By: Marianne Bloxsom; herbalist and Supplement Manager at Edge of the Woods Market

For some people, winter is a gift; winter sports, brisk walks, bonfires and the pristine beauty of snow, but for many of us, the challenge of keeping our immune system functioning well in the face of today’s onslaught of stresses looms large. Not to worry! This year, the addition of one special element may be enough to ease our minds, and this is, take time to get your immune system in top notch shape. With only a few considerations and a small amount of effort, you can strengthen and build your immune system so you can better deal with winter’s demands. Here are a few guidelines to follow:

First, there is so much you can do to aid your immune system simply by what you consume. This is the time of year when sweets abound. Just one teaspoon of refine sugar suppresses your immune system for about four hours! Keeping that in mind, it is of great benefit to reduce, even eliminate refined sugar from your diet as much as possible, even during the holidays. Instead enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or a piece of pumpkin pie, but save those treats for special times rather than “all the time.” Instead indulge in lovely fresh fruits, organic if possible, and crack o pen some nuts, roast pumpkin seeds or enjoy frit or stevia sweetened smoothies or protein shakes. You will actually feel better, cope better and dare I say it – look better! Good nutrition can lower your cravings for sweets and empty calorie carb snacks, so adding more fresh produce to your meals, both raw and steamed, can up your nutrient supply in a big way. Since we often don’t do this, adding a high-quality multi-vitamin and daily green drink can fill in those needs when we are less than mindful of our food intake.

Next, since your colon compromises over 60% of your immune system, it’s important to take steps to keep it in good working order. Avoid constipation like the plaque. Herbal lends like Triphala, an Ayurvedic blend of three medicinal fruits native to India, keep the bowel toned and functioning beautifully. It can be taken daily with no adverse effects. Adding magnesium in the form of a supplement to your intake brings water to the colon to aid the cleansing process and make constipation a thing of the past for you. Fiber rich foods such as avocados, apples, broccoli, carrots, beets, raspberries, pears and Brussel sprouts can help your colon greatly: The addition of a good probiotic not only

greatly aids in colon health, but ups your immune system as well. If IBS or other colon challenges exist, there are herbal helps, such as, Marshmallow Herb, to help soothe and heal the colon.

Then, there are truly wonderful and effective herbs to help us cope with stress and give our bodies the ability to better adapt to the various challenges both physical and mental and emotional that we face daily. They are rightly called “adaptogens.” Medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi and Shitake and herbs such as Siberian ginseng, Ashwagandha, Schizandra (which also protects and repairs the liver) and Holy Basil are wonderful examples of adaptogens. Holy Basil is a calming herb that helps promote the mental balance so needed in our daily lives. These herbs can be taken daily in capsule or tincture or tea form. One of my favorite de-stressors is Rescue Remedy, a combination of five flowers in tincture form discovered by Dr. Edward Bach almost a century ago. These drops have alcohol content but there is also a non-alcohol form for children, pets and those wishing to abstain from even minute amounts. They also come in a gummie-like pastille.

Doing a short live cleanse in the fall does wonders for your immune system. Such a cleanse helps rid our poor toxic over loaded livers to gently release toxins so they can be eliminated from the body. Some of the helpful herbs to achieve this are Milk Thistle, Burdock, Artichoke, Dandelion and Yellow Dock. Be sure to drink plenty of water when doing any kind of cleanse.

Finally, there are herbs and supplements that boost the immune system and be taken seasonally as prevention or when we are actually beginning to feel sick. Some of these are Echinacea, Astragalus, Andrographis, Elderberry, Garlic, Ginger, and Vitamins C, D and A.

The very popular, at the moment, N.A.C is an amino acid that is not only an anti-oxidant, but an eliminator of free radicals and toxins from the liver and lungs. Black Seed (also known as Black Cumin) and Green Tea are of benefit as well.

So, to recap, following these suggestions can help you enjoy the festivities of this season while getting your body and mind ready for the cold, damp season to come:

1. Watch your diet. Reduce or eliminate sugar as much as possible. Add fresh fruit and vegetables as much as possible too.

2. Cleanse your colon and keep it toned and functioning well.

3. Add herbs and other de-stressing supplements daily or as needed.

4. Have mercy on your liver. Do your best to detox and rebuild this wonderful and very necessary-for-life organ.

5. Select from immune supporting herbs as both preventives and curatives.

As an herbalist and supplement manager at Edge of the Woods Market in New Haven, we have all the products I mentioned and so much more. I would be pleased to help you choose vitamins and supplements for your needs. Our knowledgeable team is always ready to help too. Please stop by and say hello and remember to take care of yourself, you’re the greatest gift you can give to your family.