Boosting Immunity:  Women’s Health Night #2

Keiran Llaneza, P.A. joined us to teach on boosting immunity for women’s health night #2.

Keiran shared, Our Best Defense: Times are unpredictable and scary.  We have a new virus that really no one understands completely.  The best defense is providing our bodies with the foods that boost immunity.  Come learn about the best foods and supplements for fighting viruses like coronavirus.

Keiran is a board certified Physician Assistant. She studied at Samford University where she earned her bachelors degree in biology. She completed the Physician Assistant Program at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2005. Keiran began working for Pediatric Urology Associates in 2006 until leaving in 2008 to practice in the Emergency Department and General Pediatrics. She returned to Pediatric Urology Associates in 2013 and now works with Living Water Pediatrics. She is a mother of five children + an exchange student and spends most of her spare time with them.

Keiran Llaneza, P.A. Speaker for Boosting Immunity: Women's Health Night #2

Keiran Llaneza, P.A.

She kicked off the evening with a few easy things that can make a BIG difference in fighting disease.

  • Sleep – at least 7 hours; lack of sleep increases stress, increases inflammation, and decreases our ability to fight disease
  • Exercise – There are numerous health benefits such as hormone regulation, weight control, mental health, etc.
  • Manage stress
    • It is important to keep our bodies hydrated and thereby decreasing inflammation

But the most important is FOOD.

FOOD is medicine!

When we eat the right foods we get micronutrients, meaning vitamins and minerals…this is like medicine for the body.

Keiran taught for boosting the immune system:

“Eat the Rainbow – have a colorful plate. I often say to my kids that if God made it, it is better.  Put those veggies on your plate! These veggies are high in antioxidants which bind to the free radicals in our bodies and decrease our risk of infection. For the younger kids that do not like their veggies, puree them and hide in other foods or do smoothies.

Load up on foods that have natural antiviral properties link Coconut oil, raw garlic, walnuts, thyme, oregano, pomegranate seeds, ginger, and fermented foods.”

So which micronutrients did she highlight for boosting immune?

Keiran highlighted a few specific vitamins and minerals as well as best places to get them.

These top micros are:

  • Zinc
  • Vitamin C
  • Quercetin
  • Glutathione
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin A
  • Omega 3

 

But here’s the key – these build up in your system over time! You can’t just take these in excess when you start feeling bad and think it’ll fix everything. It’s the long ball game! 😉

 

To see the previous week’s teaching recap, click here.