I hope you had an amazing weekend and enjoyed the beautiful weather we have been having! But how crazy has the weather been last week: one day it’s raining, the next we wake up to a whack load of snow, then we’re loving the 20 degree weather. Crazy right, and as great as the warm weather is, many of us have come down with colds during these roller coaster temperatures.
So today I’m sharing with you a salad I created to help boost my family’s immune system when we were dealing with the cold last week. Even if you’re not sick, this is a great salad you can make and perhaps bring to an Easter meal this coming weekend, especially if there will be sugary treats. Did you know that consuming 100 grams of sugar suppresses your immune system up to 5 hours after eating it? This leads us to be more susceptible to catching colds and whatever other nasty illness is going around. So if you are going to be treating yourself to one or two small sweets (ahem a treat by the way is only a treat if it’s not a part of your regular daily food intake) than I suggest this immune boosting vitamin C salad be a part of your meal.
Did you know that consuming 100 grams of sugar suppresses your immune system up to 5 hours after eating it?
But before I get to the recipe, what’s the first thing you think of when I say Vitamin C?
If you’re like most people, you probably think of citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruits or lemons and limes.
But did you know that some vegetables contain more vitamin C than citrus fruit? Take for example bell peppers, broccoli & brussels sprouts. One cup of any one of these veggies contains more vitamin C than a medium orange. SAY WHAT?!!
If you’re a pregnant mom or new mom, vitamin C is important to get in your food each day as our bodies don’t store it.
Here’s how Vitamin C helps us mamas:
- Our body needs it to make collagen. If you’re a postpartum mom with diastasis recti (aka abdominal separation, aka “mummy tummy”) or are a pregnant mom wanting to avoid mummy tummy, collagen is your BFF when looking minimizing or repair diastasis.
- Increase iron absorption. If you’re taking an iron supplement or prenatal vitamin, vitamin C is needed for your body to absorb and use the iron properly.
- Reduces inflammation & rebuilds broken down tissue. If you’ve had perineal tearing, an episiotomy or C-section, vitamin C is an important part in tissue healing.
So now you know why you need vitamin C, here’s a yummy way to get it in your belly, and help get a flatter belly if you have Diastasis Recti.
Have a Happy Easter and don’t forget that bunnies eat leafy greens and vegetables, NOT chocolate eggs!!
In Fitness & Nutrition
Ingredients
- Handful spinach or other mixed greens
- 1/4 each red pepper, yellow or orange pepper
- 1/4-1/2 mandarine, clementine or tangerine orange segmented
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 1Tbsp hemp hearts
- Lemon Ginger Dressing
- 2Tbsp grated ginger root
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 lemons juiced (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup
- pinch himalayan salt and fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Place all dressing ingredients in a bowl.
- Place your greens, toped with thinly sliced peppers. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and hemp hearts.
