In part five of this series about the immune system, we are going to discuss the spice cinnamon and the benefits it has on the immune system. In future weeks we will further explore other herbs and spices that can help with boosting the immune system. Cinnamon is probably a spice that many people are most familiar with. Many people use it in baking and may also sprinkle it on their hot cereals. Cinnamon is native to Southeast Asia. The use of cinnamon dates back to 2000 B.C. and has been referenced in Chinese medicine text books as a naturopathic remedy (2). Cinnamon has many medicinal uses including: appetite stimulation, treatment of arthritis, diabetes, reducing inflammation, and helpi

Yields about 6-7 quarts Ingredients 6 unpeeled carrots, cut into thirds 2 unpeeled medium yellow onions, cut into quarters 1 leek, both white and green parts, cut into thirds 1 bunch celery, including hearts, cut into thirds 5 unpeeled garlic cloves, halved or smashed ½ bunch fresh flat leaf parsley 4 medium red potatoes with skins on, cut into quarters 2 Japanese sweet potatoes, skins on, cut into quarters 1 yam, with skin on, cut in quarters 1 (8inch ) strip of kombu 2 bay leaves 4 whole allspice or juniper berries 1 tablespoon sea salt Method of preparation Rinse all vegetables, well, including the kombu. IN a 12-quart or larger stock pot, combine all ingredients, except the salt. Fil

Ingredients: o 4 heads garlic o 4 Tbsp EVOO o Sea Salt o 1 cup diced yellow onion (1 medium) o 2 tsp minced garlic o 1 cup finely diced Yukon gold potato o 1 tsp fresh thyme or ¼ tsp dried o 3 ½ cup vegetable broth (or water) (see homemade mineral broth recipe) o Chive oil for garnish Method of preparation 1. Pre heat oven to 400 degrees F 2. Cut the tops of the garlic and discard. Drizzle each head of garlic with olive oil and salt. Wrap the garlic in parchment paper and then wrap in aluminum foil. Bake for 45-50 minutes; the aroma will tell you when is done. The flesh should be soft and golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool. 3. Heat the remaining EVOO in a skillet over medium heat; a

I had fun creating this custom recipe for my Doctorate Program. I hope you enjoy it! Prep Time: 15 Cook Time: 15 Serves: 2 Ingredients For Olive Topping ½ c mixed pitted olives, cut in halves or quarters, depending on size of olive ½ c. cherry tomatoes, cut is quarters 2 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil Pinch of salt For Haddock 10 oz. fresh, wild caught haddock ½ c. white wine 2 Tbsp. butter, salted 1 lemon, juice and zest For Greens 1 large bunch Collard Greens, chiffonade or coarsely chopped (about 8 c. when chopped) 4” fresh turmeric root, finely minced 2” fresh ginger root, finely minced 2 Tbsp. EVOO Pinch of Salt Pepper to taste Fresh rosemary for

In part four of this series about the immune system, we are going to discuss the herb elderberry and the benefits it has on the immune system. In future weeks we will further explore other herbs that can help with boosting the immune system. Elderberries scientific name is Sambucus nigra. Sambucus or Elder are flowering shrubs that produce elderberries. Elderberries were first found in Europe but can now be found across the globe including here in the United States (1). They have been used since the middle ages for both medicinal and food purposes (2). The elderberry was considered a holy tree that had the ability to restore health, maintain health, and to help people live longer (2). T

In part three of this series about the immune system, we are going to discuss herbs that can benefit the immune system. Our immune system is comprised of both innate and adaptive immunity (1). They work together to defend the body against developing infections (1). The innate immune system is the system we are born with and is the body’s first line of defense (1). The innate system is neither anticipatory, which means it has no memory, nor clonal (1). It does not respond to environmental changes. The innate system is reactive and through its receptors has reactions directly to a wide array of microorganisms (1). On the other hand, the adaptive immune system is developed through exchanges

Having a strong immune system is vital to our existence on earth. Our immune system protects us from pathogens that can leave us vulnerable to getting sick. We often think of a weakened immune system in relation to catching a cold or getting the flu. However, a weak immune system can also lead to much more serious conditions like allergies, asthma, immune deficiency disorders (like HIV), and autoimmune diseases (1). In this day and age with all of the convenience foods we have access to, most people do eat enough whole foods including fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy food sources of protein, fats, and carbohydrates (2). I often hear people say they are going to eat food high in

The immune system plays a vital role in keeping us healthy and feeling well. The immune system is made up of an intricate system of cells, tissues, proteins, and organs (1, 2). Besides the nervous system, the immune system is one of the most complex systems in the body (2). This system works together to protect us against viruses, bacteria, or other foreign substances by keeping them out of the body and if that doesn’t happen the immune works to find the invaders and destroys them (1, 2). If the immune system becomes weak and it can’t protect the body against pathogens, then we can become susceptible to minor illnesses or to potentially deadly diseases. Some disorders of the immune system

In part eight, we continue our exploration of the nutrients that are depleted when taking prescription or over-the-counter medications. As we have previously discussed, drug induced nutrient depletions (DIND) occur when medications cause nutrients to be depleted from our bodies. This has been a multi-part series in which I focused on a different drug class each week. In previous weeks, we focused on the nutrients depleted from the use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, anti-hyperlipidemics, pain relievers, acid suppressing agents, oral hypoglycemics, and asthma medications. This week for part eight, we will focus on the nutrients that can be depleted by thyroid medications. Hypothyroidis