Want to Stay Well This Winter?

Margaret Durst discusses how to build up your immune system to stay well this winter.

Cold, dreary weather and flu season have a lot in common. I recommend building immunity during this time.

My first tip during weather like this is up your intake of vitamin D. It always seems like the worst cold and flu bugs circulate around the school after one of these spells. Read more

Vitamin D "Triggers and Arms" the Immune System

Vitamin D is crucial to the fending off of infections, claims new research.

The so-called sunshine vitamin, which can be obtained from food or manufactured by human skin exposed to the sun, plays a key role in boosting the immune system, researchers believe.

In particular it triggers and arms the body's T cells, the cells in the body that seek out and destroy any invading bacteria and viruses.

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defences and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin, the killer cells of the immune system – T cells – will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body. Read more

Green Superfood to Boost Your Immune System

Nutritionists agree that consuming more fruits and vegetables - especially deep green leafy vegetables - is beneficial to the body. Green superfoods are natural foods that are loaded with an abundance of nutrients that are above and beyond what is contained in most foods. In some cases, a green superfood is not only considered a source of nutrition, but also a means of treating various types of health conditions.

Green Super Foods such as Spirulina, Chlorella, and Blue-Green Algae all contain chlorophyll, protein, vitamin B-12, essential fatty acid GLA, trace minerals and other nutrients in a form that is easily assimilated by the human body. These green foods are one of the four basic supplements that I recommend for health.

Green cleans. It helps to purify the liver and eliminate toxins from food additives, pesticides, fertilizers, and drugs. It is also helpful in removing heavy metals from the body. Read more

How do you keep your children and yourself from getting sick? Be proactive with Vitamin D, probiotics, and immune boosters, says Margaret Durst.

‘How do I keep my kids from getting sick?’ is a question I get asked a lot this time of year. I think it is an important question for adults as well as kids – especially as we head into the holidays. It always seems to me that some of the worst cold and flu outbreaks occur right after the holidays.

I have several theories. The first is about exchanging bugs (virus and bacteria) with our cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, etc. The second theory is our exposure to extremely rich food, upsetting our digestive tract which holds a significant part of our immunity. The third theory is about cold cloudy days without enough sunlight which reduces our daily vitamin D levels.

I don’t get very concerned about my first theory. It is a necessary part of family life which I wouldn’t want to be without. So see if you can have the biggest Christmas ever and make sure you see everyone you are even remotely kin to. Follow the advice below to keep your immune system tuned up so that the virus and bacteria do not take hold in your system. Read more

A Leaf from Nature's Book: Tea Therapy

From cleansing the colon to detoxifying the body to soothing anxiety, herbal teas offer a variety of powerful health benefits and healing properties. Which herbal infusion is right for you?

This week a leading study from Queensland University, in Brisbane, Australia, revealed that drinking three cups of green tea a day for eight weeks may lower blood pressure and shrink fat cells, confirming the long-held belief of herbalists in the therapeutic effects of a warm brew.

Indeed, there are hundreds of different concoctions on the market, which claim to help treat everything from stress to digestive problems. But which one is right for you? Read more