The perfect immune boost

In a past blog posting, I wrote about Dr. Dale Bredesen’s book entitled “The End of Alzheimer’s Program.” His well researched book on how to reverse the ravages of the disease covered what might be summarised as the three pillars of good health: following the right nutrition, appropriate exercise and being meaningfully involved socially as part of a community. It suddenly struck me that that is really the secret of dealing with any disease whether we be talking about fibromyalgia or merely the stresses of daily living. One needs to approach these health problems with very much a holistic approach. The big question really is how to fine-tune the approach so that the results are effective.

The first million dollar question is how do you come up with the right nutrition. Dr Bredesen approach is to feed the neural pathways with energy that is obtained from fats rather than from carbohydrates. In other words, he favoured coming up with a keto diet. He also talked about eating a diet with foods that are anti inflammatory in nature. The reality is that diseases grow in a body that is inflamed. Interesting!

Another of my favourite authors who talks about the importance of having a diet that incorporates an anti inflammatory diet is Dr, David Servan Schreiber. He was a medical doctor who wrote “Anti Cancer - A New Way of Life” about his journey with a brain tumour. After going through the ordeal of surgery, chemo and radiation, he looked at alternative lifestyles that would be helpful, including specifics around diet. At the back of his book is a glossary of herbs and spices that are specifically important to incorporate including turmeric (curcumin) and ginger root.

Later I was in my local health store and came across an expertly packaged 2 ounce anti-inflamatory shot for the price of about $6.00. Why didn’t I think of that? Then I started to think of how I might come out with an effective recipe of my own - something that could be easily reproduced by my own clients. I also wanted to make something that would cost very little to make. I personally love the spiciness of both ginger and turmeric so wanted to make something with these ingredients. Since you will be making something that is really a concentrated shot-glass of health tonic, I would recommend that you source out organic product. This is especially important because non-organic turmeric can tend to be adulterated with lead. As at time of writing, I found the organic ginger and turmeric at c. $6.99 a pound so, with the quantities used, this is not expensive to make.

Then out of retirement from the basement of my house came my juicing machine. What was it doing down there, you might ask. Usually when I make smoothiies, I use a blender because with them I want the ingredients with roughage to avoid sugar spike. With this tonic, you are really only drinking one or two ounces at a time. The list of ingredients that you will need are Carrots, Turmeric, Black Pepper and Ginger. I also recommend that instead of powder you use root ginger and root turmeric because root is more pungently intact and bio- available . Do not forget the freshly ground pepper because that is required to activate the turmeric.

Turmeric roots are about 1/4” to 1/2” long. Wash but you don’t have to peel.!

Ginger root. Again, no need to peel. When you buy at the grocery store, make sure that it is firm and not stringy.

I usually make about a pint at a time and store the remainder in a glass jar refrigerated. As far as quantities of ingredients used, I am not going to be very accurate because I am a big fan of British chef Jamie Oliver and, rather than scientific measurements, I tend to describe quantities in terms of “throw in a handful of this and a glug of that.” Maybe as an approximate guide I am going to say a good handful (4 ounces of turmeric and an inch and a half square of ginger root.) Like Jamie Oliver, I wouild say experiment and have fun.

The finished product - a powerful shot of anti - inflamatory

Here is the good part: you don’t have to peel the ginger, turmeric or carrot because you are only extracting the juice. I would, however, recommend giving them a good wash beforehand. Here’s a small warning: turmeric, although looking just like a gnarly bit of root, like turmeric powder can stain your hands and clothes an orange - yellow colour.

In the making of this concoction, although it is the ginger, turmeric and pepper that makes this such a good anti - inflamatory, the carrot provides rich nutritive content, bulk as well as fibre. An alternative to carrot might be to use celery which also provides hydration and fibre.

Taking an ounce or two a day is an easy strategy to help jumpstart you to good health. It’s also delicious.