Did you know your body can create its own antibiotic and antiviral medicine? How incredible is that!
Vitamin D is known to stimulate your immune system into producing natural antibiotics. This vitamin supports you in a multitude of ways, including immune health, mental health, prenatal and pregnancy growth and cancer prevention. The active form of Vitamin D, D3 - Calciferol, increases the production of antimicrobial peptides which are self-made antibiotics. Their actions include protecting your body against microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. They can block viral infection by directly acting on the virus or by indirectly interfering with viral infection. One of these peptides specifically inhibits influenza virus infection. So, here we are in the last part of winter (written in August 2021), the days have been shorter, overcast, and wet, the amount of direct sun we receive is less due to layers of clothing and just not getting outside enough. And even then when we are able to time outside in the sun, we are covered to avoid sunburn or lathered in sunscreen, this puts us in a continuous cycle of deficiency. Is it any wonder that we fall sick with colds and flu once the winter season begins. During the past 18 months of global health crisis studies have shown that as high as 80% of seriously affected patients were Vitamin D deficient. So how can we correct this? Get outside, enjoy the sunshine, eat Vitamin D rich foods such as fish liver oils, egg yolks, non-homogenised, organic dairy products, and take a supplement daily, some suggestions have been that 2000iu every day will correct a deficiency over a long period of time, or ask your Doctor about prescribed Vitamin D, it can be given in doses as high as 50,000iu when prescribed. If you are on cholesterol lowering medications, corticosteroids and anti-convulsant then this is even more critical. We all would benefit from boosting our Vitamin D levels, it will support our body’s ability to combat any viruses that find their way to us. Unsure about what dose to take or if you need supplementation then get in touch today. Recommended reading: Ian Wishart. Vitamin D. Is this the miracle vitamin?
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The world is changing, rapidly. A part of us will be feeling grief and loss. The old world is crumbling and a new one is being created. This is going to trigger many feelings. Hopelessness, despair, fear, powerlessness, just to name a few. It is completely normal to feel like this, when your job is under threat, money is stretched and your rights and freedoms are being stomped on. Unfortunately for many, these kinds of feelings, when they persist beyond a gloomy day or two, can lead to depression, and a sense of there being no way out. And ultimately a desire to make it all stop.
If we can recognise those feelings for what they are as soon as they arise then we can interrupt this negative loop. Here is a list of things that may help divert the spiral of depression.
We are being given an opportunity, to let go of what no longer serves us and create a new reality. We are stepping into the future, it is truly what we make of it. The possibilities are only limited by our imagination. And the future is made all the more brighter with YOU in it. X Today I want to talk about a type of diversification that is more relevant for this moment.
Income diversification. Here in Northland NZ, we have been put into, at a moment’s notice, a lockdown that restricts thousands of people from being able to work. This has been occurring on and off for a while. And given the changes to laws and the crisis that we find ourselves in, this will probably continue for some time. For many this will be the last straw, it will create serious stress and debt, and destabilise an already precarious financial position. So now it is critical that we look at how we can become more diverse in our income streams. To give solutions, to avoid depression, anxiety and hopelessness. Please, I encourage you to share your ideas too. This is the time when we need to support each other, business is not high on the priority list right now and it is critical that we diversify income. - Mind map. List all your skills, and look at how you can share those with others in a way that brings you an income. There are free programmes that can help with writing and delivering short courses. - Do you have land, could you rent some of that to a tiny home dweller, or for grazing. - Are you a tradie, but not able to get to your normal job, put up a post on social media offering your services. - Are you happy where you are living, is it time to move closer to family who can support you. - Can you collaborate online in groups in a way that supports the wider community, such as health care providers giving regular talks with a small subscription fee attached. - Can you barter with others, swap your vegetables, baking or sewing for a service they provide. - Are you tech savvy, look at how you can teach this to others. While we are “fighting a virus” let us not forget the social harm and economic destruction that is occurring through our approach. Let’s support each other in ways that create new ideas and communities that can step out of a crumbling system and into a more sustainable and resilient future. |
AuthorRebecca Wood is a Herbalist, Acupuncturist, nature lover, mother and grandmother. She enjoys all aspects of Natural Medicine, Learning, Teaching and being Human. Archives
November 2021
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