By Julie Behling-Hovdal
A few days ago I stopped by Walgreen’s to get some wedding pictures printed when I came across an ad for the flu shot. A cheerful woman was rolling up her sleeve, flexing her bicep, and “arming” herself with a flu shot. This time of year, these types of ads are everywhere and the message is clear — if you really love your children and family and if you are a responsible citizen, you will get the flu shot.
Previously, I’ve written of the potential risks from the flu shot and my top 3 picks for staying healthy through flu season. This go around I’d like to share my personal plan for staying healthy this winter.
First of all, I have identified my weak areas so I can be sure to hedge them up against colds, flu, and other health issues that I may be prone to in the winter.
One of my my weakest areas with health is easy weight gain. My body responds poorly to the heavy sweets and breads that are so prevalent throughout the winter holiday season. Too much sugar and starch also weakens my immune system and makes me more prone to getting sick.
My plan is to focus on healthy eating. In order to keep cravings for sweets and breads to a minimum, I will use ocotea oil or Slique Essence under my tongue and in my water, especially before eating out or going to a party. They help to balance the blood sugar levels. I will drink my favorite Slique Tea regularly! I will also make sure to cook plenty of nourishing and satisfying foods, as well as foods that help the immune system such as homemade chicken soups, and foods with onions, garlic, and spices such as oregano, thyme, and rosemary. See my crock pot chicken, crock pot chicken stock, and homemade chicken soup recipe at the end of this article! Homemade chicken stock made like this is incredibly nourishing, and I can literally feel it feeding my cells as I eat it!
Another one of my weak areas is my lungs. Salt Lake City has really poor air quality in the winter due to inversions that keep polluted air hanging over the city, sometimes for weeks at a time!
My plan is to do regular oil pulling with sesame oil and a drop of helichrysum oil, which helps to detoxify the blood and various organs including the lungs. I will diffuse Purification oil on bad air quality days. If I ever experience any congestion or difficulties breathing, I will do a hot compress with frankincense oil on my chest. This is done by applying a couple of drops of the oil, followed by a hot wet washcloth, a layer of saran wrap, and a towel. It drives the oil deep into the chest, and I can always breathe really deeply afterwards!
Finally, I can feel cold and sluggish at times with the short days, long nights, and cold temperatures. My plan to counter that is to go to local hot springs at least once a month. There are a lot of trace minerals at hot springs that good for the body and immune system. I will also engage in fairly vigorous exercise 3-4x/week, stretching at least 4x/week, and meditation 4-5x/week to maintain optimal health.
As always, I will take my Life 5 probiotic and eat probiotic foods regularly. I will use NingXia Red and my Vitamin D Serum. At the first sign of any cold or flu, I will use a few drops of Thieves oil in my drinking water, on my feet, and on my throat/glands.
These habits will not only protect me from any flu far more than the flu vaccine ever could, but also help my immune system be strong in the face of any other infectious disease, including potential pandemic.
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My Crock Pot Chicken, Chicken Stock, & Chicken Soup Recipe
Step 1 — Roast the chicken
Peel and quarter an onion and place in the bottom of the crock pot. You can also scrub a couple of sweet potatoes and add them in as well.
Mix together 1 tsp. sea salt, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, 1 tsp. paprika, 1 tsp. dried thyme, 1 tsp. onion powder, and 1 minced garlic clove. Rinse the fully or partially thawed whole chicken in water and dry with paper towels. Rub the herbs all over the chicken, including in the cavity.
Place the prepared chicken in the crock pot breast side up, and cook on high for 6-8 hours or until meat easily falls off the bones. I usually do this overnight.
Eat the chicken the next day with the potatoes, in sandwiches, in casseroles, and reserve some for soup.
Step 2 — Make chicken stock with the carcass
Leave the onion and chicken carcass in the crock pot. Add another fresh peeled, quartered onion, 2 scrubbed carrots, 2 celery stalks, a peeled garlic clove, and 1 Tbsp. of apple cider vinegar (the vinegar helps pull minerals from the chicken bones). Cover everything with water. Cover and cook on high for 8-12 hours or longer. I also usually do this overnight.
Step 3 — Make chicken soup
The next morning, turn off the crock pot. Let cool. Strain the stock with a fine mesh strainer into a soup pot.
Add extra water, salt, pepper, and herbs such as marjoram, basil, rosemary, and thyme to taste. Throw in chopped veggies such as onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, potatoes, shredded cabbage, garlic, or whatever you have on hand. Boil until vegetables reach the desired tenderness. Also, you can add egg noodles after about 10 minutes and cook until they are done or add chopped fresh greens such as chard, spinach, or arugula toward the end.
To your health & enjoyment!
- Julie =)
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Julie Behling-Hovdal is a reflexologist/holistic healer and founder of Essential Survival where she teaches people how to prepare for the #1 cause of death in the event of an economic collapse — lack of access to medicines. In 2005 Julie was able to get off 4 prescription drugs and heal from a 6-year stint of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia with products from Young Living Essential Oils. Get a copy of her free report “Fast Track Survival Medicines” at http://essentialsurvival.org/fast-track-survival-medicines/.
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Statements made about the essential oils that come in the Essential Oil Survival Kit and other products offered by Essential Survival have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from disease or injury should consult with a physician.
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