Super Herbs to Boost Your Immunity

Super Herbs to Boost Your ImmunityKate Harveston – Cold and flu season is upon us. If you want to prevent sniffling and wheezing like a retired hunting dog, boosting your immune system can stave off germs. Herbs are a great way to supercharge your body’s defenses!

How can you take herbs? You can brew a pot of tea, or you can add selected varieties to recipes. You can also make diluted washes and aromatherapy oils. Consider the following types to boost your immune function.

1. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an Asian herb that works as an adaptogen. Adaptogens help promote balance in different systems of the body and improve its ability to resist stress. The protective benefits don’t stop at the big presentation due tomorrow — they ward off the effects of environmental pollution, too. Continue reading

Christina Sarich ~ 5 Important Vitamin Combinations For Optimum Health

NaturalSociety  April 29 2014

VitaminsWe’ve all heard that we should take our vitamins, but did you know that combining certain nutrients helps the body to absorb them more readily, and can even boost their efficacy over taking the vitamin or mineral alone? Consuming vitamins together creates a synergistic effect in the body.

Following are five important vitamin combinations to ward against disease and attain a great health boost:

1. Vitamin E and Sesame Seeds

Vitamin E is wonderful all on its own. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, guarding against cardiovascular disease. The only problem is that one of the important nutrients in Vitamin E, tocotrienols, are hard for the body to assimilate since only the fat and skin tissues can absorb them. Eating sesame seeds has been shown to improve absorption of Vitamin E tocotrienols by up to 500%.

2. Vitamin K and Vitamin D

These two vitamins all by themselves are powerhouses, but when used together they are a wonderful protective combo against osteoarthritis and osteoperosis. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium so that our bones stay strong, and Osteoporosis International has concluded that lifetime supplementation with vitamin K1 or, even better, K2, vitamin D3, and calcium is likely to reduce fractures and increase survival in postmenopausal women. Continue reading