Hello, you lovely human!
Happy Fall and Happy Halloween from Michelle and Harvey.
With the colder temperatures, I’m craving cozy, filling soups and spicy drinks. See the recipes below!
Halloween is such a fun holiday, but it also kicks off cold and flu season.
Why?
The large amounts of sugar eaten on and around Halloween suppress the immune system and leave children and adults vulnerable to infection. The glucose binds to immune cells and weakens and desensitizes them in a process called glycosylation.
Only 1 tbsp. of sugar can depress white blood cell function for multiple hours following consumption.
And for those with a cancer diagnosis, chronically high blood sugar can also activate molecules that increase tumor progression, including NF-kB and the ras oncogene.
I don't want to spoil the holiday for the kiddos!
However, it is wise to greatly reduce the amount of candy they are allowed to keep and eat.
Ideally, we all should only be consuming {small amounts of} sweets that have real, natural ingredients, such as honey and cacao. The brands of candy we ate as kids, example: Snickers, Twizzlers, Reese's, Butterfinger, etc. do not contain the same ingredients they did in the 1920s-90s.
It is also a great idea to fortify the body as we enter this cold time of year.
If you haven't seen it already, check out my post on Natural Antibiotics for Cold and Flu Season.
This Pumpkin Ginger Soup is a great way to keep your jack-o'-lanterns out of the landfill after Halloween. It's packed with immune-boosting nutrients and is the perfect addition to a rainy autumn evening.
Spicy drinks keep me warm and cozy while I'm working. Check out my Golden Milk Recipe, or add some chili and cayenne pepper to your next cup of hot cocoa.
Have a fun and spooky Halloween!
Warmly,
Michelle
