Note: this piece first appeared as the February 2008 ClarkWellness.net Recipe of the Month.

Serves 4

This delicious, comforting dish is rich in immune-boosting beta-carotene. It’s perfect for when you have a cold or are feeling under the weather — the simple purée is easy on the digestive system and very nourishing. Of course, you don’t have to be sick to enjoy the wonderful flavors of this dish!

1 onion, peeled and cut into chunks
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
1 whole cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
3 slices fresh ginger
1 cup apple juice, plus more if desired
water
sea salt to taste
1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
ground cinnamon for garnish

Place the onion, sweet potatoes, carrots, cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, and apple juice in a medium sauce pot and add enough water to cover the vegetables. Bring to a boil and cook until the vegetables are very soft, about 15 minutes. Drain. Remove the cinnamon stick, cloves, and ginger.

Place the cooked vegetables in a food processor along with sea salt to taste, more apple juice, if desired, and coconut oil, and process until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Serve warm, garnished with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.

“Like everybody else, when I don’t know what else to do, I seem to go in for catching colds.”

–George Jean Nathan

Note: this piece first appeared in the February 2008 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.

Serves 2

2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped Brazil nuts

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Place the carrots, red bell pepper, olive oil, and sea salt and black pepper in a medium baking dish and mix well to combine. Roast, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, adjust seasonings, and top with chopped Brazil nuts. Serve warm.

Note: this piece first appeared in the February 2008 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.

Welcome to February! It’s a month of romance, elections, and the last gasps of winter. And for some of us, this February seems to be bringing more seasonal colds, flus, and viruses. Right after I had the flu in early January, my partner caught an unfortunate stomach virus. And almost immediately after he recovered from that, I came down with conjunctivitis! It seems there are a lot of illnesses going around this time of year, so strengthening your immune system — the part of your body that fights off disease — is essential. At ForkBytes, we’re focusing our February on immune support.

The best way to support your immune system is to eat a whole-foods diet rich in a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The immune system is all about balance, including nutrient balance. Below, I’ve outlined some of the most important immune-boosting nutrients and some food sources to help you incorporate these key elements into your diet. Read on for the scoop!

Immune-Boosting Nutrients and Where to Find Them

Essential fat. The right balance of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids helps your body make prostaglandins, which are crucial for immune-system health. Prostaglandins regulate white blood cells, which destroy and clean up “invader” microbes in the bloodstream. Essential fatty acids are found in flaxseed oil, fish oils, and evening primrose oil.

Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it fights free radicals that can cause disease. It also helps your body metabolize essential fatty acids. Vitamin C is abundant in many fruits and vegetables, including red bell peppers, orange juice, strawberries, and Brussels sprouts.

Zinc. The mineral zinc has a well-deserved reputation for shortening the duration of illnesses. Zinc helps increase white blood cell count and enhances immune function. It is found in animal foods (especially red meat and liver) whole grains, and nuts.

Beta-carotene. Like vitamin C, beta-carotene is an important immune-boosting antioxidant. Pumpkin, yams, and carrots are all rich in beta-carotene.