As the days are shorter and nearing winter, I prepared a homemade mixture of elderberry syrup for the coming colder temperatures and flu season. Elderberries are a natural way to assist your immune system to help prevent or fight viral infections that are common during the winter months.  Just 1 tbsp. a day of this fruit berry, high in antioxidants, can give your body a boost to help maintain healthy function…plus tastes delicious with the honey. (Recipe posted below)

Our bodies were created to function properly when given the necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Who would have thought to use food as medicine especially nutrient dense food?  What a concept! Elderberries are just ONE out of a plentiful array of consumable foods the Lord created on earth for us to live, breathe and have our being. I am amazed at the colorful variety of plants that provide strong antioxidants for our immune system.  So what is the immune system and how will foods high in antioxidants help assist this natural process?

The immune system is made up of specialized organs, cells and tissues, which help to protect against diseases caused by tiny invaders (called pathogens) such as viruses, bacteria and parasites. We have heard a great deal about the immune system these days because of the problem with the Covid 19 virus.  When a pathogen is detected, messages are sent out warning the body that it is being attacked!  It then directs the appropriate cells to destroy it.  It is almost like the immune system is waiting for the signal for battle. 

Antioxidants play an important role in helping to fight the battle by neutralizing the attacking free radicals that want to steal, kill and destroy the beneficial cells!  It reminds me of the armor of God against the forces of evil in Ephesians 6….put on, take up, stand firm, and prepare to resist!  Antioxidants are like parts of the armor to protect, and the best sources are fruits and vegetables (like elderberries), kidney or black beans, green and black tea, red wine and dark chocolate! Plants!

Amazingly, it does make a difference what foods we choose to put inside our body.  Whether it is the freshly picked, nutrient dense, straight from the vine-ripe to your grocery store or the heavily process, high in sugar, altered wheat and unhealthy oils packaged non-perishable goods, food impacts . . . .? 

 What goes into the body can either help or hinder, build-up or destroy, bring good health or cause disease, create immunity or be susceptible.