Optimize Your Immune System’s Ability & Detox Tips
Hi, my name is Maren Epstein and I am a Digestive Health Coach, Certified Colon Hydrotherapist, and Certified Health Supportive Chef. I have attended the Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC, The Woods Hygienic Institute, and the Natural Healing Institute. For the last nine years I have been working with clients on their health to help them heal from chronic issues and to overcome digestive disorders.
When I was in college I developed painful migraines, PMDD, IBS, and an eating disorder. After having little luck with traditional medicine, I discovered “The Raw Food Detox Diet,” by Natalia Rose. After reading her book I began to eat more raw foods and get colonics. My symptoms went away and my life changed. I wanted to help others do the same.
During these crazy times we need to optimize our immune system’s ability to fight illness. The best way to strengthen your immune system is to address gut health and make sure that there is plenty of oxygen in your blood. I would start by avoiding mucus forming foods. That means avoiding
- Soy products.
- Swap out peanut butter for another type of nut butter such as cashew or almond. Peanuts have aflatoxins which are cancer causing and they are often riddled with mold.
- Change the grains you eat. Focus on Quinoa, Buckwheat, Brown Rice and Millet instead of traditional bread and pasta.
Hydration is just as important when we are social distancing as it is when we aren’t. Drinking enough water will make sure that your lymphatic system can work optimally. When hydrated we have plenty of lymph (lymphatic fluid) vs. when dehydrated. The lymphatic system drains toxins and waste products from our body. It also carries white cells to kill off pathogens and keep us healthy.
A few must haves for social distancing are a blender to make hydrating smoothies and soups. Plenty of shelf stable whole foods. A Breville juicer to make healthy juices. And a food processor to make nut butters and spreads.
Five foods that you should make sure to stock up on that are healthy and long lasting are...
- Sweet Potatoes
- Squash (all types)
- Quinoa, Buckwheat and Millet
- By oxygenating the blood with detox baths. You can put hydrogen peroxide in a bath with epsom salt. This will help detox your blood and oxygenate it. Viruses hate oxygen and tend to infect people with more success who have less oxygen in their blood.
- Grounding is another technique which has been proven to reduce inflammatory biomarkers in the blood. Stand or lay on the ground outside with bare feet for 20 minutes a day.
- Drink fresh vegetable juice or take a liquid chlorophyll supplement. Juice is filled with 1,000x more vitamins, minerals, and oxygen than any pill out there.
My best secrets to detox during the virus include the detox bath, doing enemas and intermittent fasting.
My favorite snack food would be Kite Hill Ricotta Cheese on a seed cracker with avocado, sprinkled with sea salt and lemon.
Vegetable tacos can be created in 30 minutes and last all week. Simply saute any kind of vegetable you have on hand with spices and leave them in the fridge. Load them onto lettuce boats, taco shells, or corn tortillas and enjoy all week long!
The protein myth is huge. People always ask me if I get enough protein on a plant based diet. No Americans are low on protein since we only need 40 grams of protein a day. It is easy to get protein by combining rice and beans. This combination creates a complete protein.
Focus your time while social distancing on detoxifying, oxygenating, and eating healthy. Doing these things will boost your immune system.
The benefits of liquid chlorophyll are endless. I’m really not a supplement junkie, but chlorophyll is the one I recommend the most. Liquid chlorophyll helps hydrate the gut in a way that water doesn’t. It acts like intestinal soap and literally scrubs away waste products. When I give people colonics who do not release waste I ask them to use liquid chlorophyll. They release up to five times the amount of waste. Not to mention they report having better bowel movements. Liquid chlorophyll is also a blood builder, helps make you stronger, and tones muscles. I recommend it to my clients to help them go to the bathroom instead of using stimulant laxatives. Liquid chlorophyll is honestly my favorite supplement.
These times are hard. Not only does it make me grateful for the things I took for granted before the outbreak, such as riding my horse, seeing friends, seeing clients and being able to take my daughter on playdates, but it has made me more grateful for the basics. Such as having a home to shelter me, resources to put food on my table and for my immediate family who is staying with me.
For me the best way to stay positive is to be busy. I try to plan out things I can do around the house to remain productive. I’ll call a client or friend to check in. I make sure to plan out fun activities for my daughter. I also make sure that if I get overwhelmed that my mom or husband can watch my daughter so that I can go on a walk and talk to a neighbor or friend. These activities ground me.
For self care and development, take this time to dive into a project you have been putting off. Does something around your home need fixing? Have you always wanted to read more classics? Utilize this time to learn something new. You can also use this time to learn how to cook. A timeless skill that can really change your life!
My favorite podcast is Everyday Detox! A book I’ve enjoyed a lot is “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” by Lori Gottlieb. After five people told me to read it, I finally did. It’s very helpful for self growth and healing.
You can find me on instagram at @eatingworks and my website is www.eatingworks.com . I also have a Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1845738539018206
