Boost Your Immunity with These Stretches

Boost Your Immunity with These Stretches

Photo from Whole Living

People who do yoga religiously love it. Then there's people like me. I sure do like it when I do it, but trying to find the time to actually do it is an issue.

I just learned of some serious incentives to do three yoga stretches in particular. They allboost your immunity. And in times of H1N1 and flu seasonapproaching, this sure does seem like a smart move.

Well, three moves!

Body + Soul magazine says that these three moves, when paired with slow and deep breathing, can really help stimulate your immunity centers -- adrenal glands and lymphatic system -- allowing them to perform at their best.

(Note: If you are pregnant, consult with doctor before doing these moves.)

1. The Half Shoulder Stand, seen above, recharges kids and boosts circulation, helping your body filter out waste.

How to: Lie on back, bend knees into chest, and lift so feet are above your head -- level with eyes. Yes hands to support hips. Breathe in and out slowly for two minutes. Roll out of stretch the way you came in, slowly bending knees and rolling down.

2. The Seated Spinal Twist compresses tummy muscles, and gets lymphatic fluid flowing.

How to: See the yoga pose image here for how to get started. Place the leg that is up behind the other knee. Take the arm that is resting on the knee and bend up into a wave. Place other hand on floor behind hip and turn head to look behind you on over shoulder of hand on floor. Take 10-15 slow breaths, then switch to twist other side.

3. The Pigeon Pose with Chest Opener is the stress buster -- it helps keep nervous system regulated and open the chest stimulating the thymus gland. All of which is good for a healthy system ready to fight off sickness.

How to: See the yoga pose image here to get started. Next, clasp hands behind you and straighten arms as you life chest up and arch back just a little. Keep looking straight ahead and hold for one minute deeply breathing. Repeat on other side.

Do you do yoga for your health?

Flu-Fighting Foods That Will Keep Your Family Healthy

Flu-Fighting Foods That Will Keep Your Family Healthy

Ah-choo! Uh-oh. My daughter, my husband, and I are all sneezing. Hope it's not the flu. We're all pretty good about washing our hands and covering our mouths when we cough. And I've just discovered, there are certain flu-fighting foods we can incorporate into our diet to boost our immune system and help keep us from getting sick.

1. Garlic. It boosts the immune system, increasing resistance to infection and stress.

2. Vitamin D. Research shows that low levels of vitamin D may be linked to an increase in colds and flu.

3. Citrus fruits. They contain vitamin C, which help boosts the immune system.

4. Creamy Orange Shake. Andrea Garen, a registered dietitian in California recommends this recipe: Combine one-half cup of orange juice with one-half cup of fat-free frozen yogurt and a teaspoon of vanilla. Each one-cup serving has just 177 calories and 3.5 grams of fat.

For more ways to keep your family healthy during the flu season, check out the recipes listed in the Flu-Fighting Foods Cookbook.

How do you fight the flu?

What an amazing story of love and faith!

Wrong-embryo baby’s parents laud guardian

Ohio woman gives birth after being implanted with stranger’s embryo

Jd Poole / AP Carolyn Savage, 40, is seen at her home in Sylvania, Ohio. Savage who had the wrong embryo implanted by a fertility clinic has given birth to a boy on Friday.

Video Woman to give up baby after embryo mix-up Sept. 26: NBC’s Amy Robach interviews Carolyn Savage and her husband on their decision. Today show

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updated 8 minutes ago

TOLEDO, Ohio - An Ohio woman who gave birth to a baby boy after a fertility clinic implanted her with the wrong embryo is a "guardian angel," the boy's biological parents said Saturday.

Paul and Shannon Morell of suburban Detroit said in a statement that they would be "eternally grateful" to Carolyn Savage for her decision to give birth to their child despite the clinic's mistake.

"It's been a long, difficult journey, and we're thrilled that our family is now complete," the Morells said. "We will be eternally grateful for his guardian angel, Carolyn Savage, and the support of the entire Savage family.

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"We're looking forward to spending the next few weeks getting to know our new baby."

The boy was born Thursday at 5 pounds and 3 ounces at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo. He measures 18 inches long.

In a statement Friday, the Savages offered congratulations to the Morells.

Video Woman implanted with wrong embryo Sept. 21: The Savages discovered they were carrying someone else’s baby. Today show

"At this time, we would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to the Morell family on the birth of their son," the Savages' statement said. "We wish Paul, Shannon, their twin girls and their new baby boy the best, as they move forward with their lives together."

The Savages asked for privacy in the days ahead, saying "Our family is going through a very difficult time."

The Savages extended thanks to people around the world for their support and prayers. They thanked medical professionals for their care and treatment throughout the pregnancy and delivery.

The Savages say a fertility clinic outside Ohio transferred the wrong frozen embryo in February. Ten days later, they got a call from adoctor at the clinic saying she was pregnant with someone else's child.

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She was implanted with the wrong embryo

The Savages said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday they never considered terminating the pregnancy or trying to fight for custody.

Video 'Terrible thing that has happened' Sept. 23: Shannon and Paul Morell’s embryo was wrongly implanted in another woman. TODAY’s Meredith Vieira talks to the couple about how they’re dealing. Today show

They have hired attorneys who say they are working to make sure the fertility clinic accepts responsibility.

The Morells, who live in Troy, Mich., found out about the fertility clinic mistake a day after the Savages.

The two couples knew nothing about each other. Shannon Morell feared that the pregnant woman would choose abortion, ending their chance to give their 2-year-old twin girls a sibling.

A few days passed before they learned that the Savages were not only willing to continue with the pregnancy but also to hand over the baby without hesitation.

"This was someone else's child," 40-year-old Carolyn Savage told the AP on Wednesday. "We didn't know who it was. We didn't know if they didn't have children or if this was their last chance for a child."