With the change in seasons, now is the perfect time to strengthen your immune system. So how do you boost your immune system? You eat a healthy dieta that includes natural immune system boosters, especially since the immune system and digestive system are linked -- 70 percent of your body’s immune cells are found in your gut!

In addition to healthy foods, herbal remedies can help stimulate your immune system when you are sick. “Some herbs stimulate certain white blood cells that fight the viruses, whereas other herbs and remedies have direct anti-viral or anti-bacterial properties,” says Dr. Paul Gannon, doctor of naturopathic medicine and member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. “Many times, natural remedies are just a little extra push to help the body’s own mechanisms.” Las Fabulosas has the rundown of cinco hierbas naturales that will give your immune system a boost.

1. Oregano

You’ve most likely consumed this herb as an ingredient in many popular dishes. Oregano has been found to contain up to 20 times higher antioxidant levels than other herbs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Oregano oil also has active compounds, including carvacrol and thymol, which have antiviral and antibacterial properties.

2. Turmeric

Found in many types of curry, this herb can strengthen the immune system through its active compound, curcumin. Curcumin works by increasing levels of a protein that is important to the immune system, according to researchers from Oregon State University. Turmeric is an antimicrobial, which makes it help fight off viral infections.

3. Peppermint

Go ahead and have another candy cane. Peppermint and its primary active ingredient, menthol, work to thin and loosen phlegm, and break up a cough. This herb, found in teas and cold medicines, may have the ability to kill bacteria and viruses too.

4. Astralgus

According to researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, this Chinese herbal medicine may enhance the immune system and fight diseases by helping the cells of the immune system. Some studies have also found this herb to reduce the duration of the common cold.

5. Garlic

Found in many recipes, this antimicrobial has antiviral properties. It contains compounds including allicin, ajoene and thiosulfinates, which help attack infections. This flavorful herb works by stimulating natural immune cells found in your body, and may help to prevent colds.

Want to know how to incorporate these ingredients into your dieta? For starters, put that turmeric and garlic to use with these Latin-fusion dishes.

As nuestros padres grow older, we face the realities of having to care for them. According to AARP, family caregivers shell out about $5,500 every year to meet an relative’s  senior care needs. Adding to the financial burden of caring for elderly parents are the emotional and physical stresses that can zap joy from the family unit. Las Fabulosas gets expert advice on how to keep the family fuerte by preparing and organizing for the senior care of our relatives.

Financial Well-Being

Deborah M. Higgins, President Higgins Capital Management, Inc., has seen an increase in clients asking for help with planning for the costs of senior care. Taking care of a parent “can be daunting and leave you feeling overwhelmed,” says Higgins, who has spent the past three decades working as a financial advisor. “You have to look at the big picture,” which can be done with a checklist that identifies and lists the tasks associated.

1. Balance your parents’ housing needs and wishes by speaking to them at length. Can they live independently? Or does the parent need assisted living, day care or nursing home care?
2. “Has a list of important financial documents and records been prepared,” asks Higgins on sample checklists she drafts for clients. This list includes all bank and investment account records, credit card statements, mortgage, insurance, utility bills, retirement plan statements and income tax returns for the last three years.
3. Plan when you will start gathering your parent’s “relevant personal information,” such as passwords or their Social Security number, and start coordinating “long-term care with government benefits.”

Emotional Well-Being

When it comes to caretakers, there are two kinds, according to financial planner Francine Russo: primary and secondary. “If you are your parent’s primary helper,” says Russo, “ask yourself what you really want.” It helps to take an honest turn with yourself about whether it is more help, appreciation or control that you desire. “Lots of caregivers feel lonely and unappreciated.”

1. Be specific. “If you’re feeling lonely, let other family members know that you would consider it a big help if they would just call more regularly,” says Russo, author of They’re Your Parents, Too!: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy. “If you think you ‘shouldn’t have to ask,’ think again, and request the help that you can get realistically.”
2. If you have siblings: Band together. Whenever possible, “change places for a few days or a week,” with your sibling, suggests Russo. Otherwise, pool enough cash “to hire paid help, arrange meal deliveries, or a car service to take your parent to appointments.”
3. Avoid “Should-ing” others. Making a sibling feel guilty will only drive “them to defend themselves, often in angry ways,” says Russo. Instead, remember that “your siblings may not have had the same relationship with your parents that you did. There’s no reason they ‘should’ feel the same way you do.”

Our padres taught us that family always comes first. Here are more family values we’ve learned from nuestros padres.

If you’re tired of the oldies you’ve been cooking for years, now is the time to scan the globe for palate inspiration. Popular ingredients in Latin dishes are joining forces with those from Asia, India and France to create flavorful dishes with an exotic twist. Las Fabulosas serves up cooking tips and secret recipes for multicultural food from chefs and restaurateurs at Latin fusion restaurants.

Indian-Latin Fusion

“Mexican and Indian food are very similar,” says Alex Nagal, General Manager and partner at Tandoory Taco in Texas. “They utilize many of the same ingredients with great health benefits.” Nagal shared a “Tandoory Taco” recipe that blends the best of both worlds.

 

Chicken Tikka Tacos

Marinade for chicken:

½ cup plain yogurt

3 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste 

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon coriander powder

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, poked with a fork, cut into large bite-sized chunks

Marinade the chicken for one hour. Set oven to 375 degrees. Cook for 20 minutes or until well cooked. Slice cooked chicken into thin strips.

Tikka Sauce:

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 tablespoon butter

1 small yellow onion, minced

3 tablespoon ginger-garlic Paste

1 Serrano pepper, minced

4 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon garam masala

2 teaspoons paprika

6 Roma tomatoes, diced

1 teaspoons salt

1 cup water

½ cup heavy cream

Minced fresh cilantro, for garnish

Add oil and butter to pot, and heat until melted. Add onions and Serrano pepper, and cook until onions are soft and translucent. Add ginger garlic paste and cook for three minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until soft. Add the garam masala, paprika and salt and cook for three minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook until it darkens for about five minutes.

Asian-Latin Fusion

“Latin and Asian foods complement each other with their similar repertoire of base flavorings such as onion, garlic and chilies,” says Eric McKamey, Chef de Cuisine at Masa 14 in Washington, D.C. McKamey shared a tasty recipe that incorporates the best of east and west.

Crispy shrimp and potatoes with chipotle-sesame aioli

1 cup mayonnaise (preferably Japanese Kewpie, but any will work)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons chipotle en adobo, chopped fine to a puree

1.5 teaspoons sesame oil

For sauce, whisk all together.

Canola oil (as needed)

1 pound shrimp, peeled, de-veined

¼ pound potatoes cut into pieces of similar size to shrimp

½ cup rice flour

½ cup cornstarch

Cold water (as needed)

Fine sea salt to taste

Cook the potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain, and cool to room temperature.

Heat oil in a high-sided pot to 350 degrees. Whisk rice flour and cornstarch together. Add cold water to bring to the consistency of heavy cream. Divide into two bowls. Add shrimp to one bowl to coat, potatoes to the other bowl to coat.

Using chopsticks, gently place items in hot oil, cooking in batches (about two minutes). They will be crispy to the touch, but because of the type of flour, will still maintain a very pale color. Transfer to paper towels to drain, seasoning with salt.

To Serve:

Lime Wedges

Kimchi

Serve the shrimp and potatoes as soon as it is coming out of the fryer. Pass along with the Chipotle-Sesame Aioli, with lime wedges and kimchi.

French-Latin Explosión

At French-Mexican fusion restaurant Paloma, in Philadelphia, “French sauces become exciting when made with chili peppers or mamey; filet mignon is served with a cappuccino-chipotle-red wine reduction sauce,” says Barbara Cohan-Saavedra, dessert chef at Paloma. Cohan-Saavedra shares a Mexican haute cuisine recipe.

Wild mushroom flan

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup cooked sliced wild mushrooms

2 whole eggs

2 egg yolks

1 tablespoon finely chopped epazote (an herb, available dry or fresh in Mexican groceries)

Salt and pepper to taste

Slice mushrooms. Sauté mushrooms in a little olive oil until cooked, for about five minutes. You should have about one cup of cooked mushrooms. Add heavy cream and epazote. Bring to a boil. Simmer for four to five minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside. In a small bowl, add eggs and egg yolks. Beat with a whisk until well blended. Add the cream and mushroom mixture. Mix until well blended. Correct seasoning.

Set four medium-size ramekins in a bain-marie. Spray each ramekin with nonstick coating. Divide mixture among the ramekins. Add water to the bain-marie and bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. If serving immediately, unmold onto a warm plate and drizzle with cilantro pesto. To hold for later serving, cover well with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Remove plastic wrap and reheat in bain-marie or in a microwave at low to medium power. Then unmold, drizzle with the pesto, and serve.

Here’s another motivating reason to start exercising: Aside from weight loss, working out can help prevent diabetes, cancer and a number of other diseases. Luckily, it doesn’t take a lot of time or a gym membership to get moving. Las Fabulosas rounds up the best -- and easiest -- exercises anyone can do, and the diseases they may help ward off.

Walk to Prevent Heart Disease

An inactive lifestyle is a leading cause of heart disease. The reality is that Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than non-Hispanic women. Along with a healthy, balanced dieta, exercise is your number one way to strengthen the heart, lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.

According to a Harvard study, being active for 2.5 hours a week can lower your risk of developing heart disease by 30 percent. Forget the leisurely stroll, and push toward a moderate intensity walk (3 to 4 mph) in which you keep your arms swinging bent at 90 degrees and experience heavier breathing than normal. For proper walking, keep your back and shoulders straight, take equal length steps and wear supportive shoes.

“Busy moms can push their little ones in the stroller for a walk jog,” says Pamela Peeke, M.D., American College of Sports Medicine spokeswoman for Exercise is Medicine. “Or put on a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps running after the kids.”

Dance to Prevent Cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Latinas. Again, regularly exercising 2.5 hours per week, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, may lower the risk of getting breast cancer by up to 40 percent, and can lower the risk of recurring cancer. It is believed that vigorous fitness helps to regulate hormones, lowering the level of estrogen in the body.

The key here is higher intensity activity, all cardio is great, says Dr. Peeke. Don’t like the gym? Don’t worry. Anything that raises your heart rate and causes you to break a sweat counts. Grab a partner for a dance class, or pop in a Salsa dance DVD.

Bike to Prevent Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, with which the body does not properly use insulin, affects about one in 10 Latinos. This disease may be caused by obesity, but even a small weight loss can reduce the risk for a diagnosis. A study from the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise showed that a reduced activity level increased levels of blood glucose after eating.

A healthy diet along with leading an active lifestyle can help to manage glucose levels. The Diabetes Prevent Program suggests 30 minutes of physical activity, five days per week. Riding a bicicleta is an easy and fun way to fit exercise into your schedule. If possible, ride to and from work instead of driving. Or, take your bike to run your errands instead of your car.

Stretch to Prevent Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a disease of the bones, occurs when you lose too much bone, make too little bone, or a combination of the two. To keep bones healthy and strong, include enough calcium in your diet as well as a variety of exercises. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends two types of exercises for building and maintaining bone density: weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening.

Weight-bearing exercises include activities, such as stair climbing, hiking and jumping rope, in which your lower body supports your weight. Skip the elevator and take the stairs, or just run your stairs in your house. On the weekends, bring the family for a healthy hike.

Muscle-strengthening exercises include activities, such as weights, yoga and water exercises, which force you to move a weight or involve resistance. Invest in a set of free weights or a yoga mat to exercise at home. “Using high intensity interval training is optimal,” says Dr. Peeke. If you have a little one, consider a swim class so the both of you can get the healthy exercise your body needs. Any activities in the water make your muscles work harder.

Before the outdoor parties, barbeques and eating under the stars comes to a close, send off el verano with one last bash that your friends and guests will remember through the cooler seasons. Once the main courses are complete, throw some sure-to-please side dishes into the mix that are both palate-pleasers and heart-healthy options. Here are three side dish recipes to try:

Ceviche Cocktail

The great thing about this Latin American plato is the numerous options of sabores and ingredients you can play around with. It’s a light option that goes with just about anything.

Ingredients:

One pound of sea bass and/or shrimp (adjust depending on party size)

Lime juice (about ¼ cup)

Lemon juice (about ¼ cup)

Orange juice (about ¼ cup)

Chopped red onion

Avocado

1/3 cup of cilantro

Salt

Pepper

Chopped tomato

Chopped cucumber

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

Chop the fish and marinate with citrus juice for one hour (fish should be covered). Blend remaining ingredients (minus the avocado) and let marinade in dish or bowl for one hour. Drain and add avocado just before serving. For a fun party idea, serve in individual martini or double shot glasses.

Ajo Corn on the Cob

As you fire up the grill on last time during Labor Day weekend, remember that corn on the cob is a healthy and sweet side dish you can cook all year long. But nothing beats the extra flavor and tenderness from a smoky grill.

Ingredients:

Yellow corn (for a sweeter taste)

Butter or butter substitute

Garlic

Directions:

Shuck the corn, rinse it and soak it in a pot of water for about 30 minutes. While the corn is soaking, sauté the garlic clove for 30 seconds over medium heat -- don’t let it brown. Take corn out of water, and wrap it in tin foil with a light covering of butter and the sautéed garlic, chopped. Place the wrapped corn on the grill for 10 to 15 minutes, turning once during the grilling process. Unwrap and serve. Like some heat? Sprinkle red pepper flakes on the corn with the garlic.

Grilled Fresh Fruit Salad

Forget the fresh fruit salad mamá makes, and try this easy and unique spin, since your grill is already in use.

Ingredients:

Variety of firmer fruit, such as pineapple, apple, pear, banana and cantaloupe.

Cooking oil

Water

Directions:

Cut fruit down the middle, and spray lightly with cooking oil. Grill to desired doneness, about 3 minutes to avoid a mushy mess. Add honey or brown sugar for added sweetness to your grilled fresh fruit salad.