The more kids learn about growing food and nutrition, the more connected they are to it. -Tsao-Lin Moy

We try to control a lot as a culture, even though we know that’s an illusion.

And we certainly can’t “control” our health—BUT we can take steps to protect and build our immune system so we get sick less and recover faster!

Acupuncturist Tsao-Lin Moy joins me today to talk about how we can identify problems in our families that may affect short and long-term health and gain some practical strategies to avoid illness (and recover quickly).

You’ll learn:

  • the importance of the mind-body connection and the massive impact our thoughts have on our physical health
  • how our own behaviors can result in calmer children
  • how to identify and fight against stress addiction (and my personal confession)
  • why movement and play cannot be discounted when it comes to both a child’s learning and physical health
  • the details on all the “activity” we’re doing when we sleep (and why catching up on weekends isn’t a good excuse)
  • how to start kids off on the right foot taking ownership of their health

(And ugh, I’m so sorry about my video quality blinking so much! I’ve almost got it fixed after trying 4 webcams!)

I know you’ll take some practical, free-to-implement tips from this interview!

Can’t see the video? Watch Control Your Immunity here on YouTube!

No time for the video? Here are the notes!

Take Control of Your Immunity

  • 0:15: Today I’m talking about immunity with Tsao-Lin Moy, an acupuncturist who uses an integrative approach blending Eastern medicine techniques with Western scientific data. 
  • 1:54: Tsao-Lin started out in the corporate world. She shares with us how she became involved in health and medicine.

We all have the capability to impact our health. -Tsao-Lin Moy

  • 3:57: Here are the basics of Eastern vs Western medicine and where you find the middle ground. Getting sick all the time or having allergies are a symptom of a deeper problem. You have to look at whole-body health.
  • 6:30: Tsao-Lin shares an example of how her integrative approach could play out with a real scenario. 

  • 8:12: Our goal today is to help parents understand how to see problems in their family that may affect short and long-term health and gain some practical strategies to avoid illness (and recover quickly). 

An Integrated Approach to Immunity

You're the adult; be the example and you'll have calmer children. -Tsao-Lin Moy

Wish you could control your stress instead of feeling like it’s controlling your life, your sleep, and your temper?

Women react to stress differently than men and need special strategies!

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  • 20:58: We don’t always think about all the physical effects of stress, but high stress contributes heavily to chronic illness. 

Sleep and Your Immune System

Kids need to go outside and run around to discharge their energy to help their brains and sleep work better. -Tsao-Lin Moy

  • 25:44: Vitamin D is vital for immunity as well. While your kids are outside moving, they’ll get added vitamin D as well!

Kids don’t need plastic knives. They need real skills.

Teach safe technique, focus, and confidence in the all-time fav lesson from our kids cooking class! (ages 2-12)






Or find out more about the free knife class here.

  • 27:01: Immunity aside, getting enough sleep is very important for developing kids because that’s when their growth hormones are active. This also applies to older people as well. Getting enough sleep helps with tissue repair and removing metabolic waste and inflammation. 
  • 27:35: One night of poor sleep can negatively impact the brain in surprising ways!

You can’t catch up on your sleep on the weekends. -Tsao-Lin Moy

  • 29:14: Over time, poor sleep contributes to chronic conditions. Our bodies are doing a lot of growth, repair, and building while we sleep! It needs to be a priority to give our bodies enough time. You need enough sleep just as much as you need to get up and go to work!

Sleep is an activity - you're doing a lot! -Tsao-Lin Moy

Build Healthy Immunity Early

  • 30:58: When you see a baby moving on a sonogram, you’ll see that they move very rapidly. That’s part of their nervous system development. Muscles need to move and pull on bones for them to grow properly. This same concept plays out in childhood as well. Kids need to be moving to develop and grow. 
  • 34:09: At Kids Cook Real Food™, of course, we’re all about involving the kids in the kitchen and helping them take ownership of their health. We talk about getting kids on the right foot now with their health so they don’t have to reverse the effects of bad habits later. Here’s the interview with Jessica Lahey I mentioned.

All intelligent life plays - when you play, you learn! -Tsao-Lin Moy

  • 37:39: We share bio-unity with plants. That means the plants in our environment also have immunity to many viruses and bacteria and we can access that by eating the plants. Learn more about anti-viral plants here. After the interview, Tsao-Lin recommended this indoor tower garden to grow food in a limited space. 
  • 39:02: Tsao-Lin shares something she did with her daughter as a preteen that she highly recommends to other parents. Here is the book she recommends.
  • 40:43: We end with a message of hope for parents. 

If you’ve ever said…

“I just want my kids to eat what I make!”

This free 5-day challenge was made for you.

end picky eating power struggle

Spend just 30 minutes a day learning practical strategies that reduce mealtime battles and help kids build confidence with food.

Join the Challenge!

Here’s a practical recipe Tsao-Lin shared with me.

Poached pear recipe:

This adaptation of a classic Chinese remedy for dry cough, bronchitis, and sore throat also boosts the immune system. The original is poached pears with rock candy but instead substitute with honey.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pears (Asian pears preferable)
  • 1″ Sliced ginger
  • Juice from 1/2 a lemon
  • 1/4 c. Honey

Directions:

    1. Cut the core from the pear, place in water with sliced ginger, bring to a boil, then let simmer for 15-20mins, then add lemon and last honey.
    2. The pears will be infused with ginger and lemon and can be stored in the refrigerator, the juice you can drink.

Pears contain high levels of antioxidants (cancer-fighting), including vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber. The natural properties of the pear pectin soothe the throat and moisten the dryness of the cough and reduce the phlegm.

Poached pear helps to keep your respiratory tract hydrated, soothe throat irritations, alleviate dry coughs. It’s great for kids and you can add cinnamon for taste and make it a dessert!

Resources We Mention for Controlling Immunity

Tsao-Lin MoyTsao-Lin has over 18 years of experience as an expert in alternative and Chinese medicine. She is the founder of Integrative Healing Arts which utilizes Chinese medicine, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and energy healing to treat patients. It is her integrative approach, using the ancient Eastern philosophy and healing methods while supporting Western scientific paradigms of health. This is a powerful combination that helps patients learn how to heal so they can take charge of their health destiny.

Author of the best-selling book Will I Ever Get Pregnant, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Get Pregnant Naturally Over 40. Using her expertise in fertility she helps women heal underlying health issues and improve their fertility so they can get pregnant naturally. using her signature fertility acupuncture protocols and Chinese medicine.

She received her Masters of Oriental Medicine at Tri-State College of Acupuncture and currently serves as a senior clinical faculty member there, teaching in the graduate and postgraduate doctoral-level programs and supervising in the physician certification program.

Tsao is a certified Diplomat in Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has completed post-graduate studies in Kampo, classical Japanese herbal medicine, and has doctoral-level training and certification in Sports Medicine Acupuncture®. She served as senior clinical faculty at Tri-State College of Acupuncture for over 17 years and The Eastern School of Acupuncture and on the Board of Directors of ASNY (Acupuncture Society of New York) for 5 years.
Tsao has devoted her career to helping others make informed decisions around their health by using the ancient healing traditions of the East. Her approach is to balance and heal the whole body on the physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual levels.

optimize your immunity