HEALTH TIP
So are you scared to death about the flu yet??? Although any seasonal sickness is a concern, the media would have us believe that the seasonal flu and H1N1 are killers and that our only solution is to rush out to get flu shots.
The flu shot is very controversial and has not been thoroughly studied nor proven effective. On the other hand, it’s actually quite easy to boost your immune system naturally to be able to fight off seasonal illnesses. Here are some suggestions:
1. Proper hand washing. Wash hands with soap and water for a full 20 seconds to get rid of germs. (That's the "Happy Birthday" song.....twice!)
2. Get plenty of rest. It's during restful sleep that your body releases large amounts of hormones that are essential to your ability to heal and rejuvenate your cells.
3. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. The nutrients in fruits and vegetables are key in fighting off sickness and disease and are far superior to those found in supplements.
4. Exercise appropriately- exercise stimulates your immune system.
5. Take immune boosting supplements like:
Vitamin D- Vit D has been well documented to increase the production of over 200 microbial peptides that fight infection. Sunshine is your best natural source of vitamin D. A good runner up is cod liver oil which will give you vit D plus vit A, as well as, a good dose of Omega 3's. Or look for Vitamin D supplements containing D3 rather than D2. Adults aim to get at least 1,000 IU daily and children need at least 200-400 IU daily.
Elderberry- Elderberry (also called Sambucus) destroys the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell. It has been shown to be effective against at least 10 strains of the flu. Elderberry juice was used to treat a flu epedemic in Panama in 1995 and a 2006 study confirmed it is 99% effective in destroying the H5N1 bird flu virus. In another clinical trial Elderberry extract cured 90% of flu infections in 3 days. Look for Elderberry extract or lozenges at your local health food store.