From likeamilliondollars

In the past two weeks my house has been plagued by sickness. Between the kids and myself we passed around viruses we’d soon forget, and then decided to give it a second go round. Through it all, the only desire was to get and stay better. Short of putting my kids in a bubble or dousing them with anti-bacterial soap, I went on a search for ways to keep our immune systems in check. The simple answer was putting the right foods in our bodies. The right foods to give us super power immunity.

What foods keep you healthy? What foods give you super immune boosting powers? It’s as easy as ROY G BIV, the rainbow acronym.

Stephanie Tippe of LiveLonger123.com explains why colors are key for a healthy diet, “The appetizing colors of fresh fruits and veggies derive from the presence of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients known as carotenoids and flavonoids.” These are the elements that keep your body in top working form.

ROY

Red

Red foods have a variety of health benefits. You often hear an Apple a day keeps the doctor away. In fact, apples are on the Mayo Clinics list of 10 Great Health Foods because “apples are an excellent source of pectin, a soluble fiber that can lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Fresh apples are also good sources of vitamin C — an antioxidant that protects your body’s cells from damage.” (Mayo Clinic)

From tomatoes to strawberries, red foods are high in the phytochemical lycopene, which most know promote a healthy heart. With Heart disease being the number one killer amongst women, eating more red foods is key to a healthy heart.

Orange/Yellow

Citrus food, high in Vitamin C, was always thought to be the answer to the common cold. There is no real evidence to show Vitamin C cures the common cold, although some studies have shown it helps reduce the risk of a cold by 50%. (Medlineplus) Vitamin C real task is forming collagen, which gives structure to bones, cartilage and more.

Consider another type of orange and yellow foods for fighting off infection, those high in beta-carotene. Carrots and fall favorites squash all have super immune boosting power. Yellow peppers, along with all bell peppers, are high in antioxidants which help neutralize free radicals in the body.

G

Green

Packed with all nutrients mentioned above, Green foods contain numerous benefits. Spinach is another one of Mayo Clinic 10 health foods, for it’s immune boosting powers. Try making a spinach pesto with extra garlic, garlic being a natural antibotic.

Image From Tiny Farm Blog

Green foods like broccoli helps the body make energy and is also an excellent source of vitamins A and C. (Cookingwithcolor). Eating broccoli raw, as well as all fruits and vegetables, keeps all the nutrients in the food, as oppose to cooking.(Yaoh) Not up for all raw?  Consider eating immune boosting raw food at the end of the meal “so they don’t loose their potency.”(Nancy Winlove-Smith)

BIV

Blue/Purple

Only one real blue food, there is no doubt blueberries pack a mean one-two punch. Blueberries have more antioxidant activity than many other fresh fruits and vegetables. (Blueberry council) And what’s best for boosting your immunity, “researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey have identified compounds in blueberries called proanthocyanidins that promote urinary tract health and reduce the risk of infection by preventing bacteria from adhering to the cells that line the walls of the urinary tract.”(Blueberry.org)

Purple foods like grapes, raisins and eggplants are packed full of antioxidants. Making news this month purple tomatoes have all the health benefits of blueberries. Plant Biologist Cathie Martin created the tomato by adding anthocyanins, pigments with the disease-fighting antioxidant properties. (TheSpec)

Image from TheSpec

Try adding more color to your diet. Fill your life with color and ward off sickness this flu season!

So what’s for dinner? Take a look at your plate. How many colors of the rainbow do you have? Remember, you eat with your eyes first colors are appealing to the eye, as well as your health!

Resourses:

For easy family friendly recipes Check out The Veggie Queen

GoodBelly Probiotic Fruit Drink and GoodBelly Multi are wheat free, soy free, and completely dairy free! The probiotic, used in GoodBelly promotes healthy digestion and immunity! And till Dec. 31, 2008 have money-saving coupons for Good Belly products.

Photo by Waldo Jaquith

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, I am a mom sharing what has worked for me. Always consult with you family doctor/pediatrician before making any changes or if you have questions. The web can be a good place for info, but it should not be your final stop.

As a mom with life threatening allergies and having two kids with medical conditions, the importance to keep them healthy is overwhelming at times. Even if you don’t have kids with allergies, your children may be in a “peanut-free” class or a “latex free” class at school or daycare. Here are some tips for dealing with an allergy:

If you suspect your child has an allergy, talk to your doctor IMMEDIATELY. There is testing that can be done to rule out/diagnose an allergy. If your child is diagnosed with an allergy, make sure all teachers, daycare admistrators and coaches know of the allergy.

If you child does have an allergy, make sure your child takes all daily medications as prescribed. Make sure any emergency medications such as Epi-Pens and inhalers are in date and in a easy to get to location (purse,diaper bag, school bag). Keep a list of all medications with you in case of emergency. It’s easier than remembering what they take and the dosages when you stressed.

Photo by KellyK

Make sure to learn the laws of the state you live in regarding emergency medications for your child (if necessary). Teach your child when emergency medication need to be used and how to administer them. If the child is not allowed to carry emergency medications, make sure staff at your child’s school or daycare know how to use them.

Teach family members who spend a lot of time with the child how to recognize signs of an allergic reaction and what to do in an emergency. Show how to use inhalers, Epi-pens, and other emergency medications. Advise them when to call the child’s doctor or 911.

Invest in a medical alert ID tag, especially if your child’s alllergies are severe or has a communication disability. There are a few companies that offer these types of ID, including bracelets, necklaces and shoe tags, in different colors and designs. If you child spends a lot of time away from you, this is a wise investment. Pick an option that your child is most likely to wear or have them help make the decision if they are old enough. Make sure to include your cell phone number in any emergency information.

If your child does not have allergies but is in a “peanut-free” classroom, a great alternative is sunflower seed butter. You can find it at organic food stores, such as Whole Foods, or larger grocery stores may carry it. Price wise, it costs about the same as organic peanut butter. My kids love it and when I need to make a treat that calls for peanut butter, I substitute. I made Chex Mix Puppy Chow for a bake sale with it and just marked each bag with the ingredients. If you do send it to school with your child, advise the teacher it is sunflower seed butter and not peanut butter.

A good list of “latex-free” products can be found through the American Latex Allergy Association. They have a list which is a good starting point for finding alternative products for people with latex allergies.

With planning, an allergy is something that can be lived with and worked around.

When Jennifer isn’t making sunflower seed cookies for a party or finding a lost Medic Alert bracelet, you can find her at Toast on the Ceiling.

I have spent more hours than I care to admit searching the bread aisle for a loaf of bread that meets the “high standards” set forth by my, shall we call them picky, family.

• Tastes good
• Makes good toast
• Is good for you
• Makes good sandwiches

If it has any discernible grain in it my husband won’t touch it.

If it is mushy with any possibility of sticking to the roof of his mouth my son won’t eat it.

If it makes toast that leaves a crumbly mess my daughter won’t eat it.

If it is white in color mom (i.e. me) won’t buy it.

So week after week I searched the grocery aisles hoping for a bright light to shine down on the “perfect” loaf of bread and the Ta-Da music to start playing when I picked up the loaf signaling to me that I had finally found it.

Then, it happened I saw the bright light and the heard music! (Ok, maybe it was just the ring-tone on my cell phone and the reflection off the frozen goods door across the aisle)

Whatever it was it worked. I had finally found “The Perfect” bread for my picky family.

Franz Whole Grain White Bread

• 6 grams of fiber
• Tastes good
• 9 grams of whole grain
• Makes good toast and sandwiches
• No high fructose corn syrup
• No discernible grain in site
• Recyclable bag
• Local company with a responsible way of doing business

What more could you ask for? (except maybe a loaf of pre-made PB & J sandwiches)

Have you ever tried the bread known as “The Good Bread”? If so, let us know what you thought of it by leaving your opinion in the comments section. If you have other types of bread that you think my picky family would like, you can leave those suggestions in the comments sections too.

To learn more about Lena’s picky family, stop by for a visit at OverCoffee.

People think that being healthy is very complicated. It’s really not. I have distilled it down to four key pillars of health:

Pillar #1: Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is important for a healthy heart, maintaining flexibility, strength and good posture, while preventing a slew of diseases. There are four different kinds of exercises that you should do.

They are:(source) >
1.Strength training, such as weights or resistance bands.
2.Aerobics, such as biking, hiking, running or swimming.
3.Flexibility exercises, such as stretching or yoga.
4.Balance exercises, such as balance boards or yoga.

Pillar #2: Reduce Stress

Chronic stress can weaken our immune system and upset our emotional balance causing depression. Prolonged stress has been linked to heart disease, certain types of cancer, depression, poor sleeping and eating habits, anxiety and headaches. It is impossible to be truly healthy when you are chronically stressed.

It is important to learn to relax and let unimportant things go. Reducing stress can take many forms. Some of them include meditation, breathing exercises and positive thinking.

Pillar #3: Eat Healthy

Remember, you are what you eat! A diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low in saturated fat is important for many reasons, such as, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing your risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. So, trade healthier items for some of the least healthy items in your diet.

Pillar #4: Reduce Exposure to Harmful Chemicals

Many diseases can be caused by exposure to harmful chemicals in the environment and the products we use. Childhood asthma, learning disabilities and cancers have all been linked to exposure to harmful chemicals.

So, try to use products that use less harmful chemicals. You would be surprised by the chemicals in some of the products you use, especially personal care products. For more information on healthier products to choose; visit the website of the Environmental Working Group.

Remember being healthy isn’t complicated. Just focus on the four pillars of health and don’t stress about it.

Talli van Sunder, DPT can be found blogging and podcasting at BeingHealthy.tv.

The kids are heading back to school and you’ve thought of everything. The back-pack, the pre-sharpened pencils, the glue sticks, the 27 boxes of Kleenex and hand sanitizer that the school should be buying but can no longer afford. Everything.

Except breakfast.

But don’t panic. You will NOT be forced to put a jar of peanut butter in the center of the table and toss everyone a spoon. Here’s a quick recipe that will stick to their ribs and have them begging for seconds.

Summer De-lites

English Muffins lightly toasted and topped with cottage cheese, sliced ripe strawberries and drizzled with honey.

Start by making some for yourself and eating it in front of your kids. Wait until they begin to drool and beg. Then, and only then, offer to make another batch and get ready to make some more.

Written for Domestically Blissful by Holly over at MooBee Farm. Where there’s a new adventure every day in the Land of Milk and Honey!