Immunity
All of the systems within your body work closely together to maintain optimal health, so when one system is unbalanced it can cause problems in other areas of your body.
This is particularly true for the immune system, as the state of your gut and immune system are inextricably linked. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of your immune tissue is located within your digestive system.
The gut is often the first entry point for exposure to pathogens (bad bacteria and viruses that can cause disease), therefore your gut immune system needs to be thriving and healthy in order to avoid illness.
The gut has a huge role of the immune system, and where a lot of these cells within the gut lining are. The gut lining has to be really healthy; a good mucous lining hasn’t got much inflammation or too much toxic bacteria. Within the gut lining is also where a lot of our good bacteria like bifidobacterium and lactobacillus will colonise within the gut.
In preparation for winter, I increase food that is warming for my body and good for my gut like ginger, cinnamon, cassia, clove, turmeric and spices like black pepper or cayenne pepper. I love making my Immunity Shot and Hot Turmeric Tea (recipes below) in winter. You can have the warming tea in the morning and then have a turmeric shot during the day, and of course, doTERRA On Guard essential oil blend. This essential oil blend is infused in my hand wash, tooth paste, mouthwash, cleaner concentrate and washing liquid. I want to make sure this powerful protective blend is around me and my family all the time to protect me.
Apart from above, I pay attention to sleep, exercise, hydration, managing stress and eat healthy organic and whole food especially healthy fats, greens and fermented food.
Hot Turmeric Tea
Ingredients
2 tbsp grated fresh turmeric - or 1 tsp turmeric powder
6 whole black peppercorns, crushed
6 whole cardamoms, crushed - or 1 tsp ground cardamon
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger - or a tsp ginger powder
2 cups nut milk (I use home-made almond milk) or water - you can add more if you like your tea less strong
1 tbsp Manuka honey (add it before you drink if you prefer not to cook your honey.) You can substitute honey with maple syrup if you are vegan
Instructions:
Combine all the spices and milk in a pot. You can blend the spices together in a food processor, then add milk/water
Bring it to simmer for around 2-3 minutes
Strain
Add honey and serve
Immunity Shot
Ingredients :
2x thumb sized fresh ginger root
1 fresh turmeric root
a pinch of black pepper
a pinch of cayenne pepper
2 cups fresh pineapple
1 fresh lemon, skin and seeds removed
1 - 2 cups water
1 drop doTERRA turmeric essential oil (optional)
Instruction :
Blend everything together and enjoy
Pit xx