‘Eat a rainbow!’ Boosting your immune system during the winter months
The winter season is upon us and we are in countdown mode to the Christmas holidays and festive season. An exciting but busy time of year. However, December can also be a stressful time with work deadlines, kids finish up at school and fitting in end of year social events. This can put an amount of undue pressure on the immune system making us more susceptible to colds, flu’s and infections.
Increasing your consumption of plant and colourful foods is a great way to keep the body strong. Or as our mum always says, ‘eat a rainbow’.
Berry boost Living in a warmer climate means we are fortunate enough to purchase berries all year round. Berries are a nutrient powerhouse and help boost our antioxidant levels as well as important vitamins and minerals. They have been effective in helping reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, digestive problems and inflammatory conditions. This is due to the substance known as anthocyanin, which works as an antioxidant and reducing inflammation. Try our selection of blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries and mixed berry packs!
Spice it up Herbs and spices are a great way to add flavor to your foods and top up your antioxidant levels. A few of my favourites include turmeric, cinnamon, rosemary, garlic, ginger, cloves, coriander, oregano and sage.
Eat your greens Green leafy vegetables play an important role in keeping us healthy and preventing illness. However, only 25% of us eat 3 or more servings of vegetables every day.
Eating our greens has been shown to have many positive health benefits as they are packed full of nutrients, antioxidants, and fibre and are low in calories. Leafy greens are high in Vitamins A, C, E and K as well as calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and potassium. By including more greens into our daily meals we are loading ourselves up with all the goodness that helps strengthen our health.
Some of the great reasons why you should eat your greens include: 1. Heal the digestive tract 2. Reduce inflammation 3. Improve skin appearance 4. Lower cholesterol 5. Cardiovascular protection 6. Boost bone health 7. Enhance brain function and mood enhancement 8. Maintain a strong immune function 9. Help fuel the body 10. Prevent cancer
South Stream Market has a great selection of greens this month including organic celery, silverbeet, okra, avocados, broccoli, asparagus, lettuce varieties, and their selection of organic frozen kale & green beans.
Green smoothies are an easy ‘go to’ snack or mini meal that can boost your intake of daily greens without the fuss of prepping a full meal when you’re short of time. Greens are also very child-friendly when blended up with other flavorful ingredients such as pineapple, bananas, coconut water or dates. Try this easy option by click here!
Want to find out more or ask a question? Click Here to get in touch with Chrissy.
