Avoiding Winter Colds

Nope, this isn't a brothy chicken soup. But it is still amazing and delicious and full of nutrients to fend off or cut short those winter colds.

Don't worry, I will share the recipe for my One Pot Wonder on my Instagram!

Why do we even get these colds and viruses in the winter more often than summer?

There are obvious reasons that we all know such as being cooped up, we just don't go outside as much as in the summer, and our homes are locked tight to conserve energy and stay toasty warm!

Is your immune system set up to fight off and dispose of those bacterias and viruses that are cooped up with us?

What else keep the colds circulating?

People tend to drink more alcohol, eat more refined sugars and refined grains, move less, sleep less, have an increased amount of stress, make way less vitamin D since we aren't outside, and consume less water. But there is one more behavior change that occurs in the winter and it makes the biggest effect on your immune system, people consume less healthy fats.

But let's talk about alcohol today.

Alcohol by itself creates inflammation in the body. Alcohol is a toxin. Have you ever thought of the word intoxication? When you drink alcohol you are consuming toxins.

Ok, so there's that.

But how harmful are these toxins? And how much exposure to these toxins can a person have before they experience inflammation?

One drink. One drink actually causes Intestinal Permeability, Leaky Gut. Alcohol causes your intestinal lining, your cellular junctions that make you up the lining of your gut, to separate. Little holes, little gaps are made between your cells.

Some people, people with a healthy gut, can heal up these little holes pretty quickly between times they drink. But people with digestive issues, chronic illness, and especially autoimmune concerns can't handle it as well.

I used to be able to have 2-3 glasses of wine one evening and my health was pretty darn good. (Or so I thought.) I had yet to correlate my skin health with my gut. Up until about 6 years ago, I suffered from eczema my whole life. I still have light scars from patches that would last years, like on the front of my shin or near my thumb joint. But since healing my gut, I no longer have skin problems. I also drink less. I have adopted a Micro-pour style of drinking wine. I like about 1-2 ounces. That's it!

Even though alcohol is a toxin, there have been studies that show alcohol can be a health benefit for some people. And I am not talking just about red wine. Studies have seen a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even Alzheimer's.

Before you go ahead and start drinking a hot toddy this winter every night you must understand that there are many other factors at play here and not just having alcohol and expect reduced CVD!

How would you measure yourself against the list I made above and the threats to the immune system?

First, I wouldn't recommend even moderate consumption of alcohol if you have ANY digestive issues. That includes bloating, heartburn, food babies after a meal, constipation, diarrhea, and cramping. I would also refrain from alcohol if you have any joint pain, skin issues, sleeping problems, and blood sugar balance. And let's not forget autoimmune disease.

I know, there are very few people who will completely give up alcohol entirely, even under the worst situations. I am not saying most people are alcoholics, I am just saying, having an occasional drink is part of our culture. You go out, you have a nice glass of wine...a toast of champagne at a special event. But overindulgence is more than just blood alcohol levels and possible addiction issues. Alcohol affects your gut health.

Leaky Gut, it's everywhere in the media. Just because it is popular doesn't mean it isn't true or dangerous. Leaky gut can be very dangerous. This fact alone is why the gut and inflammation is considered the root of all chronic illnesses and disease.

So what leaks through the gut? Endotoxins (proteins, lipids (fats) and the toxin LPS or lipopolysaccharides. I am going to try and keep this as simple as I can because it is a very deep and important scientific subject.

Endotoxins are toxic components of the cell walls of Gram-Negative bacteria (this is one type of MANY bacteria that live in our guts. We have and need Good, Bad and Neutral bacteria in our guts. The ratios just need to be right! Basically 85-90 % good guys, 10-15% bad guys, and 1-2 % neutral guys. Depending on where you live and what your diet consists of will determine what is NORMAL for you as far as the TYPES of bacteria. But the ratios remain the same for health.

But if that tide changes and the Bad guys begin to get the upper hand, and the neutral guys (commensal bacteria) start being influenced and join the Bad guys, dysbiosis occurs. This just means that your bacteria ratios are out of whack.

Dysbiosis interferes with your immune system's effectiveness.

What does alcohol have to do with your gut? Alcohol disrupts this ecosystem. I love the term flora, your gut microflora. Flora as in a plant-based region, habitat or environment. Did you know that blue-green algae like Spirulina is a plant, it is actually a bacteria! A good guy!

We will talk more in-depth about the health benefits of algae and why I love the algae products from Energybits. Algae can provide added energy without making you feel shaky or wired, algae improve mental focus, and it is just magical for skin, and hair health! I also have a love affair for chlorella for its detoxifying qualities.

As with everything else, quality is most important to me. There are way too many inferior products on the market in the algae supplement market. These guys are the best!

If you want to try it out for yourself, be sure to enter the code: ThePath at check out and save 20%. Since I love these tablets so much, Catherine Arnston is giving my clients a deal! I recently interviewed her and you can check that out on my Youtube channel. You can swallow them, chew them or toss them on salads or in a snack nut mix! Algae is FOOD! I love how the daily consumption of algae can eliminate a whole host of other supplements which makes your wellness more affordable. Check em out.

So back to alcohol. You know it is toxic. You know it harms your gut lining by creating holes in it and leaves you open to toxins entering your bloodstream at the wrong place at the wrong time. remember when I stated that proteins, fats leaked through the lining? "Those aren't toxic Brandi, proteins and fats are healthy!"

You are right, they aren't. But they must be properly broken down and absorbed at the right point of digestion.

Our digestive system begins in our brains and moves all the way to our anus. There is a specific order for breaking down food, and for absorbing it. A leaky gut is problematic. Different nutrients are absorbed in different locations in their long travel throughout the digestive system.

Your guts, your small intestine precisely is where 70% of your immune function lies. You mess that up and you get sick more often and are more susceptible to colds, viruses, infections, and chronic illnesses and disease.

Hello alcohol.

Did you know that if you were to lay open the surface area of your intestinal lining it would measure up to the size of a tennis court! That's a lot of opportunities for little holes. These holes let toxins through, anything that is not entering the bloodstream at the right time in the right size is considered toxic.

Alcohol weakens your immune system by creating these holes. Bacteria and viruses that would have and should have been killed off during the journey through our digestive system are now in circulation in our bloodstream.

I will go over how our immune system attacks these invaders in another blog and what you can do to help. The topic is deep and interesting and will only be available for my Restore® Experience VIP members. E

Enrollment opens on January 1, 2020.

If you are interested in learning all about the Restore® Experience for VIP members please email me.

Because the program gives you direct monthly LIVE access to me, special videos, recipes, and other exclusive content and workshops, space is limited. So get on that interest list.

But for now I have some Pro Tips for you!

If you plan of consuming alcohol over the holidays:

1. Try and not have alcohol and sugars together. Stick with lower sugar drinks like dry wines, brut champagnes, and vodka or gin. Avoid drink mixers, they are usually high in sugar, colors and other toxic additives.

2. Avoid mixing sugary foods with your alcohol. By this I mean refined grains. A glass of wine, dinner rolls and a pile of holiday stuffing is a sugar nightmare for your body! Massive overload means massive inflammation and increased storage of excess sugar into your FAT cells!

Skimp on refined carbs and chose moderate proteins and healthy fats.

3. Avoid daily alcohol consumption and binging. Let your body heal between the drinks.

4. Consider a One and Done policy, or just drink LESS than you usually would. Having a full glass of water between drinks or mixing in Mocktails works great.

5. For every drink you consume, have 1.5 times more water before the next drink. That means: a 4 oz wine pour would equal 10 oz of water before your next glass. Let's get that alcohol moving out of our bloodstream and sent out the kidneys.

BIGGEST TIP!

Remember the Chlorella? It practically is the ultimate hangover cure! It detoxifies, meaning it attaches to the alcohol and escorts it out! If you take a serving, Energybits makes these handy purse-sized packets, after you have been drinking moderately, in about an hour and a half you won't feel ANY effects from the alcohol!

Do not use this as a sober driver method though! Test your breath or something before you drive! Get an Uber or stay over!

So, one step in fighting this year's cold and flu season is to take care of your gut, your immune system by limiting alcohol.

There are many little steps you can take, but this is a great start!

Blessings,

Brandi