In such uncertain times, the last thing we want to feel unsure about is how to look after ourselves.
It’s a time to throw out years of conflicting weight loss advice or fad super-diets, and hone in on helping our immune system to ensure we’re staying as healthy as we can be at home.
Leading Nutritional Therapist Gabriela Peacock has been tailoring at-home solutions to immune health for the last five years, attracting an array of high-profile clients including models, celebrities and even Royals.
Top nutritionist Gabriela Peacock has shared her expert advice on how to stay healthy at home and boost your immune system
‘Every day in my clinic, I see how important certain foods and supplements can be for improving the way we live, the way we feel and the way we look. At a time when we’re all guarding against infection, protecting ourselves from the inside is often the best defense.’
A former fashion model disillusioned by diet myths, Gabriela dedicated almost a decade to the study of Health Science before formulating her own collection of cleansing, boosting and enhancing supplements, GP Nutrition, designed to help fortify the body and immune system.
Among the range is a powerful bio-intense nutrition kit called Clean Me for supporting our immune response, a refreshing Energise Me vitality-booster and an everyday multinutrient, GP Nutrition Gold, packed with 30 different antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and superfoods to help build a strong immune defense.
GOOD HEALTH ISN’T RESTRICTIVE
To understand the best practice of an experienced Nutritional Therapist you must first to ask what they do in their own home.
For Gabriela, every day starts with a good quality multi-nutrient.
‘A multi-nutrient (or multivitamin) supplement is the first step to strong immune health,’ Gabriela explains. ‘There is no “magic vitamin” that solves everything – all nutrients must work together to nourish your body and your immunity, so a multi-nutrient is a fantastic baseline.’
Gabriela is on speed dial to the rich and famous and helps them keep their health, body and mind in top shape through her company, GP Nutrition Gold
Gabriela takes GP Nutrition Gold, the most powerful multi-vitamin from the range, which contains Vitamins C, D and B12, as well as immune-boosting superfoods.
The everyday supplement comes as a pre-prepared dosage of vitamin capsules and a superfood-rich powder drink, which work together to support and strengthen the immune system, fortify skin and hair and balance energy levels and hormones.
For those days when the body needs additional support, Gabriela recommends a flexible approach.
She says: ‘Good diets aren’t based on restriction – it’s important to live your life and have fun but just know what to do to help your body function at its best.
‘I alternate GP Nutrition Gold with Clean Me, which is liver and immunity-supporting supplement, because as much as I understand that you need to support your liver, I enjoy a glass of wine as much as everyone else!’
AT-HOME HEALTH FOOD HACKS: Gabriela’s Top Tips
This is a time of great stress for everyone, especially if we’re limited to the types of foods we have around us, but there are simple techniques you can use to help the body process the foods you do have more efficiently.
1. Sip a chilled Vitamin C drink
Instead of taking a super-strong vitamin that delivers a high dosage of Vitamin C in one go, I recommend squeezing lemons into a big bottle of cold water that you can drink throughout the day to deliver regular doses of Vitamin C.
Contrary to popular belief, adding lemons to boiling water will kill most of the Vitamin C. While it still has alkalising properties, you won’t get the same beneficial Vitamin C.
2. Supercharge with chilies
Adding chilies and capsicum (or peppers) to your food can be very beneficial. While you may think red chilies are the best source of vitamins, it’s actually green chilies that contain the highest levels of Vitamin C.
3. Avoid adding milk to Green Tea
Green Tea is a fantastic thing to have in your diet, whether it’s a drink or as part of a supplement. It contains green plant chemicals, called catechins, that can have an antiviral effect and can help increase immune cell function.
However, one tip is to avoid putting milk into green tea because the protein can bind into the polyphenols, or the catechins, to reduce absorption in the body.
Instead, when green tea is combined with Vitamin C like it is in GP Nutrition GOLD, it will increase the absorption of the catechins.
4. Fancy toast? Add some protein
When you’re stuck at home, it can be tempting to snack on comfort foods like pasta or plain white toast, however diets high in simple carbohydrates and sugars can weaken our immune system.
By adding a protein, you can help your body to regulate blood sugar levels and make your system stronger. For example, if you want toast and marmite for breakfast, have it with egg or a piece of cheese, maybe add a yoghurt, to help slow down the release of sugar.
Equally, adding lean, high quality proteins like canned tuna or mackrell from the food cupboard to white rice can have the same effect.
5. If you can’t eat fresh, choose frozen
I am a big advocate of frozen food, especially at times when fresh vegetables and meat is in short supply. It’s a fantastic way to preserve the nutrients, as long as you freeze it as soon as possible.
Frozen superfoods, like berries and kale, are great for smoothies and they’re much easier to store for long periods of time than refrigerated food. Often, they even contain higher Vitamin C content because the fruit hasn’t had to travel so far after it’s been picked.
VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES ARE MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK
When it comes to fighting infections, there are certain key vitamins that are best for boosting our immune system, and many of us don’t even realise we’re deficient in them.
‘I’m yet to find one patient who isn’t deficient in something,’ Gabriela explains. ‘Vitamin deficiencies are way more common than people think.
‘At a time like this, when we can’t get out of the house as much as we’d like to, it’s never been more important to top up on our Vitamin D, a nutrient that modulates our whole immune system and helps the body to fight infection, but one that I find 80 per cent of my patients aren’t getting enough of.
Many of us don’t realise we are vitamin deficient. Vitamin D is especially hard to get if we are staying at home
‘If you’re stuck at home, one of the best ways to produce more Vitamin D naturally is to get just a few minutes outside in the garden, on a balcony or as you exercise while the sun is still shining.
‘Otherwise, a well-formulated multivitamin, with a high-dosage of Vitamin D, like GP Gold, is a great way to ensure you’re getting enough of this essential vitamin on a daily basis.
‘Other essential nutrients, such as Vitamin C, act as powerful antioxidants within the body by helping to fight free radicals that damage our cells. Vitamin C is therefore known to support healthy immune function and plays a part in protecting our respiratory tract against pathogens like viruses. This might explain why we’ve seen the sales of Vitamin C supplements increase dramatically in recent weeks.
‘There has also been a lot of buzz around zinc lozenges, and the possible link to shortening viral infections.
‘What we do know is that zinc boosts our immune systems by activating the cells and enzyme processes responsible for fighting infections. So, there’s evidence to suggest that it can be very effective at boosting immunity.’
Superfoods are the ultimate immune-boosters
Finally, at a time when it’s not so easy to replenish our fresh meat and vegetables supplies, how can we get the most nutrients from the food in our cupboards?
Gabriela explains: ‘An everyday ingredient like turmeric is a fantastic all-rounder for our health, which is why it’s commonly found in powerful supplements such as GP Nutrition Gold.
‘The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and acts as a potent antioxidant proven to hold several antiviral properties.
Superfoods, such a turmeric, can help the body reduce inflammation and boost our immune systems
‘Supplements tends to be the best option to get more turmeric into our diets because it is not very easily absorbed from food. The composition of GP Nutrition GOLD specifically supports this action, because it combines turmeric with bioperine (or black pepper) to aid absorption.
‘If you want to increase your absorption of turmeric from your food, one useful tip is to mix it with fat. For example, to maximise the health benefits of a turmeric latte, combine a full spoon of turmeric with a tablespoon coconut oil in a pan to make it into a paste, then add the milk. The curcumin component is more easily absorbed if added to or taken with fats – and don’t forget to add black pepper!
‘Aside from spices like turmeric, colourful superfoods such as blueberries, cherries, acai and pomegranate play an important role in promoting immunity in a number of ways.
‘The active substances in these superfoods are the vibrant phytochemicals that give the fruit their colour.
‘Foods with deep red, purple and black colourings have really strong antioxidant properties because they protect your cells from damage by free radicals. They are very important for supporting our health, but specifically our immune system.
‘Obviously, superfoods like berries and acai that we usually blend into smoothies won’t always be available during a lockdown, but powder drinks supplements like GP Nutrition Gold are packed with a strong mix of red, blue and purple superfoods to help boost your antioxidant intake at home.’
When it comes to your health, go for Gold…
Now, more than ever, it’s integral that we look after our health.
Thankfully, GP Nutrition has our vitamin and nutrient needs covered with the expert team’s specially crafted GP Nutrition Gold package.
Rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, superfoods and vegan omega 3: GP Gold has been formulated to fuel the very best you.
Skin-supporting ingredients, such as curcumin and vegan algae oil, help improve skin barrier function and slow the breakdown of collagen. While Vitamin B12 and mushroom powders, in the superfood drink support your immune system and help maintain energy levels.
It is available in 7-day, 14-day and 28-day supplies and includes:
* One sachet of My Capsules to be taken at breakfast or lunch
* One My Drink with water (you can mix the My Drink blend into porridge or yogurt if you prefer)
* GP Gold My Capsules includes 1 x Organic Turmeric with Bioperine Capsule Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The inclusion of bioperine increases absorption of this superfood.
* 1x Algae Oil Omega 3 Softgel. This highly nutritious, 100% plant based source of vegan omega 3 essential fatty acid is make from sustainable algae (seaweed).
1x Antioxidant Rich Multi-nutrient. Over 20 bioavailable ingredients designed to energise and replenish all your vitamin and mineral levels.
GP Gold My Drink: 10+ Superfoods 4g Pea Protein: Vegan protein source to help regulate blood sugar levels.
Magnesium: A relaxing mineral that is vitally important to cellular function.
Vitamin B12: Amplifies and sustains energy levels to help reduce fatigue
Vitamin D: Supports immunity and can help mood
High Fibre: Essential for healthy digestion
Medicinal Mushrooms: Full of antioxidants and can help boost energy levels
Green Tea: Powerful antioxidant that also boost energy levels
Flaxseed: A natural source of Omega 3 and fibre
Red Superfoods: Potent source of antioxidants
Buy your Gold supply today by clicking HERE…
