Bouncing Back from a Health Challenge
The last 18 months have been challenging to say the least. It’s hard enough to handle life when you have CF, but with so many extra challenges that seem to keep on coming, it can get overwhelming. However, staying in that state of overwhelm and stress when your health is already compromised, can have a serious impact on your overall well-being and affect your ability to bounce back from life’s challenges.
Your food choices under these circumstances become even more important, and there are certain nutrients that can help you bounce back when under pressure or stress.
Bone Broth- You can easily find a high quality brand of packaged bone broth and what’s great about it is that it’s packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids to support your immune system. Consider heating up some bone broth on a cold day with some immune-boosting herbs added, like turmeric, rosemary, ginger or cumin. Adding some chopped leafy greens, garlic and other veggies makes it a complete meal. Bone broth is also soothing and healing to the digestive tract and actually promotes better digestion.
Root Vegetables- Fall is a great time to load up on root veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets and celery root. They are rich in antioxidants that prevent cellular damage in your body and they contain anti-inflammatory compounds and vitamins like A and C. Studies have shown that the level of Vitamin C in your body is quickly depleted when you’re under stress, so it’s important to replenish that with Vitamin C rich foods.
Kiwi- Speaking of Vitamin C, this superstar contains about 65 mg. You can peel them and add a couple to your morning smoothie for that immune boost you need. If you’re not a kiwi fan, raspberries and blueberries can give you a great dose of Vitamin C. When you have CF, it’s important to boost your immunity at every opportunity!
Dark Chocolate- High in antioxidants, happy mood chemicals and magnesium, dark chocolate is a food that will help you relax. Magnesium is a mineral that is used by the body to turn off the stress response, so include dark chocolate in your diet. But make sure it states that it is 65% cacao or higher on the label.
Avocado- The healthy fats in avocados help balance blood sugar, mood and hormones, while the B vitamins it contains help our bodies handle stress and anxiety. Avocado is also a source of magnesium that will help your body relax.
There are a lot more foods to help you “bounce back,” but the idea is to boost the immune system, manage inflammation and eat to support a reduced state of stress in the body. Adding the foods mentioned above is a great place to start supporting your body’s needs and your ability to rebound.