Dr. Atkinson's Wellness Blog

7 Tips to Boost Your Immunity Naturally

   With the cold and flu season in full swing, many people want to know what they can do to strengthen their immune system.  Here are some simple tips that can strengthen your immune system and help you to stay healthy this winter:

1. Carrot & Papaya juice- This combination helps to build white cells, which will boost your immunity.
2. Miso Soup- This soup will boost the antibodies in your body.  Antibodies attach to the white cells which boosts the immune system.  Miso is also thought to have an antibacterial effect.  
3. Sardines- This tiny fish helps to boost the white cell aggressiveness in the body, which strengthens the immune response.
4. Garlic- Garlic is rich in allicin which is know to support the immune system.
5. Elderberry juice- In order to get the full benefits from this berry, you must drink the juice rather than take the capsules.  This berry packs a one two punch as some research has shown that it can block the flu due to its antiviral properties.  
6. Avoid Sugar-Refined sugar causes inflammation in the body and decreases the immune system. 
7. Get Adjusted-Research has shown that chiropractic adjustments can help to boost the immune system. In clinical trials, monitored by the Rand Corporation, and conducted at Life University,chiropractic showed great potential to boost immune function. In addition to this study, several other preliminary studies also showed immune system boosting. In 1991Patricia Brennan, PhD conducted a study that demonstrated an increased immune function following a mid back adjustment. Dr. Pero stated in his research that "Chiropractic patients in the study had 200 percent greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic, and 400 percent greater immune competence than people with cancer or other serious disease."

Why dieting does not work and may make you fatter.

  Have you ever noticed that many people that you know are constantly   dieting, and never seem to be losing weight?  The truth of the matter is that diets just simply do not work.  Most diets require some kind of food restriction as well as significant calorie reduction.  The first few days most dieters feel excited about the diet, but quickly lose their enthusiasm after a few short days when hunger sets in.  After a week, most dieters typically are wondering how much longer they can stand the diet, and they typically will begin to "cheat".  Typically cheating results in weight gain, which leaves the dieter discouraged and feeling like the diet just isn't working.  Before you know it, the person you knew who was 'on a diet' is no longer 'on that diet' because the diet simply did not work.  You may even notice that the dieter looks like he or she has actually gained more weight than he or she has lost. The simple truth of the matter is that diets are based on a substantial calorie restriction and denial of many foods.  So what do you do if you need to lose weight and keep it off?   

• Eat healthy and the main key is to control portion size.  Most people gain weight because they eat huge portion sizes.  Learn what a portion and serving size is and stick to this at each meal.
• Set a reasonable weekly and monthly goal of what you would like to lose and track your results.
• Keep a food diary and discover what triggers you to overeat.
• Exercise burns calories and curbs hunger, so find something you like to do and get moving!
• Allow yourself an occasional indulgence so that you do not feel deprived.  Remember to watch your portion size.
• Stay away from diet drinks and "sugar-free" products.  Many of these products leave you unsatisfied and stimulate hunger.