How to Boost Your Immune System with Ayurveda
Recommended Books
Your Immune System
I've been getting a lot of questions about the immune system and how
you can boost it at this time of the year. I have included this
question at the bottom of this section for those interested in what I
had to say, but I wanted to talk about your immune system and how to
keep it healthy ALL the time.
The most powerful way to keep your body healthy and immune system
functioning at top efficiency is to be following your dharma or life's
purpose. This doesn't have to be something grand or over the top, but
it's what your heart and inner drive has been driving you to do all
along. Some people don't know what that is, but most of us do. And
what stops you from connecting to your dharma is your drive for money.
Did you know that if you followed your dharma that you would be
completely supported? Not only that but your health would improve and
life becomes sweet again.
But on a more grounded practical level the immune system is responding
to the impulses of your mind. When you eat something and you tell
yourself that it's bad for you and you feel guilty because you ate it,
your body will treat the food as if it was bad for you and you will
feel awful. On the other hand, if you ate something that wasn't
necessarily "good for you" but you enjoyed every last, tasty morsel and
you sent the message from the mind to the body that it was fantastic
and was just what you needed then that food is able to assimilate with
your body and create health.
The most perfect example of the mind impulses guiding the body is with
the placebo effect. If you truly and utterly believe you will see the
results in your physical body then you will. To me this is one of the
most important aspects to our health, the use of the mind to tell the
body that it is healthy, but there has to be complete belief in that or
you will not get perfect health.
Stay focused, positive and look at things as having purpose and meaning
and you are sending a strong message that all is well in your body and
so your immune system is strong and healthy.
Is there anything quick and easy one can do at this time of year to kick-start a jaded immune system?
A:
The immune system is our bodies defense against disease and at this
time of the year we are all more susceptible to low immune systems. To
boost yourself you can do the following:
- Make sure all of your food is fresh and seasonal. Fresh, seasonal foods keep us balanced no matter the time of year. Nature provides you the right food at the right time in the same country so honor that and eat fresh and seasonally.
- Avoid ice cold anything. The temperature outside is cold and we need to make sure we are eating foods that are opposite to what nature is giving us. Ice cold foods will lower your immune system and make you more sluggish, tired and cold and will hinder the digestive system.
- Eat warm, moist, cooked meals. Warm, moist, cooked meals are the best body boosters right now. These are the easiest foods to digest so keep it simple and make sure your foods are cooked (at least in the Winter months).
- Eat foods you know you can digest. If you get gas/wind, acid reflux, indigestion, constipation, burping or anything that isn't perfect digestion then make sure you are aware of those foods and eat simply. Whole grains, 1 protein and cooked vegetables with a little oil will keep your immune system happy.
- Do what inspires you. Nothing boosts your immune system more than doing what makes you feel connected and inspired. No matter what it is, do it!! Your passion to do whatever inspires you is one of the reasons you are here on this earth and when we are doing our life purpose we not only boost our own immune systems, but we inspire those around us.
