Love Yourself Enough to Live a Healthier Lifestyle
Tips for Healthy Living - November 2021
What Happens When A Normal Immune System Reacts to an Abnormal Environment
When we hear autoimmune disease described as a condition in which our body begins attacking its own tissues, we may believe that our body is the problem and it is acting abnormally or misbehaving in some way. We are often told that it's a genetic mutation that is failing to identify foreign vs. self; causing inflammation and pain in various organs and tissues. Believing this makes the problem seem out of control and incurable.

But this simply isn't true.

If it was simply genetic, this doesn't explain the explosion of autoimmune disease in the last 10 years.

If you want to really understand all the details of WHY this is happening, click on our latest blogpost "Why is My Immune System Attacking my Own Cells?" . To summarize, an overreactive immune system is reacting to what it sees as an abnormal environment.

So the question becomes how do we restore a normal environment in our body?

The first important factor to understand is that every body is different. Every autoimmune issue is different. This is why a holistic approach with an expert is so important. Holistic experts are trained to understand the science of how food works, as well as all the other factors that contribute to the disease - such as fatigue, digestion, and stress.

Although there is no single Autoimmune Diet that works for everyone, there are general rules and anti-inflammatory foods that are known to be beneficial support for the body. We will be discussing more about this in future emails, but if you are looking for relief from an autoimmune condition, don't hesitate, we offer a complementary phone call consultation with Dr. Nelson to determine if you would be a good fit for our autoimmune treatment program.

Supplement of the Month:
Echinacea

Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs worldwide, and is also known as purple coneflower. Native Americans have used it for centuries to treat various ailments, and throughout history people have used echinacea to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria.

Echinacea can be a powerful enhancement to an immune building program; to support upper respiratory tract health; and also to relieve temporary mild throat discomfort associated with hoarseness, dry throat and irritants. There are many more benefits of a good quality echinacea, too many to list.

It's important to note that there are many echinacea supplements on the market. Most are using the wrong part of the plant. A tip for knowing that you are taking effective, high quality echinacea: it will cause your tongue to tingle if left in the mouth for a couple of seconds.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Giving Thanks for Our Health!

Thanksgiving is almost here. Yes, it's almost time to start preparing the meal, visit with family, get all dressed up and....eat. But wait, does this align with your health goals?

We often hear from our clients that this is a difficult time of year. There is a lot we can do to make the meals more healthy such as ensuring your Thanksgiving turkey is organic and free range, focusing more on the yummy side vegetable dishes rather than the pecan pie when planning the meal, and cutting some of the snacks that threaten to fill you up with empty calories.

But maybe this is the year you refocus the holiday season more on activities and events, and less on the food and gifts. Here are some thoughts from the staff at NHHC:
  • Think of the dinner table as a great place to plan for some together time and play a family game before or after your meal;
  • Why not go for a hike in the woods on Black Friday rather than a trip to the mall?
  • Holiday movies are fun, but tend to be a sedentary activity. This year maybe shift to an outing and go to a local theater or concert instead.
  • Support your local artisans by seeking out craft fairs - it's more fun to select handmade gifts that you can touch instead of shopping on Amazon.
  • Try out a yoga class or mindfulness activity to give your mind and body a break from any holiday stressors. Stress increases cortisol in the body which makes you feel hungry and promotes fat storage

These are just a few suggestions. Take advantage of this time of year to re-evaluate what's important. The best gift you can give this holiday season is to ensure your body is healthy and your mind is at ease.
Featured Recipe:
Cauliflower-Sweet Potato Mash
Ingredients:

1 lb. Sweet Potatoes, peeled and chopped
3 cups cauliflower florets
2 cloves garlic, peeled
3 tbls clarified butter or ghee
1/2 tsp celtic or himalayan salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

Place the sweet potatoes, cauliflower and garlic in a large saucepan, add enough water to cover, and bring to boil.

Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are tender - about 12-15 minutes.

Drain the vegetables

Using a potato masher, mash the vegetables until desired consistency.

Stir in the butter, salt and pepper and serve.
Do you know someone with health problems that would like to improve their health and function with a personalized nutrition program? If so, please share this newsletter with them. We would start with a consultation call with Dr. Nelson that can be scheduled here.