STAVE OFF THE SNIFFLES

Taking important steps to help prevent the common cold can go a long way! A healthy dose of physical activity and proper nutrition is the perfect recipe for boosting your immune system this winter season. While it would be nice to hide under the covers all day and wait for spring, we will all feel much better if we make the extra effort to exercise, and eat right!

Why choose yoga?

Yoga is wonderful for reducing stress, which can be a major contributing factor to developing a cold.

As you get more and more familiar with the yoga poses (or asanas), you can actually spend the entire class focusing on your breathing, allowing your practice to become a meditation in movement. At the end of your session, while you rest in shavasana, you give both your body and your mind a time to rest.

Restorative yoga poses and forward bends are particularly helpful to calm the nervous system and reduce stress. Focus on childs pose, shavasana,  bound angle pose, seated forward bend, and seated head to knee pose.


What do I eat to help prevent me from getting sick?

Consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, that are high in antioxidants will help keep your immune system strong. Three major antioxidant vitamins include beta-carotene/vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Last night I cooked up a healthy and simple kale dish, packed with immunity boosting vitamins! In case you want to try it for yourself...



Kale, white beans, and pepper saute' - (you can play around with the proportions!)
1/2 bunch of kale (raw) - chopped with stems removed
1 orange pepper (or any color) - chopped
1 can white beans - drained and rinsed
3 garlic cloves - minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce (or less)
garlic powder
black pepper
chili powder

Directions: Pour the olive oil into the pan and saute minced garlic until lightly toasted. Add the yellow pepper and saute an additional 3-5 minutes. Next, add the kale and cook until soft (5-6 minutes). After the kale has cooked through, add the white beans, soy sauce, and season to taste with chile powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes and enjoy!

kale:
-high in vitamin A/beta-carotene - one cup of kale has 192.4% of the daily value
- high in vitamin C - one cup has 89% of the daily value
- good source of calcium and fiber

orange pepper:
- high in vitamin C - one large pepper is 596% of daily value
-  source of protein and fiber

beans:
- excellent source of fiber and protein (to keep you full for longer!)