Happy New Year!  Let’s hope this New Year brings New Health to the people of Ireland, most people had at least one sick body in their house over Christmas.  And not just a cold, many people were REALLY sick and may be just getting over it. To help those recovering and to help those preventing, this is a reminder that the food you put in your body keeps all those bodily systems healthy.  Good fresh food keeps your Immune System strong, keeping all those nasty Irish bugs at bay. Some foods are particularly good Immune Boosters. 

Fresh fruits and vegetables are especially good…. citrus fruits, pineapples, spinach, leafy greens, bell peppers, chilli peppers, carrots, asparagus, onions, watercress, garlic, ginger and all types of berries.  If you are lucky enough to have a juicer, put them all in!  Some really good combinations are beetroot, carrot and orange; or apple, ginger and celery; or bananas, strawberries and orange.  The combinations and the Immune Boosting benefits are endless.  By having these foods raw, the vitamins, minerals and enzymes are preserved, helping your system much more. Protein is also essential when getting over an illness, so make sure you eat lots of fish, nuts, seeds, eggs and lean meat.  

Local, unheated and untreated, honey is also fantastic for your health, put a spoon in a cup of boiling water with a squeeze of lemon and a few gratings of ginger.   Natural live yoghurt (with no sugar or fruit added!) is also a wonderful immune booster, especially if you were unlucky enough to have had to take antibiotics over the Christmas period.  Although these foods will build you up, stay clear of those that will pull you down or keep you down. 

Cut back on sugary foods/drinks and alcohol now that Christmas is surely over! Following these tips will help you stay healthy in 2005 with Healthy Fresh Food!