This episode wraps up our six-part "Bridging Foods and Meds" series, and we're closing it out with a topic everyone can use: immunity. Host Mary Ann LeRay sits down with Marcy Hoffman, the Filling Station's onsite nutrition education program lead, to break down what your immune system actually is and how the small choices you make every day either strengthen it or wear it down.
Marcy describes the immune system as your body's "security team": organs, tissues, cells, and even your skin, all working together with an innate defense that responds immediately and an adaptive defense that learns from every germ you've ever encountered. From there, the conversation moves through the everyday habits that keep that security team sharp: eating enough protein, colorful produce, zinc, and healthy fats; feeding your gut with fiber and fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi; protecting your sleep with a real wind-down routine; getting consistent movement instead of chasing intense workouts; and learning to bring your own stress back down instead of letting it linger.
What ties it all together is mindset. Marcy compares healthy habits to water smoothing a rock over time: small, steady choices that build what she calls a "health account," one that pays off in energy, resilience, and fewer sick days. It's a fitting way to close a series that's been about giving Jones County residents practical tools, not quick fixes.
If this conversation resonates with you, we'd love for you to join us in person. The Bridging Foods and Meds workshop series kicks off July 28, running Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 at the Filling Station, with a free meal each week and a session on mindset featuring guest Todd Burrier of LifePlus. The program is fully underwritten by the Carolina East Foundation, so there's no cost to attend. Just register online now, since spots are limited - Bridging Foods and Meds Registration.