The Learning Season

Most of the world’s population has experienced this new, restrictive season for a few weeks now. With the familiar activities (school, business, recreation, gatherings, etc.) being restricted, we are seeing greater activity in online sharing––in a good and optimistic manner.

Personal trainers are keeping their clients in tip-top shape via Zoom classes. Musicians are hosting online concerts. School classes and business meetings are overloading the air-band frequencies with at-home courses and conferences. Grandparents are ‘visiting’ their grands on FaceTime or other social platforms. It’s a new season!

This disorienting condition has shaken everyone from their comfort zones and daily rhythms. It is a well known fact that stress depletes the body’s immunity and the current climate has definitely elevated everyone’s stress levels.

Timing is crucial for us to rev up our wellness ways. If the stay-home order continues, we need to stay ever present and intentional in our daily choices for immune health. Now is NOT the time for a hospital stay.

There is a brighter future for our health when we purposefully put into practice some simple strategies. I have taught and coached countless clients on the importance of prevention and preparation for optimal performance and functioning of all eleven body systems. May I share a few tips with you?

• Stay diligent with current distancing and disinfecting suggestions.

• Choose foods that heal, not steal your energy and health: life-supporting, fresh, seasonal foods heal; pre-packaged, processed foods steal.

• Be selective with the time you watch/listen to ‘the news.’ That alone will lower your stress response.

• Include immune support nutritional supplementation to your current dietary choices. There are Regulatory Nutrients (keep the body regulated and functioning normally) and Booster Nutrients (build ‘fighter’ cells to combat foreign cells). Our bodies need both in adequate doses during this season. Improve your body’s ability to distinguish between self and non-self (pathogens).

• Stay well hydrated with purified water.

• Maintain an active routine. Movie-marathons are fun for a weekend, but not for 3-4 weeks. A weakened/compromised body cannot strongly defend itself. Walk more.

• Thinking, feeling and behaving like we are happy and peaceful enhances the immune system.

• Read a good book. Call a friend. Send a card. Try a new recipe. Sit in the sunshine. Love more!

I recently heard a great analogy for immune system support from Professor of Immunology Don Bellgrau, PhD: “Imagine you are driving your car (your body) up a steep mountain (a pathogen) and the engine (immune system) begins to sputter. Is the problem the mountain is too steep? Or that the engine was not ‘tuned-up’ for the steep climb?

May you learn many new and exciting things in this restrictive season. Be well!

Here’s a light, Springtime recipe I hope you’ll try. Asparagus is one of my favorite Spring foods.

Roasted Asparagus Crostini

1 pound fresh asparagus, rinsed, trimmed and cut into 1” pieces

1/2 cup pitted, sliced black olives

1 cup ripe cherry tomatoes, cut in halves or quarters

1 clove garlic, minced

Small handful basil leaves, torn

Extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

8 slices Italian or French bread, about ó inch thick

Pecorino Romano or other firm sheep’s milk cheese

• Preheat oven to 425°F and place a parchment-lined cookie sheet into the oven to preheat.

• Combine the asparagus, olives, tomatoes, garlic and basil into a bowl and add enough olive oil to coat the vegetables well.

• Pour the vegetables onto the heated baking sheet and cook for 3-5 minutes or just until asparagus is tender. Remove from oven and season with coarse salt and black pepper.

• While the vegetables are cooking, rub the bread with olive oil and toast in a hot oven until just starting to brown.

• Arrange some of the vegetables on each slice of toasted bread and shave the cheese over the top with a vegetable peeler.