After following the media coverage on the Swine Flu I begin to wonder what, really, is going on. There’s panic and there are conspiracy theories. And all of this is creating a lot of fear.
A good first response to this news is to hold your own fears in check. That said, it's always good to have in mind what you would do if you feel the need to take some extra precautions.
Borrowing from sports terminology, a strong offense is always your best defense. In other words, building a strong immune system is going to be your best bet in getting through this round of health scares. And it’s never too late to start!
The best way to prevent viral illness is to keep health at its peak by getting enough rest, limiting stress and eating a nutritious, whole-food diet. Virusus, bacteria and disease are almost helpless against a healthy body! Here are some practical tips - and some of my personal favorites for staying healthy!
Boost Your Immunity:
#1 Eat Power Foods
- Dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits. The natural chemicals in plants give the vitamins in food a supercharged boost.
- Yogurt – the beneficial bacteria may support the immune system
- Garlic - a powerful immune-booster. Contains bacteria fighting chemicals, helps prevent infections and is a general wellness tonic. And tastes great (even if it makes your breath stink!)
- Ginger – a powerful wellness tonic
- Coconut oil – it’s anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial (see my notes below
#2 Take Supplements
- Vitamins A, C and E are known anti-oxidants and immune system boosters. Vitamin C in particular has immune-stimulating, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties
- oregano oil – known in the Mediterranean world for its antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial activity
- elderberry extract – strong immune and anti-oxidant properties
- zinc – essential for the white blood cells to fight a range of viral infections.
- Echinacea – increases the production of white blood cells and boosts their ability to ward off an destroy bacteria and viruses
- Flu fighting supplements are available that specifically target the immune system and digestive tract (which is vital to a healthy immune system). These can make it very easy to provide optimal nutrition for vital health.
#3 Do Aerobic Exercise Regularly
Helps to increase the body's natural virus-killing cells.
#4 Don't Smoke and reduce alcohol consumption
Smoking and heavy drinking profoundly impact the immune system, leaving the body more vulnerable to germs, infections and secondary complications.
And, of course…
Wash your hands often. Germs can live for hours - even weeks. And they are EVERYWHERE! You don’t need antibacterial soap, but you do need to wash thoroughly with soap and water. OFTEN!
Don't Touch Your Face. Cold and flu viruses enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Don’t be licking your fingers right after you’ve pushed around the grocery cart that someone else has just been using.
Steer Clear of crowded places(shopping malls, concerts, etc.) And if you do have to be around crowds, be sure to wash hands and take some vitamin C afterwards to kick-start your immunity.
Wash your produce, Better yet, be sure to read labels to see where your food is coming from. A lot of produce that we get in the northern regions like here in Minnesota, especially during the winter months, comes from Mexico. If the guys who picked the berries and spinach are the same guys who just were exposed to this virus, you might want to be careful!
Drink Plenty of Fluids. Water flushes your system, washing out the poisons as it rehydrates you. Water is VITAL to health, and especially crucial as a defense mechanism.
Here’s a couple more in my personal arsenal:
Coconut Oil - anyone who knows me knows I’m crazy for coconut (oil). This is warfare in a bottle. Antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal. All in one. Taking coconut oil daily helps you build up your immunities and creates a strong defense against a broad spectrum of things to which we are exposed daily. We don’t know if we’ll be hit with bacteria, viruses (as in the flu) or something else. It only makes sense to rally your body’s defenses with a broad spectrum food like this.
Essential oils. I’m becoming increasingly intrigued with and in awe of the power of these amazing substances. Essential oils were the first medicine of man. Even before herbs were used, oils were extracted from the plant and used. It’s been recently documented that Essential Oils produce the HIGHEST LEVEL OF OXYGENTING MOLOCULES of ANY SUBSTANCE KNOWN TO MAN. And they are highly concentrated in antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties. Some oils are even more effective than others at combatting sickness: oregano is one of them. And a known blend of oils (clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary) are extremely effective at preventing viral attacks.
To sum it up, you alone are in charge of your health. Take steps to arm yourself and give your body the protection it deserves!
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