“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live”. ~Jim Rohn
So what can you do for a healthy respiratory system and a happy immune system in preparation for the colder and dark months to come?
Autumn in Ayurveda medicine is governed by the element air, marked by change, instability and anxiety. By avoiding manufactured foods and aggravating stimuli we can move through this time of transition and back to our busy lives in more grounded, centered and sustaining ways. Complete digestion (of thoughts and food), creates radiant good health which supports stable emotions, and immunity.
1. See the fall as an opportunity to slow down and experience the joy of being alive!
Get the full rejuvenation benefits of Autumn by consciously slowing down as nature intended. Let your body rejuvenate itself and refill your battery for the energy levels to increase for the winter to come! When resisting the natural urge to slow down at this time of the year, it depletes you mentally and physically, feeding more demands and stresses to the adrenal and nervous systems. Therefore, get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Get to bed early as the best hours to recharge your adrenals are the hours before midnight. Create a ritual around that time for something that you are really looking forward to, a special time for yourself, something that you won’t want to compromise. The body replenishes itself when it’s at rest. Chronic stress, anxiety and depression can weaken the immune system and make you more vulnerable to illness. Therefore learn mindfulness to deal with stress, coming back to the present moment, one step at the time. Rest when you are tired, feeling grateful for the experience. And especially, recall the little moments of joy through the day and take pleasure in them. They are food for your soul!
2. Do a gentle bowel cleanse.
As mentioned earlier, by cleaning the waste and old fecal matter out of your gastrointestinal tract, not only will it improve your digestion but you will be energized, healthier and happier as it balances your mind and emotions. I recommend doing it for at least three weeks to reset your digestive and immune systems.
While doing this gentle cleanse, it is important to have a clean wholesome diet. See key number 3 below. Remember to drink lots of warm water during the cleanse as it stimulates peristalsis, the wavelike movements of the bowels, and cold water does not. Since your body naturally detoxifies at night, drink two full glasses of warm water in the morning upon waking to flush out the toxins. Be sure to increase the bowel functions to two or three bowel movements by taking 2 tbsp. of freshly ground flax seeds every morning, and taking early in the evening 1 tbsp. of psyllium husks in water, followed by one large glass of water. Avoid drinking coffee or black tea during this time as it accelerates the transit through the bowels and triggers the loss of important nutrients.
This cleanse is simple: As you want to get ride of mucoid plaque, avoid mucous forming foods such as most dairy products ( exception of organic yogurt and kefir), all glutens (wheat, rye, kamut, barley, spelt…be careful as some commercial products such as cheeses, salad dressings, soups and sauces have gluten added as a thickening agent) sugars, alcohols, and man-made commercial foods. Use sea salt sparingly. Avoid fried food but seek good fats such as coconut and olive oil, avocados, fresh fish, seeds and nuts.
3. Eat a balanced diet preferably with local and organic foods.
Focus on eating whole foods, such as quality happy ( grass fed) animal protein (if you’re an omnivore), plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables of all colours, as well as legumes. Soak your grains, nuts and seeds. Use wild food and super foods such as bee pollen, reishi and all kind of mushrooms, micro algae and raw cacao which can give you extra boost. These days, we need to detoxify and protect as we go, so have some naturally fermented food every day such as miso, naturally fermented kimchi, pickles, sauerkraut, yogurt and kefir.
4. Drink plenty of restructured clean non-chlorinated or non-fluoridated water.
Stay away from plastic bottles and if you have to buy some read the label to make sure that there is no fluoride in it. Water helps in the production of the lymph, which carries white blood cells and other immune system cells. It has many roles, all of which are essential for life.
5. Exercise and get into the Light!
Exercising is not only a great way to get in shape and to get strong, but it activates the lymph flow as well as provides endorphins to support the nervous system. It tones up the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems. Walk daily while practicing deep breathing. If working at a desk, get up regularly to stretch and move. We are just starting to rediscover the benefits of the sun rays and the role they play in our entire system as well as in our food absorption. So, exercise outdoor as much as possible, a minimum of 3-4 times a week for about 30 minutes. When not sunny, trust that the sun rays will reach you through the clouds!
6. Use herbs and spices.
Cook with onions, garlic, ginger, black peppercorn, thym, oregano, basil, rosemary, cayenne pepper, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, curry, caraway, dill, fennel and turmeric etc.. They are medicine and contain components that help to boost your digestive and immune systems by facilitating digestion and making the nutrients easily available to your body.
7. Avoid as much as possible…antibiotics, chlorine, fluoride, bromine, NSAID drugs
(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen or Advil, that are used to control pain and inflammation drugs), GMOs, gluten, sugar. Learn how to deal with stress.
Stress and those chemicals mentioned, attack beneficial bacteria in the digestive system and therefore may suppress your immune functions. Unless you really have to take antibiotics, see if you can find a natural alternative first. Homeopathy is safe and amazing in prevention and cure of acute illnesses, flus and severe colds leading to bronchitis and pneumonia. Consult when you need help. If you have a cold, sip on a cup of hot water with lemon, ginger, and raw honey. Drink a lot of chicken bone broth or alkaline vegetable broth. Get plenty of vitamin C and drink a lot of water. If you have to take antibiotics or any other medication, make sure to take quality probiotics for many weeks, and eat lots of fermented food for months to come as it may take up to 18 months to build your bacterial flora again.
”Health can be practiced as an art, to be in harmony with the law of nature, with the self, others and the surrounding world.” ~ Denise Rochon