We confess that these past couple years have been far from normal. Wouldn’t you agree? From lockdown, to restrictions on family gatherings, and mask mandates, we know this has been a scary and trying time for many. The uncertainty of whether you’ll be able to see that friend or family member for the last time has caused much panic and distress and for good reason. Advantageously, one hopeful trend we’ve seen emerging in the midst of COVID-19 is that now more than ever, people have begun to take their health into serious consideration. How surprised would you be if we told you that food plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy and active immune system? Have you ever heard of the saying, you are what you eat? Although cliché, this saying holds a part of the answer to living a long, healthy lifestyle. This is not to say that if you eat really healthy but have poor sleeping habits, or your stress levels are through the roof, that you’ll reap the same benefits as someone who chooses to practice a good sleep routine and exercises often… But, a combination of all these lifestyle choices will create the life you’ve always dreamed of. Right now you might be thinking great but where do I even start? And this is where RECOUP comes in. The biggest advice we can give you is to take it step by step - don’t rush the process or think that you’re not doing enough. This type of behavior is detrimental to you creating long lasting habits. Now back to, you are what you eat, remember? We want to discuss different vitamins, probiotics and minerals that are beneficial to the aging body. Nobody wants to hear that they're getting older, but the matter of fact is that as we begin to age, our bodies require more upkeep to maintain a healthy immune system so that we’re able to fight off something as serious as the coronavirus. Let’s start off by looking at the benefits of vitamin E. A study conducted by the Kerry Health and Nutrition Institute revealed that vitamin E enhances immune response and cell mediated immunity. Its main responsibility is to act as an antioxidant -scavenging for loose electrons called “free radicals” that will damage cells. You can either take vitamin E supplements daily or there are plenty of different foods that are high in vitamin E. Below we have listed some different fruits, nuts and vegetables to pick from! Sunflower, safflower, and soybean oil Sunflower seeds Almonds Peanuts, peanut butter Beet greens, collard greens, spinach Pumpkin Red bell pepper Asparagus Mango Avocado Now, let’s talk about all things probiotic! Yep, that’s right probiotics are a great way to help your body fight off infections. Ample evidence suggests as aging occurs, a decrease of T-cells begin to take place. Our T-cells help protect our bodies from diseases by fighting off anything foreign detected. This is why it is recommended to add probiotics to your diet! An easy way to start incorporating probiotics is through yogurt. It is important to read the labels and look for a product that includes live active microorganisms. These little guys will help decipher between intruders and friendly whole foods.
