Autumn's in the air

Not so sure about your neck of the woods but this past weekend, autumn arrived!  Here at Peas HQ we are so excited to welcome the season that celebrates apple cider, root vegetables, Halloween, black cats, cinnamon flavored candles and fall foliage.   The one thing we’re NOT so thrilled about is welcoming flu/cold season. And wouldn’t you know it, before we could say “pumpkin spice soy latte” we’re sneezing, congested and sick with this season’s first bug. 

We’re hoping that the same doesn’t happened to you so we’re revisiting our Fight the Flu series from this past winter to give you tips on how to keep your immune system up, ready to fight off any bug that comes its way.

1. Wash your hands! Suds up with warm water and soap and sing happy birthday and when you get to the final “happy birthday to yoouuuuu” you’re officially germ-free.
2. Rest up!  This is the time of year when summer Friday’s come to an end and schedules become jam packed so it’s extra important to find time to catch up on sleep and relaxation.  Try choosing one evening a week where you and your family get to throw a peas of pie in the oven, watch a movie and go to bed early…put it in your schedule and stick to it!
3. Start your day with a nutrient power-packed smoothie.  To get the most out of this easy morning breakfast, use Kale…as much as you can. If you can get 2 servings of greens and 2 servings of fruit in your morning breakfast you immune system will fight off any virus that tries to attack.
4. A Walk a day keeps the doctor away! Exercising on a regular basis helps to lower stress and speed up the rate our white blood cells fight off illness; this has a major immune-enhancing effect.
5. Take 20 minutes to enjoy the sunshine each day.  This is the last month that the sun is out past 6pm so take time to relish that vitamin D. Roll up your pants, grab a glass of water, put away your phone and breathe. 

Start off this season on the right foot by following these 5 steps and we know that you’ll make it through this fall healthy, happy and energized.

Fight the flu (part two)

If you read our last post you know that here at Peas of Mind we’re staying healthy and fighting the flu by washing our hands, getting enough sleep and eating our veggies.  But because desperate times call for desperate measures we’ve turned to our Peas of Mind Facebook followers to see what other things we could be doing this month to stay healthy. We got some great suggestions, so get out a pen and paper, take some notes and get ready to fight the flu (part two)!

Start your morning off right.  Michelle recommends a healthy shake/smoothie in the morning.  It’s much easier to load your day with fruits and veggies when you start it off with a bang.  This morning we drank a green smoothie that had a two cups kale, 1 cup of orange juice, ½ cup of blueberries, a banana, a peeled orange, an apple and a tablespoon of chlorella.  This made about two smoothies and it was so tasty!  Be creative and try different fruits and fresh juices always adding some type of green.

Christena suggests oil of oregano (one of our favorite health secrets).  It’s a powerful antibiotic and antimicrobial and is great when you feel like you might be getting sick.  It’s not for everyone so do your research and use cautiously.

Sarah recommends good old-fashioned exercise.  Exercising on a regular basis helps to lower stress and speed up the rate our white blood cells fight off illness; this has a major immune-enhancing effect.

Micheal says he uses Echinacea tea and also drinks a tall glass of water with a dash of Bragg Live Foods raw apple cider vinegar and honey.  Sounds interesting and so easy to add in pre smoothie.

The last two helpful hints from Jennifer and Kathy are so easy and oh so important: drink lots of water and get your vitamin D.  These are two key pieces in keeping your immune system up and ready to take on any germs that come your bodies way.  So this afternoon (if it’s sunny) grab a big glass of water and sit in the sun for 20 minutes – simple AND relaxing!

We hope this helps you stay happy and healthy the rest of this flu season!

Fight the Flu

If you’ve been watching the news, you know that flu season is here, and it’s here with a vengeance!   How do you stay healthy when it seems everyone around you is getting sick?  Well here at Peas of Mind, we are practicing two simple tips to stay healthy: stay away from germs and keep our immune system strong.

First things first, wash your hands! I know we hear it all the time but it really is one of our best defenses against germs. By washing our hands (sing happy birthday to yourself to gauge how long you should wash) we wash off the germs we constantly come in contact with from doorknobs to sneezes. And remember to avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes because germs can easily sneak through these entry points. Did you know that the average person touches his or her face three to five times per minute? This means you've probably touched your face three times while reading this blog so go wash your hands!

Secondly, get in touch with your animal instinct and find time to hibernate!  Winter should be the season we slow down and get lots of sleep. Now I know sleeping for four months is just not an option but during these cold months it’s important to aim to get about 8 hours per night.  This not only boosts your immune system but it also reduces stress, inflammation and increases positivity.

An apple a day DOES keep the doctor away…well sort of… Diet greatly affects our body’s ability to fight off sickness, which means a helping of veggie wedgies (which is about 10 fries and contains 1.5 servings of vegetables) can really keep those nasty germs at bay.  Combine your veggie fries with seasonal produce, garlic (fresh garlic has been shown to fight off viruses) and whole grains and you will have that healthy edge you need to fight the flu and make it through the winter with a clean bill of health!

Come With A Grocery List, Leave With A Flu Shot

Will you and your family be getting flu shots this year? This is definitely a heated topic and we wanted to know where you stand.

Let's start with some facts:

This year's flu vaccine protects against 3 strains, including H1N1. Supplies are plentiful enough that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone older than 6 months receive a flu shot this year. The only exceptions are elderly people with compromised immune systems and people with severe allergies to eggs (because eggs are used in the production of the vaccine).

We checked the CDC's website for the risks of getting a flu shot. "The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. The risk of a flu shot causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, may rarely cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. Almost all people who get influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it."

Then we heard this story on NPR which further sparked our interest on the topic:  Come With A Grocery List, Leave With A Flu Shot

" 'For very young infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, the vaccine simply won't be effective,'  says [Dr. Gregory A. Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group]. These groups cannot produce the antibodies they need after getting the vaccine.  So, he says, the only way we can protect them is to have the people around them protected against influenza.

The vaccine is now available at grocery stores, retailers, pharmacies and work sites. 'There are places where you don't even have to get out of your car. You can drive through, stick your arm out the window and get vaccinated.' " 

I asked my co-workers if they were going to get a flu shot this year. I got a wide array of answers. One person said that she never gets the flu shot and that getting sick is a natural part of life, followed up by not wanting to intentionally put something foreign into her body. While another gets one every year and swears by it. This year, the flu vaccine is as available and as accessible as ever. Will you and your family be getting it? What is your stance?