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Welcome to:

"My Health Corner!"

Whew it’s Fall! Apples, pumpkins, crispness in the air, a time change thrown in, and the cold & flu season. Fall is the busiest time of year. Most of us feel ourselves constantly re-regulating to time schedules, school schedules, weather changes, and holiday calendars.

The changes in temperature and light can have dramatic effects on our moods and sleep cycles. These stressors combined with the ones we are already dealing with can knock us out of balance. This may cause a weakening of our immune system and allow an opportunistic infection to set in.

Since the beginning of October we have gotten so many inquiries about the flu, the flu shot and immune boosting that I have decided to dedicate this ezine to it.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Jon Kalman who is heading up our Immune Boosting and Intravenous Nutrient Department. Dr. Kalman comes to us with specific training in natural medicine, back country wilderness and survival medicine. He is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and a certified EMT.

If you or your loved ones are feeling run down it’s a good time to come visit us and let natural medicine reduce the severity and duration of your illness.

With Much Respect,

Dr. Andrea Purcell, N.D.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Telephone (949) 722-6797

How to Shoo the Flu!


Have you ever wondered why the flu season is from October to March? Is it the changing weather temperatures? Or is it the dramatic temperature flux of heated buildings and cold ambient temperatures? Perhaps it’s the holidays. We consume more sugar between October and March then any other time of year. Those of you who have listened to my presentations know that sugar lowers our immune system for up to 6 hours each time we eat it. Maybe it’s the stress of the fall changes and our responsibilities combined with all of the above theories, but never the less, here it comes again, the cold and flu season.

Flu Facts

Symptoms develop 3-5 days after exposure, and it is contagious for 3-4 days after the last symptom has passed. Things to look out for are Fever, Aches, Chills, Tiredness, Sudden Onset, Sore Throats, and a dry non-productive Cough. Many people have asked me if they should get the flu shot. It is a very personal decision that needs to come from the gut. If someone chooses to get or not get the vaccine they must be ready to deal with the consequences of their decision. Unfortunately in conventional medicine there are always risks and benefits. In your particular situation are there more risks than benefits? The decision is ultimately yours. While Natural medicine has a lot to offer in terms of immune boosting, health promoting, and reducing the duration of an illness, it does not work like the conventional flu shot.

The Best Defense is a Good Offense

Most colds and flus are viral in origin. Whether we catch a virus depends on the strength of our immune system. If our immune system is strong our body will clear the virus quickly with little to no symptoms, when we are weak we get sick. Hands down the best way to prevent ourselves from being weak is to get good sleep. When I ask my patients about their sleep, I get a lot of different answers.

The definition of good sleep is somewhere between 7-9 hours per night, undisturbed, and waking feeling rested. In the fall and winter we actually require more sleep because the days are shorter and we are programmed with the light; less daylight more darkness and therefore more sleep. Hormones are released from our brain during sleep that allow us to repair and restore.

The second way we can ensure good health is to eat the freshest, whole food available. Buying, preparing, cooking, and consuming real food promotes health and wellbeing. Any food that comes in a bag, box or can is processed. Processed food and fast food do not contain the life giving nutrients that our bodies depend on.

The third way that we achieve health is through stress relief. For some this is through yoga, for others it is walking with a girlfriend, or it is the gym, tai chi, creative time, photography, whatever makes your heart sing. One of my colleagues cleverly said, “If we don’t de-stress, our bodies enter distress, and from there we develop disease.”

These items are the 3 legged stool of health. Sleep, nourishment through good food, and creativity through movement, keep us balanced in mind/body/spirit and allow us to meet each day grounded and prepared for what may come our way.

For those of us who are already weakened due to stress or disease there are items that become imperative in our routine that help to boost our immune system and ward off illness. Additionally if someone has compromised oxygen levels due to a history of lung disease, bronchitis, or sleep apnea this puts them at an increased risk of viral infection.

Keep these things in mind to help protect yourself from the flu:

*Don’t touch your face without washing your hands.
*Wash your hands periodically throughout the day.
*Drink plenty of water to keep mucus membranes hydrated especially when traveling by air.
*Boost your immune system by taking supplements that can reduce the duration and severity of a cold or flu. At the clinic we have a number of items to support lung, sinus, and throat health.
*At the clinic we offer Immune Booster Shots and Intravenous Nutrient Therapy which can help raise vitamin and mineral levels quickly in your system and give your immune system just the boost it needs.
*Check out the Immune Soup recipe under the “What’s New” section at the www.PortalToHealing.com home page.

Garlicky Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Serves 8/Vegan/Gluten-free

Ingredients:

1 large head garlic
1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 Tbs. olive oil
4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (8 cups)
2 large apples, peeled and diced (2 cups)
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut top off garlic head, exposing cloves. Place on piece of foil, and top with chopped rosemary. Drizzle with olive oil. Wrap loosely with foil, and bake 50 to 60 minutes, or until soft and golden.
2. Place sweet potatoes and apples in pot with enough water to cover. Add salt, cover pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 10 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are soft.
3. Drain, and reserve 1 cup cooking water. Transfer to serving bowl.
4. Sqeeze roasted garlic cloves onto sweet potatoes and apples. Add balsamic vinegar, and mash, adding cooking water as necessary to adjust texture and creaminess. Season with pepper, serve hot.

Nutrition per ½ cup serving: 158 calories, 2 g protein, 2 g total fat, 34 g carb, o mg chol, 220 mg sod, 5 g fiber, 10 g sugars.

(This lecture will be recorded and posted on our website soon to follow the above date)

Send us your comments, feedback or questions! We'd love to hear from you.

Dr. Andrea Purcell, N.D.
1770 Orange Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Telephone (949) 722-6797
MAP/DIRECTIONS

Please feel free to forward this eZine to everyone you know! They'll be glad you did!

Dr. Andrea Purcell, N.D.
www.PortalToHealing.com