Food Will Boost Immune
I use to want epic things to happen, but now I’m learning to appreciate the wonder of each ordinary day. Through each experience I’ve had as a wife, a mom, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and a volunteer with orphans; my most significant tools are love and food. These two can change everything. However, love is the easy part. It’s food that presents a hard lifestyle change for most folks. Yet; diet can boost immune systems, sweeten an occasion, soothe the soul, and it can spice up the moment.
Besides the fact that I’m having a terrible hair day and the sun is blinding me; this moment came from a lot of work!
Foster kids are not always easy to understand, in fact, they can be rather hateful. It’s an unconscious state of survival where more profound insecurity resides within the soul. Especially when a child has been harmed by the very parent who is innately designed to protect them. Subsequently, there is a fundamental lack of trust and justifiably so. All I can do is love and teach these kids what I have learned about food and hope that over time, they learn to trust me. And as I volunteer, my greatest reward is the thrill of a child who overcomes an indication! When the connection is made that healthy immune systems are better with a good, real food diet, the possibilities are limitless. Let me share a story about Type II Diabetes, which touches a massive population in the world.
Time Changes Conditions
About six months ago, this sweet boy came up to me in confidence at the orphanage. He asked me if I would please help him. He was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. It is diet-driven diabetes. Because I write the menu and teach classes every week at this orphanage, a relationship and trust are forming. It has taken over a year of regular visits with the children and the staff to develop this rapport. My best relationships are built on consistency and respect, but it comes with challenges. These challenges are what I find helpful. Problems sharpen me to; make it better, dig deeper, and to help find simple ways to boost immune systems along with their medical protocols.
Intentionally, one of the “treats” we have and share at the orphanage is coconut butter. There are all sorts of nut butters; almond, cashew, peanut, sunflower, and the one I find most helpful, coconut butter. Making nut butter is; simple with the right tools, much more nutritious, and a lot less expensive than buying it. However, most of us choose to buy it.
Coconut Butter
Somehow, the nutrients of coconut are perfectly created in a way that helps regulate blood sugar between meals and strengthen the immune system. It’s a saturated fat that contains anti-bacterial and anti-microbial factors. I bought coconut butter for this child who asked me to help him with his Type II diabetes. Incidentally, Type I Diabetes is autoimmune, but a vast majority of folks with diabetes have Type II, which, if addressed quickly can reverse, according to studies. However, because this is a lifestyle change, many are not successful. With kids, I find this snack to be a quick fix in between meal times and it serves a mighty purpose.
Additionally, studies also show that unstable blood sugar levels can increase cancer rates. I’ve noted a few studies in the footnotes. My goal is to help these kids enjoy real food and therefore overcome indications. Hence, my weekly educational taste test classes are designed to expand the palate and the mind with the reasons real food and balanced meals are essential. They visit their doctor, who supports these changes and encourages the kids.
Balance
First, my advice for this group is to reduce the number of processed foods, which are very high in carbohydrates, sugar, and preservatives. We also discuss eating grapefruit and increasing the consumption of green vegetables and protein. Additionally, I give this child and some others coconut butter packets. We review the importance of building the immune system by eating vegetables, proteins, and good fats. Everyone remembers how fats slow down the sugar digestion to balance glucose. In this stage, it would be great to avoid processed foods and sugary treats as much as possible.
Since everyone feels so sorry for orphan children, abundant donations of sweet, sugary bread and treats are given to the homes. Admittedly, this will be difficult to resist, but it is not impossible. Many well-meaning businesses and biological parents (feeling guilty) give dyed, sugar-coated gummies, candies, and bread desserts. These junk foods are offered to the kids on a regular basis. Unfortunately, I have to compete with this and educate these kids to say “no thank you.”
System Challenges
Because I empower the kids and explain the benefits of food, I get a little extra scrutiny. Therefore, one of my biggest challenges is that my healthy treats must be submitted before the Case Manager. I’m learning how to work within these apparent discrepancies in this system, but it is undoubtedly a challenge.
Every week I would encourage this boy and the others. It was a monumental effort to resist the treats. His doctor worked with him and checked him every month. And on this day of this photo, 5 months have passed. He whispers in my ear that he doesn’t have diabetes anymore.
It is possible. It really is possible. When I think of how difficult and that this boy had to do this on his own, I am so very proud of him. Hopefully, he remembers the power of the food he consumes and becomes an example to the other kids. But for this moment, I am celebrating a huge moment where some simple choices allowed this sweet boy and the others to; boost immune, overcome diabetes, and strengthen self-confidence.
~Mandy
Studies:
ISRN Oncol. 2013; 2013: 583786. Published online 2013 Feb 7. doi: 10.1155/2013/583786 PMCID: PMC3582053 PMID: 23476808 Diabetes and Risk of Cancer Samy L. Habib 1 , 2 ,* and Maciej Rojna 2 , 3
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Mandy I love this so much!!!!!!!!!
Kelly