with our Naturopath, Dr. Angelica Dimita
Happy Fall! Here come the beautiful fall leaves and cooler temperatures, along with daycare and school germs. Keep your immune system supported, and use these strategies for both you and your little one this cold season!
1. Incorporate Immune-Boosting Foods
A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals is crucial. Eat many colourful fruits and vegetables, focusing on those with antioxidants, like berries and dark leafy greens, and those high in vitamin C, like red bell peppers and citrus fruit. Warming spices like ginger, turmeric, black pepper, and cinnamon, and nutrient dense bone broth can also help to support the immune system.
2. Get Quality Sleep
Our bodies do a lot of important things while we sleep. One of those things is producing and releasing cytokines, which are proteins that protect our bodies from inflammation and infection. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep (and more for kids), every single night. If you can’t seem to reach those hours, go to bed 30 minutes earlier than your usual time. Remember, consistency is key!
3. Spend Time Outside
Sunlight gives us vitamin D, an essential vitamin for building immunity. Try to get daily sun by incorporating a 30 minute walk at some point during your day, or by taking your kids to the park before dinner, or by having your morning tea/coffee on your front porch. In addition to sunlight, being in nature helps to reduce our stress levels, which helps our immune system!
Incorporating these healthy habits can have a big impact on your immunity. I recommend taking small steps to start, in order to build sustainable change that you can take with you all year long.
Wishing you a healthy fall season!
Dr. Angelica Dimita, ND
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