03/19/2020
Happy First Day of SPRING to all you beautiful people!
I know this week feels a little overwhelming and uncertain for so many.
I’m trying to take this time to focus on gratitude, positivity, love and community. In a time like this, it can be so easy to fall into the fear and panic, but I'm reminded that while we can't control situations or what happens to us, we always have the power to choose our reaction. Did you know that “fear not” is the most repeated command in the Bible? There are 365 references to it... one for each day of the year. So, pick up your Bible and start reading one a day now! We certainly can't control what is going on, but we can support each other, and use this time to accomplish positive things and care for our bodies.
Supporting the immune system is SO important! Elderberry is one of the ways to do that. It has been proven to not only stimulate the immune system, but studies also show it actually inhibits the early stages of a viral infection like influenza. Some of you have reached out to me regarding articles warning about its use for COVID-19. The cautions are based on theoretical risk as there is not enough data yet to fully support this, but they do know that elderberries activate the immune system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production. Cytokines are our bodies natural defense mechanisms and are doing exactly what God amazingly designed them to do! Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) or the "cytokine storm” is a hyper-release of inflammatory mediators by the body and some sources claim that there is an increased risk of cytokine storm with COVID-19. The hyper-production of cytokines is most common in people with increased risk, such as those undergoing targeted immune therapy or those with chronic autoimune disorder. So if you fall into the increased risk category or feel as if you currently have COVID-19, then I would discontinue its use for now. Our family and many others will continue to take our daily elderberry dose unless COVID-19 symptoms present themselves.
God has given us many other easy ways to naturally boost our immunity:
Watch your mouth!
Just like every other system in our bodies, the immune system runs on vitamins and minerals. What goes into our mouths is so important! Avoiding sugar and processed foods, trying to eat lots of nutrient dense and nourishing goodness, and staying well hydrated should be your daily goal for good health. The bare shelves of ramen noodles, spaghetti o’s and potato chips scares me!! 😬
Up your exercise, sleep and sunshine!
Now that some of our lives have slowed down a bit, we can make more time for adequate sleep, exercise and sunshine.
SLEEP - Our bodies not only heal as we sleep, but complex communication among our cells takes place. As we snooze away, our bodies are busy making connections that strengthen our immune systems and help us fight off infections! Isn’t that amazing? Our Creator designed that to all happen while we do nothing?! So cool!
EXERCISE - In addition to providing stress relief, exercise helps increase blood circulation, breathing, and heart rate, which in turn can help the production of healthy red and white blood cells. It also raises body temperature, thus inhibiting bacterial growth.
SUNSHINE - When natural sunlight hits the skin it triggers the body's production of vitamin D. It is a crucial ingredient for overall health; protects against inflammation, lowers high blood pressure, helps muscles, and improves brain function. Goodness knows I could use more brain function these days! 🤪
Perhaps as of yet there is no perfect shot or pill to combat this virus, but we have an arsenal of powerful weapons at hand. And God tells us he has not given us a spirit of fear but of POWER and LOVE and a SOUND MIND. Focus on all the good in our lives and take heart… for we are more than conquerors!!
💜
Boni
