48 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2021
GET CREATIVE
BOOSTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
BY MICHELLE GABRIELLE CENTAMORE
This time of year is oft en fi lled with
wholesome fun and festivities. It can
also lead to unhealthy eating habits
and less time or motivation for physical
fi tness. Experts suggest getting creative
to boost your immune system, maintain
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your health, and enjoy the holiday
season.
Balance your body, relax your mind,
add a few fi ne needles, and your immune
system will get just the boost
it needs to thrive, says Elizabeth M.
Martin, a Stony Brook-based licensed
acupuncturist, herbalist, certifi ed light
leader, and Kundalini coach.
Acupuncture is a holistic treatment that
entails inserting fi ne needles through
the skin at strategic points on the body.
Located on the outside of the leg about
four fi ngers from the bottom of the knee,
acupuncture point name Stomach 36,
addresses stomach energy. “If you press
on this acu pressure point while taking
5-10 deep belly breaths, you’ll help to facilitate
the fl ow of the energy in order to
improve your body’s natural immunity,”
advises Martin. Chinese herbs, such as
astralagus root, may help to “increase
B lymphocytes, which in turn boosts
the immune system by creating more
fi ghter cells to attach pathogens within
the body,” she adds.
“When we›re stressed, the immune
system›s ability to fi ght off antigens
is reduced,” Martin says. She recommends
the meditation Immune System
Booster: The Inner Sun to boost the immune
system. Martin also recommends
Kundalini yoga which, according to a
2018 study by the International Journal
of Yoga Therapy, concluded that eight
weeks of this activity lowered participants’
anxiety levels.
Exercise improves circulation and
reduces infl ammation. Even moderate
but regular exercise strengthens your
immune system, says Heather Kosky,
a certifi ed master personal trainer in
Holbrook. “With the cooler weather
upon us and the beautiful change in
scenery, it’s a great time to get out for
some outdoor exercise. A 20-30 minute
walk, hike, or bike ride out in nature
a day is a heartwarming way to boost
your immune system.”
Get creative while eating healthy, says
Michelle Walrath, founder and CEO of
Organic Krush’s several Long Island
locations. Vitamin C is key in fi ghting
off viruses, she says. “Upon rising,
squeeze a half of a fresh lemon into your
water so that your system wakes up and
feels the support of all that vitamin C.
Foods like lemons, oranges, and kiwis
can be made into fresh-pressed juices,
as well as squeezed into your water.”
Top your salad with fresh squeezed
orange juice plus olive oil and sea salt,
she suggests. “Delicious, bright and
immune boosting!”
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