center. She is the author of Asian Health Secrets and her website is www.asianhealthsecrets.com