KTK-Nutrition

This week at the gym, a few people were saying how they or a relative were recovering from some illness, colds, flu or other illnesses that got them run-down and not feeling good.    Are there immunity boosting foods that will help you fight off infections?    As we get   older , our immune system is weaker and we are more likely to get sick.    For those over 65, respiratory infections and in particular pneumonia, are leading causes of death.  What foods can you add to your diet to boost your immune system? Citrus Fruits Citrus fruits are a great way to add some important nutrients like vitamin C and folic acid to one’s day.  (See:  How does vitamin C keep you healthy? )   Citrus fruits  include oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, clementines, and mandarins.  Vitamin C is known for helping to strengthen one’s immune system.  Besides vitamin C, citrus fruits add important antioxidants that have ant...

Every winter people get sick with colds, flu and now COVID is added to the mix.   Yet, we all know some people who seem super healthy.   While everyone in the office, the school or our friends have come down with something, there are those people who seem to have the latest illness bypass them.     Why aren’t they getting sick like everyone else?   Instead of being jealous at how healthy these people are, why not copy some habits that will build your immune system and lead to a healthier you?   My sister sent me a great article about 10 habits of healthy people .   What are some of those habits can you adopt for a healthier you? Drink water – lots of water .   What does drinking water have to do with a healthy immune system?   The University of California, Irvine notes :   Hydration is a key element to maintaining a healthy immune system .   Why?   To have a healthy immune system your body needs nutrients.   We need en...

Who doesn’t like some fast food?   It is so easy to drop in any fast-food establishment and grab a bite to eat, either for a meal or for a quick snack.   But are you getting more than food at a fast-food restaurant?   Consumer Reports and others are reporting along with your food, you could be getting some dangerous chemicals found in the containers and wrappers.   What are these dangerous chemicals? Consumer Report testers found PFAS chemicals in many different types of fast-food packaging.   PFAS stands for “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances “or PFAS.    These chemicals were actually invented in 1938 when Roy Plunkett found a chemical that lasts a very long time and a chemical “resistant to heat, water, oil, and corrosion”.   That is why PFAS chemicals are called “forever chemicals”, they last a long time and don’t break down.   There isn’t just one PFAS chemical, but over 9,000 different ones. Why do Fast Food places use these ch...

So much has been written about strengthening one’s immune system.   An important thing to do in the era of COVID.   Recently I wrote about Vitamin and Supplements to Boost Your Immune System , describing how vitamins C and D, the mineral zinc and the herb, turmeric,   can be helpful in boosting one’s immune system.   But just this week, I read an article about how drinking cow’s milk can help one in the fight against COVID.   Not plant-based milks like Almond milk, oat milk, rice milk, but real cow’s milk.  Cow's milk may help fight COVID. What has the research on milk found? As far back as June 2021, research was being published in Frontiers of Immunology outlining how the proteins in cow’s milk may be helpful in the fight against COVID.   More recently, an article published in the Journal of Dairy Science (February 24, 2022), found that a protein in cow’s milk helps us fight off some viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing organisms. ...

How can you boost your immune system?   The students in the class I teach are now asking about what they can do to boost their immune system.   This question was never asked before but in the age of COVID, people are now interested in finding ways to build a stronger immune system.   My husband shared a good article with me on this topic:   The 4 vitamin and supplements this doctor takes every day to strengthen her immune system .   I find it interesting that throughout this pandemic so little was being said about what we could do to live a healthier lifestyle including enhancing our immune system.   Well, this article gives you some ways to do so. Often health experts say that if you eat a healthy diet, you don’t need supplements of any kind.   I eat a healthy diet but I also take some supplements just to be sure I am getting all the vitamins and minerals I need each day.   Many Americans are not eating healthy diets and don’t take supplements...

As the cold weather is hitting most of the states, it is a good idea to start practicing some healthy habits to charge up your immune system and try to keep the colds and flu away.   What are some ideas that are easy to adopt to stay healthier this winter?          1.    Wash those hands – out shopping, going to school, going to work, up and down escalators, staying in hotels?   Germs are everywhere so wash them away.   Hand washing is the first step to keeping colds and flu at bay .   In 6 Tips for Avoiding Cold and Flu , Dr. Pocinki recommends, “Wash your hands as much as you can stand, and then some more—especially after wrapping up a visit with someone’s who’s sick.”   If you aren’t near a sink, use hand sanitizer.   Carry some in your purse, or store some in your glove compartment.     2.  P ower Up Your Immune System – having a healthy diet will help build your immune s...