The Immune System - Guest Blog Post by Evie Takacs, MS of Holistically Restored Health Coaching
Hi! I’m excited to guest blog for Absolute Kinetics and discuss something very important (especially this time of year). I’m Evie Takacs, MS., Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and owner of Holistically Restored. I work with women who are ready to take their health to the next level by engaging in hormone, nutrition and thyroid coaching. My fascination with what the human body is capable of has led me to teach others how empowering it can be to truly understand the body and provide the best environment for it.
When we think of the human body in today’s modern culture, we often think of ways to stop it from doing something. We take pain medication for any ailment and will often suppress symptoms to simply get rid of them. But what if we stopped looking at symptoms as problems and started treating them as communication from our body? How well are we listening to what our body is telling us?
As soon as I shifted my mindset from interpreting symptoms as a problem and looking at them as communication, my perspective of my body changed. Our body is always communicating and it’s up to us to listen.
One of my favorite parts of the human body is the built in security system called the immune system. We have all heard of it, but how much do we actually know about it? To spare the super science lesson, let’s stick to the basics: innate and adaptive.
The innate immune system is the body’s first line of defense when the body detects something is “wrong.” When you get a cut on your skin, the innate immune system works to heal the cut and destroy the germs to protect your body from any other harm.
The adaptive immune system, on the other hand, works on finding the germ and adapting to protect you from future infections. It takes longer to react compared to the innate system, but its effects last longer.
What do we do with this information? Well, we take a minute to recognize how amazing this process is in the body and take action to strengthen it. Our world is changing and our bodies are adapting as well which means our defense system is continuously working for us. With ever-changing information about illnesses our bodies face, we always have our immune system to rely on.
There are several ways to support your immune system and these may change depending on the season; however, taking daily action to strengthen your body’s security system is something that will pay off when you need it most!
Here are some of my favorite ways to boost immunity year-round:
● Eat whole foods in their most natural form (organic whenever possible)
● Avoid processed foods (like packaged food)
● Exercise regularly
● Prioritize sleep (7-9 hours/night)
● Manage stress
● Support with supplements
To dive deeper into foods that boost immunity, incorporate these foods into your weekly menu:
● Ginger
● Peppers
● Garlic
● Lemon
● Bone Broth
● Turmeric
● Manuka Honey
Supplements that support the general immune system:
● Vitamin D
● Zinc
● Vitamin C
● Medicinal Mushrooms
● Probiotics
*As always, consult with your health care provider before beginning a new supplement or regiment.
What other ways do you like to support your immune system and what do you think you’ll start incorporating? If you have questions, please reach out to me at holisticallyrestored@gmail.com or 513-673-1998. To learn more about Holistically Restored and coaching services, visit us at www.holisticallyrestored.com and follow @holisticallyrestored on Instagram and Facebook.