Cold and flu season is upon us! How can you support your immune system so it can function at its best? Your immune cells, like all other cells, require good nutrition and lifestyle habits to function properly. A nourishing whole foods diet, strong digestive system, good sleep practices, good hydration, blood sugar control, and the addition of supportive nutritional supplements all work together to promote a strong and functional immune system. Large amounts of nutrients are needed to run your immune cells so they can do their jobs. During cold and flu season, there is an increased need for these nutrients.

As soon as school starts back up in the fall my children inevitably get a little sniffle or a slight cough. It's a good thing to be exposed to viruses and bacteria. It makes the immune system stronger.

The Farmer's Market was bursting with luscious dark leafy greens on Saturday. I couldn't help but buy at least one bunch of every variety of kale! I made this raw kale salad tonight and my children devoured it. They are accustomed to eating many different types of greens, but for a child who isn't, below are a few tips.

Nettles, you say? You mean those pesky weeds that grow like wildfire and sting if you brush up against them? Yes—those! What many people don’t realize is that nettles are actually a powerhouse of nutrients. Once they’re cooked, blended, or dehydrated, they completely lose their “sting” and become a delicious, mineral-rich green. Nettle season varies depending on the year and climate. Here in the Pacific Northwest, with our unusually warm and sunny winter, the first tender shoots are already here! Perfect timing for gathering and enjoying them in the kitchen. My oldest daughter, Lily, even helped me put together the photo tutorial below to show you how simple it can be to harvest and prepare these wild greens.

What is the Elimination Diet? It is a program of eating designed to calm inflammation and balance the body. Once the body is calm, and the disease symptoms diminish, it becomes noticeable to a person when a “trouble” food is eaten and the symptoms come back.

I have had dozens of requests over the last few weeks for either a post on the products I use or specific questions on where to find a certain product. So here it is, all organized and in one place. I have added a link on the sidebar of this blog under "Essential Posts" to make finding this post a snap!