SS&GF: Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

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Yes! You can add immune boosting foods and still have an off-the-charts delicious holiday meal. Being healthy for the holidays is a must! And, you might be surprised how many of these foods already grace your holiday table.

1. Beans: The humble bean is full of soluble fiber, which has been shown to help mice recover from illness twice as fast as compared to those mice who ate a fiber blend. Legumes are also a rich source of vitamin B6, which helps create white blood cells – the infection fighters.
   Recipes to Try: Black Bean Brownies, White Bean Gratin, Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas, and make sure to check out this free ebook by Carol Fenster, Pulses and the Gluten-Free Diet (This is a Canadian ebook and they call beans pulses.)
2. Flax Seed Oil: Make a dressing out of this nutty oil and drizzle it on your salad! This is another food that helps support white blood cells and also helps the body not over-react to infection. Because flax seed oil can be bitter, make sure to use it with another oil.
   Recipes to Try: Lemon Vinaigrette or Almost Raw Liquid Gold Salad Dressing
3. Cinnamon: This antiviral, anti-fungal, antibacterial immune booster is the perfect addition to your holiday desserts, hot chocolate, and Egg Nog. Make sure to add some to your daily green smoothie, too.
   Recipes to Try: Gingerbread Cupcakes, Egg Nog, Pumpkin Pie Smoothie, and Gingerbread Cookie Dough Protein Bars
4. Oats: A simple food that contains beta-glucan, which helps fight disease. It’s a soluble fiber which has antioxidant and antimicrobrial properties. Since the body doesn’t make beta-glucan it’s important to get it from food. Make sure your oats are certified gluten-free.
   Recipes to Try: Thanksgiving Meatless Loaf, Cinnamon Oat Snowdrops, Cinnamon Vanilla Granola, or  Blueberry Crumble
5.  Sweet Potatoes: Packed with beta-cartoene, which is converted to Vitamin A, sweet potatoes help keep your skin healthy. Since your skin is the largest organ in your body and covers nearly every inch of our body, it’s the first place to ward off germs. Other orange foods, like pumpkin and some winter squash, are great additions to your holiday meal too.
   Recipes to Try: Sweet Potato and Kale Hash, Sweet Potato Quinoa Cookies, or Curried Acorn Squash, Sweet Potato, & Apple Soup

How do you use food to give your health a boost?

Sources:

AARP, Eating Well, Dr. Sears, Everyday Health, Organic Gardening, Prevention, LiveStrong.com, Life Extension, Glamour, Health Guidance