Be super immune
There are many superfoods, superherbs and super products that promote the immune system. David Wolfe, the rock star of the superfoods and longevity world, has some advice to help you boost your immune system
Your immune system is vast and complex. It is designed to detoxify your body as well as protect your body from illness and foreign invaders.
Harmful bacteria, viruses, calcium-forming microorganisms, and candida are part of our world. Unfortunately, so are toxic chemicals, including everything from pesticides and nuclear radiation to car pollution and most tap water. In our world, these harmful microorganisms and the endless list of toxic chemicals assault our immune system constantly. Coupled with these assaults are the daily stresses of life and their deleterious effects upon
All of these add up to a weakened immune system, which can lead to a host of other physical and mental health problems: colds and flus, chronic disease, skin disorders, digestive distress, nervous conditions, even cancer. When the body has too much to deal with, it stops being able to get rid of its waste efficiently and requires more support to help it fight off what is attacking it.
We can all learn more about empowering our immune systems. I believe the best way to activate the genius within the immune system is by ingesting certain superherbs and superfoods, taking probiotics and cultured foods, minimising toxic food exposure by eating pure organic, raw-living foods, and making healthy lifestyle improvements.
In 400BC Hippocrates said, “Let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food.” Out of more than 40,000 herbs used worldwide, perhaps only 50 or 60 of them are tonic superherbs. These superherbs should be taken for long periods because, like all tonics, they are more like food and they build health treasures within and nourish our ‘stress defence shield’.
Whenever possible, try to include the following superfoods, superherbs, and super products in your daily regime:
REISHI MUSHROOM
Reishi is the queen of medicinal mushrooms. It has been the most revered herbal mushroom in Asia for more than 2,000 years. The Daoists consider Reishi an ‘elixir of immortality’. They celebrate it for its ability to improve the functioning of the immune system by protecting us from the onslaught of viruses, bacteria, pollution, chemicals, moulds, and the toxicity that we are often subject to in our world.
PROBIOTICS
Consuming a combination of good quality probiotics and cultured and fermented foods, such as coconut and other kefirs, unpasteurised sauerkraut and kim chi, will lead to enhanced immunity as the beneficial probiotic bacteria are symbiotic allies to your body that help fight viruses, candida and other infections, produce B vitamins, and assist in detoxification.
CAMU CAMU BERRY
If Reishi is the queen, Chaga is the king. It contains the highest amounts of anti-tumour compounds of any herb. Chaga is also extremely high in nourishing phytochemicals, nutrients, and free radical scavenging antioxidants, especially melanin. Chaga is second only to cacao in antioxidant content. It’s the most powerful cancer-fighting herb known, and it fights all kinds of radiation damage to healthy tissue
GYNOSTEMMA
It has been identified as the most medicinal of all the Chinese herbs. It contains 120 saponins (immune modulating molecules that are fat soluble on one side of the molecule and water soluble on the other) — all of which possess specific, dual-directional health-giving properties. This means it boosts the immune system when it needs it, but also calms it down.
CHLORELLA
Chlorella is a natural, green, micro-algae, superfood detoxifier. It is the highest chlorophyll-containing plant in the world, with 40 times that of the best wheatgrass juice. The chlorophyll binds with heavy metals and chemical toxins, helping to eliminate them from the brain and nervous system.
GINSENG
Known throughout the world for its amazing energy-restoring and strength-building properties, ginseng is an adaptogen that helps our bodies ‘adapt’ to stressful environmental conditions. Ginseng root can boost energy, induce mental alertness, improve the ratio of healthy hormones, and increase endurance. Ginseng also helps fight pain and alleviate radiation damage to healthy tissues.
When you start investigating and utilising these substances consistently and regularly as part of your overall health and exercise programme, you will notice that your immunity will be enhanced. Your thoughts will have more clarity. Your overall energy will increase. Feelings of wellbeing will begin to dominate your life. Superfoods and tonic superherbs can be added into anyone’s diet. Get out a blender and have fun. Make different teas with the superherbs or create new smoothies with the superfoods. Better yet, take your superherb tea and blend it with your superfoods to make the best elixirs ever. Getting healthier is fun!
