Immune Health Archives - StonehengeHealth.com

Spring is a wonderful time for embracing the freshness of the season with a variety of in-season produce that can make any salad vibrant, flavorful, and nutritious.

This Springtime Harvest Salad captures the essence of this time of year, with each ingredient contributing its peak season flavor and texture. It’s perfect as a refreshing lunch or a beautiful side to accompany any spring meal.

In-season veggies are at their nutritional best, providing higher levels of vitamins and antioxidants and taste better due to natural ripening processes.

Additionally, seasonal fruits and vegetables tend to be more affordable due to their abundance. This practice encourages a varied diet, enriching your meals with different nutrients throughout the year. Furthermore, it connects you more closely with nature’s cycles, promoting a mindful understanding of food sources.

Overall, choosing seasonal produce is a healthier, tastier, and more eco-friendly choice that supports local communities.

Here’s a salad recipe that highlights the best of what the season has to offer.

Springtime Harvest Salad

Salad Ingredients:

– Mixed baby greens: A blend of baby spinach, arugula, and baby kale offers a perfect base; tender and packed with nutrients.

– Fresh strawberries: Their sweet juiciness adds a burst of flavor and color.

– Radishes: Thinly sliced for a crisp, peppery crunch.

– English cucumbers: For a fresh, hydrating bite.

– Avocado: Sliced for creamy richness, adding a lovely contrast to the crisp ingredients.

– Goat cheese: Crumbled for a tangy, creamy element.

– Toasted almonds: For a nutty crunch.

– Edible flowers (optional): Such as violets or pansies, for garnishing, adding beauty and a slight floral note.

Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette Ingredients:

– 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

– 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

– 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

– 1 teaspoon honey

– Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined. Adjust seasoning to taste. Set aside.

2. Toast the almonds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the almonds, stirring frequently, until they’re golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.

3. Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed baby greens, sliced strawberries, thinly sliced radishes, sliced cucumbers, and sliced avocado.

4. Add cheese and nuts: Sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese and toasted almonds over the top of the salad.

5. Dress the salad: Drizzle the prepared honey-Dijon vinaigrette over the salad, tossing gently to ensure everything is evenly coated.

6. Garnish and serve: If using, garnish with edible flowers for an extra touch of spring. Serve immediately, offering additional dressing on the side if desired.

This Springtime Harvest Salad captures the essence of this time of year. It’s perfect as a refreshing lunch or a beautiful side to accompany any spring meal.

A Boost for Your Immune System

Eating seasonal vegetables is not only a delight for your taste buds but also a boon for your health, offering peak nutritional benefits and essential vitamins and antioxidants that are crucial for maintaining a strong immune system.

However, for an added boost, consider incorporating the Dynamic Immunity supplement into your daily routine.

This supplement is designed to complement a healthy lifestyle by providing additional support to the immune system, ensuring it functions at its best year-round.

With natural ingredients geared towards enhancing your body’s defenses, Dynamic Immunity is a valuable ally in your wellness regimen, alongside the nutritious benefits of eating seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently sounded the alarm on a growing health crisis in America: loneliness.

In a formal advisory, Murthy compared the health risks of loneliness to those of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, linking it to cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, and anxiety.¹

But why is this loneliness epidemic rampant, and what can you do about it?

The Causes of the Loneliness Epidemic

stressed senior woman looking at laptop.

Several factors contribute to the loneliness epidemic, each complex and multifaceted.

One significant factor is the rise of technology. As we become more plugged into our devices, we often disconnect from the world around us. Social media, while designed to connect us, can sometimes make us feel more isolated as we compare our lives to others’ carefully curated online personas.²

Additionally, societal changes have led to increased isolation. More people are living alone, working remotely, or moving frequently for work or school, which can disrupt social connections.³

The stigma surrounding mental health also plays a role, as many people feel uncomfortable discussing their feelings of loneliness, exacerbating the problem.⁴

Recalibrate Your Relationship with Technology

Phone, fitness and music with senior friends on the grass outdoor taking a break from their workout routine. Exercise, smile and elderly people streaming audio while laughing on a field for wellness

Surgeon General Murthy’s 5-for-5 Connection Challenge inspires you to forge connections by taking one positive action every day for five days.

Using technology as a tool, strengthen relationships by starting with sending heartfelt texts of love and encouragement to those you haven’t spoken to in a while.

Simultaneously, this initiative emphasizes the crucial balance of offline connections, highlighting the importance of fostering meaningful relationships beyond the digital realm. It serves as a reminder that technology can enhance, not replace, the depth and authenticity of our human connections.

So, instead of allowing technology to isolate you, use it as a tool to foster genuine connections. This could involve video calls with loved ones, joining online communities with shared interests, or using social media to organize in-person meetups.

Offline, make an effort to connect with those around us. This could be as simple as striking up a conversation with a neighbor, joining a local club or volunteering in the community.

The loneliness epidemic is a complex issue with no easy solutions. However, by acknowledging the problem and taking steps to foster connection on both an individual and societal level, we can together begin to turn the tide.

Each positive interaction you make not only benefits you personally but also has the potential to positively impact our communities. Therefore, combating the loneliness epidemic is not just about improving your health outcomes—it’s about strengthening our society as a whole.

Stress to Social Success

Making friends can sometimes feel like a daunting task. The pressure to fit in, the fear of rejection, and the anxiety of opening up to someone new can make the process stressful and overwhelming. It’s a journey filled with uncertainties, and it often feels like you’re navigating an emotional roller coaster.

However, remember that it’s okay to take things slow and be patient with yourself.

To help better manage stressful situations and embrace a sense of calm during this process, consider adaptogenic mushrooms.* Stonehenge Health Dynamic Mushrooms offer a unique blend of Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Chaga, Maitake, and Shiitake. Each of these mushrooms is renowned for its adaptogenic properties.* This distinctive combination supports cognitive performance, immune health, and stress resilience – all packed conveniently in one blend.* Support your journey towards making new connections with ease and tranquility.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Sources:
1. The 45-Second Tool to Change Your Life – POLITICO
2. How We Can Overcome Loneliness | Psychology Today
3. Pew Research Center
4. American Psychological Association

Tag: Immune Health

Springtime Harvest Salad Recipe: Taking Advantage of What’s In Season