The trees are in bloom, the days are longer, temperatures are rising, and this can only mean one thing, ALLERGY SEASON. Yes, with the lightness, bounty and joy that is spring also comes a darker side in the form of runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, and a massive increase in the use of allergy medications. You will be happy to know that there are many alternatives to medicated nasal sprays and pills. Let’s first examine why so many people suffer from seasonal allergies.

It seems that most people just accept seasonal allergies as a part of life that they can’t really change. They often can identify the allergens, but seldom ask or get told what the underlying cause is. The answer is total load; this is when your body hits a saturation point due to toxins. The liver becomes overburdened and then the other detoxification organs (lungs and skin) pick up the slack. At this point allergies and skin rashes are common. So even if you suspect that you are allergic to pets or pollen, you may want to examine your diet, because this is where allergies usually begin.

Most people eat foods that they are allergic to every day. This causes the immune system and liver to be called into action. Repeating this process over and over makes it easy for the body to hit its “total load”. Avoiding processed foods is one major way to reduce total load, as these denatured foods contain many chemical additives that are difficult for the liver to process. Another way is to look at your consumption of common allergenic foods such as gluten, dairy, corn, sugar, and soy. If you eat any of these foods often, then eliminate them and see if your symptoms improve.

Unfiltered tap water, plastic, household chemicals, perfume, cosmetics, lotions, furniture, and even that “new car smell” could be adding to your body’s toxic burden. Limiting exposure to toxins in your environment can provide tremendous relief to your liver and immune system. Look for all-natural, non-toxic alternatives.

To relieve existing allergies, try a vitamin/mineral/antioxidant/herbal allergy support blend, a neti pot, or a natural nasal wash. Nettles, mullein, ginger, and licorice are beneficial for the lungs, liver, and immune system. Try brewing a tea or taking a tincture. Neti pots use sea salt and water to clear congestion and can provide quick relief. Look for nasal washes that contain saline, xylitol, and herbs.

Increase seasonal fresh fruits and (especially) vegetables. Both are high in antioxidants and flavanoids. Antioxidants fight free radical damage generated by toxins, and fiber ensures proper elimination of toxins. Flavanoids are plant pigments that have a wide variety of benefits. Onions, apples, citrus peel, grapes, buckwheat and broad beans are high in the flavanoid quercetin, which is an antioxidant and natural antihistamine. Garlic contains allicin, which has powerful decongestant and antimicrobial properties. Eating these foods is a simple and effective way to make spring more pleasant for allergy sufferers.

Try this simple and delicious seasonally inspired soup. It’s an easy way to incorporate the foods that I’ve suggested, and is healthy and tasty even for those who don’t have allergies.

happy Spring Soup

1 bunch asparagus, bottom snapped off

1 bunch purple and orange carrots, cut lengthwise

1 bunch spring greens, chopped

2 turnips, sliced

1 onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, diced

2 stalks spring garlic, cut lengthwise

2 tsp black peppercorn, to taste

2 tbsp Miso paste, stirred into 1/3 cup of water

Optional: cayenne pepper, fresh cilantro or parsley

directions: Place veggies in a pot with garlic, onion, and peppercorns. Cover veggies with boiling water and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Turn off heat, let stand a few minutes, and then add miso paste.

enjoy!

To learn more about how to reduce toxic burden in your life, join me on Sunday, April 18^th in San Francisco for the next Detox4Life workshop. Go to detox4life.net for more information. Also, check out my blog at nutritionevolution.net

When I was growing up at the first sign of a sniffle I was ready to take a variety of over the counter drugs and even antibiotics. As I became tired of having  five or six colds/flu a year, I thought maybe there is a better way. Turns out there is: prevent the cold and flu from coming in the first place. There are many ways to do this. For one, stop eating foods that make you congested. Basically, when you are experiencing congestion (ongoing), runny nose, etc., you likely have food allergies. Dairy is a huge culprit. Even if you aren’t allergic, it creates mucus, which is something to avoid when trying to ward of a cold or flu.  Eating fresh veggies and fruit (more veggies than fruit) each day is also helpful. This provides the body with antioxidants and a variety of vitamins and minerals.

If prevention doesn’t work and you still come down with the sniffles, it’s possible to prevent it from becoming worse.  At the first onset, instead of reaching for the over the counter remedies, try taking herbs or medicinal mushrooms. Many mushrooms raise your Natural Killer white blood cells, and these blood cells fight off invaders than enter your body. Limiting sugar is also a smart preventative move since it lowers the Natural Killer cells that the mushrooms are  trying to raise. And no, mushrooms dipped in sugar does not balance out. Load up on zinc and vitamin C as well. In fact, when you are sick your body can handle quite a large amount of vitamin C. I usually recommend 500mg every 1-2 hours. It’s simple and quite effective.

For flu, elderberry is an herb that has been used for thousands of years. Until recently no one knew just why it was so effective at fighting flu. Research has now shown that the phtyo-nutrients (plant nutrients) that give it it’s dark color are also loaded with antioxidants that support the immune system. Elderberry has componds which literally prevent the flu virus from puncturing the cells and getting inside.  It works best at the first onset of symptoms, though it could still help if the virus has already taken hold. My other favorite flu remedy is Oscillococinum. I have been astonished at how well this homepathic remedy works. Not just for seasonal flu, but also for stomach flu. A few years ago I was so ill with stomach flu that I slept for two days. When I woke up I was weak and my body felt like there was broken glass in it. I immediately took the Oscillo and within 10 minutes my 103 degree fever was down to 99 and I felt human again. My partner was also stunned, and he commented that I looked like a different person. It is best to have these remedies on hand so you can take them immediatly when you being to feel ill.

How can you tell if you have a cold or flu? The flu usually starts with fever, chills, and body aches. The cold usually starts with sneezing and a runny nose.

Another issue is genes. Many people say, “Well everyone in my family has diabetes or heart disease,” and they  just resign themselves to that fate. The interesting thing is that genes are simply a blueprint. It does not have to turn into the worst case scenario. Often times when everyone in the family got diabetes or heart disease it was because they ate the same foods. Food is not only fuel, but it also tells our genes what to do. I met a man who had eight brothers who all got heart disease. They lived in the mid-west and ate mainly meat and potatoes and processed foods. This man moved to California 15 years earlier and began eating fresh veggies and cut out processed foods. Guess what? Yes, you guessed it, he did not have heart disease or even high cholesterol. We always have a choice!

So think about  your particular blueprint and avoid the risk factors and increase the foods and lifestyle choices that will further reduce the risk. This is a simple way to avoid a lifetime of doctors offices and medications. Sure it may not be fun to avoid those donuts, but down the road they will be a distant memory as you are not only experiencing more energy and vitality but more in the pocketbook to spend on yummy kale! OK, maybe not just kale, but certainly the money will be in your pocket and not plugged into the system of un-wellness.

Veggies are packed with everything that our body needs to be well–vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, yet many people don’t consume enough. I will share with you this crowd-pleasing recipe for veggies. There are an infinite number of possibilities for this simple dish. You can change the veggies with the season. My favorite is brussels sprouts! Try to include all the colors of the veggie rainbow for maximum nutrient benefits.

sho’s yummy roasted veggies

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3 tbsp lime juice

1-2 tbsp dijon mustard, to taste

1 cup green beans, whole

1-2 yellow summer squash

1/2 head purple cauliflower, pull off  from head into bite-size pieces

1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped

1-2 leeks, cut into rounds

1 red pepper, thin strips

1 cup shitake mushrooms, cut in half

fresh herbs, to taste (oregano, basil, thyme, marjoram)

dried spices, to taste (I use an organic spice blend)

Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Himalayan salt, to taste

directions: Put all cut and washed veggies(except chard) into a baking dish. Add spices and fresh herbs. Mix olive oil, lime juice, and dijon mustard, and pour liquid mixture over veggies. You can pop into the oven right away or let marinate for a few hours or even over night. Cover with foil, and bake on 350 for about 40 minutes (check after 30 minutes as ovens vary). Pull it out of the oven when there are about 5 minutes left and mix in chard. Cover and put back in oven for last 5 minutes.

enjoy!

Second detox4life.net workshop coming soon!

Stop popping antibiotics every time you have a cold or swollen glands, sore throat, ear or sinus infection! First, colds and flus are viruses and cannot be harmed by antibiotics, only bacteria can. But, that doesn’t stop doctors from prescribing them. In fact, one of the reasons I got into the field of holistic health was an experience that I had at the emergency room about ten years ago. I had a high fever and could barely move. When the doctor saw me he told me I had some kind of flu virus. He wanted to give me a shot with a week’s worth of antibiotics. I did not know as much about holistic care as I do now, but I did know antibiotics would be useless. I asked him why he wanted to prescribe them to me since they can’t kill viruses, and he told me that is just something that people want. They come in and want some kind of medicine. Did my high fever make me hallucinate this? Sadly no, and here we have one of the biggest problems with the medical system.

Over-medicating with antibiotics actually weakens the immune system. Many people ask me why they got a cold or flu after getting off a course of antibiotics. For one thing, it kills all your  body’s beneficial bacteria. These bacteria (flora) are crucial for fighting off pathogens that enter your system. Your beneficial bacteria also fights yeast, another common complaint associated with antibiotic use. If you do take a course, please take a probiotic (beneficial bacteria) supplement and eat bacteria-rich cultured foods such as miso and sauerkraut as well.

Chronic ear and sinus infections are often caused by underlying food allergies. Try cutting out wheat and especially dairy. Dairy creates mucus and dampness in the body. If you are going to have dairy, make sure it is fermented, such as yogurt, kefir, or cottage cheese. When milk is fermented, bacteria and enzymes are created. This makes it easier to digest, creating less of a load on the body. If you are highly sensitive to these foods, you may need to eliminate them completely.

Lay off the sugar and coffee! Sugar lowers your Natural Killer cells; the super-charged white blood cells that fight off invaders. Coffee causes your adrenal glands to release stress hormones. This leads to a crash-and-burn cycle that leaves the body fatigued and unable to adapt to stress. In this weakened state invaders have no trouble getting into your system.

If you feel sick, don’t be a hero and go to work. Stay home give yourself a chance to rest. Your body will thank you, and so will your co-workers, as now they won’t be sharing your illness.

Try herbs and medicinal mushrooms for immune support. My favorite mushroom blend is Host Defense by Paul Stamets for New Chapter. This blend of 17 mushrooms turns a garden-variety immune system into a super-charged immune system. The mushrooms increase those ever-important Natural Killer cells. This can be used preventively: two per day, or for an acute problem, six per day. Garlic and goldenseal are anti-microbial. Echinacea, zinc, and vitamin C are all food for the immune system. N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is a powerful amino acid, and antioxidant which supports liver and immune health. It is especially helpful for thinning mucus. This is a relief when there is too much congestion, as with colds, flu, and sinus infections. 1,000-2,000 mg per day is the recommended dose.

As always, eat a diet rich in unprocessed whole foods. This will give your body all the nutrients it needs to be strong and ready to fight off any invaders that come it’s way.

Here is a recipe for a classic healing food, chicken soup. Instead of noodles, this one is with sweet potato. This meal is packed with nutrients to heal the body and soothe the mind. 

healing veggie chicken soup 

4 lb organic chicken

3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 onions, chopped

3 carrots, chopped

6 celery stalks, chopped

1 sweet potato, cut into bite-size chunks

2 cups shitake mushrooms, chopped

5 cloves garlic

1 lemon, juiced

1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped

fresh herbs: thyme, oregano, sage and basil, to taste

1 bunch Swiss chard, thinly chopped

optional: cayenne pepper (helps clear lungs)

tip: Cut veggies into 1/2 inch pieces

tip: Tie the fresh herbs and put them in whole 

directions: Rinse chicken and place it in large soup pot and cover with filtered water. Add apple cider vinegar, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks and 1 tsp salt. Simmer until chicken is tender and falls off the bone. Take chicken  out of the pot. Strain broth, and then put back in pot. Add to broth the remaining  onion, celery, carrot, shitakes, sweet potato, fresh herbs, garlic, and lemon juice; bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to simmer, until sweet potato and carrots are tender. Stir in chopped chard and fresh parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks and put back into the pot. You can cut the chicken up while soup is simmering. 

Enjoy!