Do you notice that some people never seem to get colds, whilst others are constantly subject to them? It can be due to inherited immunity but it can also be due to consuming plenty of disease fighters like fruit, vegetables and fruit juices. People who eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day have higher immunity. Eat Breakfast People who eat breakfast have higher immunity than the non-breakfast brigade. Eating breakfast actually boosts your levels of gamma interferon, which activates the white blood cells. Exercise Moderate daily exercise boosts the circulation and keeps the body in good condition. Drop the Stress Long-term stress harms your immune system. Worriers are more prone to illness than their happy-go-lucky counterparts. Happiness boost immunity. Sleep Well Sleep is something your body needs in order to function well. Skipping three hours of sleep cuts your immune function by 30 percent the next day — so you are seriously at risk if you sleep poorly. Do You Smoke? Cigarette smoke paralyses the white blood cells that attack bad bacteria. Smokers get three times more colds than non-smokers do and smoking can seriously damage the immune system. Eat to Boost Your Immunity Eat good quality fresh food as near to its natural state as possible. Eat cereals, low fat dairy produce, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and lean protein. Eat wholemeal bread and carbohydrates for energy. Eat oily fish, nuts and seeds. Eat plain low fat live yoghurt as it also protects the immune system. And drink plenty of water. Exercise Hint Exercising Mind and Body In our busy world, finding time for yourself is nearly impossible. Chances are if you take a daily walk or jog, there’s little time left over for doing something to exercise your brain — like reading a good book. Well, next time you strap on the headphones while jogging, try listening to an audio book instead of music. You’ll catch up on your reading and may take even longer walks — finding it difficult to turn off a good book. Recipe of the Week Fettuccine With Chicken, Sundried Tomatoes, Basil and Pine Nuts Serves 6 Ingredients 600 g boneless, skinless chicken cutlets, cut into strips salt to taste freshly ground black pepper 3 tbs. olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated and sliced 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1/3 cup basil leaves, chopped 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts 3 tbs. fresh lemon juice 500 g Fettuccine Method Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over high heat and sauté chicken both sides until it is golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Transfer chicken to a warm plate and keep warm. Turn heat to medium and add sun-dried tomatoes and chicken broth; simmer for 5 minutes. Add the basil, pine nuts and lemon juice. Meanwhile, cook the pasta (in the boiling water) until it is al dente. Drain and toss with sun-dried tomato mixture. Divide the pasta among the serving plates and arrange the chicken on top. Slimming Lifestyle: Dip Your Salad Salad dressing can be fat and calorie-rich, so try this tip. When you eat salad, keep the dressing in a small bowl on the side. Then lightly dip each mouthful of salad in the dressing. You’ll find that you consume much less dressing this way than you would if you poured it over your salad. My Healthy Eating Guide will help you to develop healthy eating habits — just mail: guidean141@naturalhealthlines.com for a free copy. Ask Alva My parents are divorced, so every birthday or special occasion we have to have two of them — two parties or two meals out so that I can celebrate with both my Mum and my Dad. How can I keep the weight off but still have a good time at the parties? Michael Just go for the low fat options like chicken, boiled rice, or pasta in tomato sauce, and go for fresh juices or water to drink instead of colas. You could also save up some extra calories by being extra active the day before or the day after a party or meal, and also avoid extra treats. |
