Protect Yourself Naturally During the Flu Season
By Joan McDaniel January 30, 2013
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The following is from many sources such as Dr. Mercola, Health Care Ranger and others. I decided to spend some time with the immune system since the flu and just being sick is becoming very common during this winter season and the recent cold spell. The article goes on to discuss the flu vaccination, which in my past, I spent enormous time with. I do not want to take the time now for that discussion but find I do agree with Dr. Mercola’s position against the flu-vaccine.
A new product has come onto the market called Tamiflu, I agree with this following article completely it is just a very profitable gimick.
Buy Tamiflu for Flu Treatment? Flu Drugs Only Make Money for Big Pharma
http://naturalsociety.com/buy-tamiflu-flu-treatment-big-pharma/
Now back to how to do things naturally.
One way to fight to avoid the flu is by getting on an airplane and taking a trip to a beach.
Lying on the beach with the sun flowing over you cures just about anything, but… only in my dreams and someone else’s budget.
Following is a list of suggestions on how to protect yourself from the flu, by re-enforcing your God-given and very capable natural immune system.
Some quick definitions:
antibacterial soaps – I agree with Dr. Mercola, in that antibacterial soaps are harmful. Use good old soap and water. Better yet get rid of all toxins and use coconut soap and water.
Fermented foods – such as raw kefir, kimchee, miso, (if you can find these raw milk products) pickles, sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, etc, which are rich in probiotics, or good bacteria. Anything pickled specially in sea-salt. Scientific research shows that 80 percent of your immune system resides inside your digestive tract, so eating probiotic-rich foods, or taking a high-quality probiotic, will help support your immune system health and maintain optimal gut flora.
Careful for, If you’ve never eaten fermented foods before, too large a portion may provoke a healing crisis, which happens when the probiotics kill off pathogens in your gut. When the pathogens die, they release potent toxins. If you’ve never had fermented foods in your life, you need to start very carefully and very gradually.
To quote myself “Feeling you’re getting a cold — Eat a very sour dill pickle”
Avoiding a serious case of influenza is not about vaccination but more about maintaining a healthy, well-functioning immune system. By following these simple guidelines, you can help keep your immune system in optimal working order so that you’re far less likely to acquire the infection to begin with or, if you do get sick with the flu, you are better prepared to move through it without complications and soon return to good health.
- Optimize Your Gut Flora. This may be the single most important strategy you can implement as the bacteria in your gut have enormous control of your immune response. The best way to improve your beneficial bacteria ratio is to avoid sugars as they will feed the pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, processed foods and most grains should be limited and replacing with healthy fats like coconut oil, avocados, olives, olive oil, butter, eggs and nuts. Once you change your diet, than regular use of fermented foods can radically optimize the function of your immune response.
- Optimize your vitamin D levels. As I’ve previously reported, optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of ALL kinds, and vitamin D deficiency may actually be the true culprit behind the seasonality of the flu – not the flu virus itself. This is probably the single most important and least expensive action you can take. Regularly monitor your vitamin D levels to confirm your levels are within the therapeutic range of 50-70 ng/ml.
Ideally, you’ll want to get all your vitamin D from sun exposure or a safe tanning bed, but you can also take an oral vitamin -D-3 supplement. According to the latest review by Carole Baggerly (Grassrootshealth.org), adults need about 8,000 iU a day. Be sure to take vitamin K 2 if you are taking oral vitamin D as it has a powerful synergy and will help prevent any D toxicity.
- Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods. Sugar impairs the quality of your immune response almost immediately, and as you likely know, a healthy immune system is one of the most important keys to fighting off viruses and other illness. It also can decimate your beneficial bacteria and feed the pathogenic yeast and viruses. Be aware that sugar (typically in the form of high fructose corn syrup) is present in foods you may not suspect, like ketchup and fruit juice. If you are healthy then sugar can be consumed but the LAST thing you should be eating when you are sick is sugar. .
- Get Plenty of Rest. Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you’re tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu. Be sure to check out my article Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep for some great tips to help you get quality rest.
- Have Effective Tools to Address Stress. We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness. If you feel that stress is taking a toll on your health, consider using an energy psychology tool such as the Emotional Freedom Technique, which is remarkably effective in relieving stress associated with all kinds of events, from work to family to trauma.
- Get Regular Exercise. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads. Be sure to stay hydrated – drink plenty of fluids, especially water. However, it would be wise to radically reduce the intensity of your workouts while you are sick. No Peak Fitness exercises until you are better.
- Take a High-Quality Source of Animal-Based Omega-3 Fats. Increase your intake of healthy and essential fats like the omega-3 found in krill oil, which is crucial for maintaining health. It is also vitally important to avoid damaged omega-6 oils that are trans fats and in processed foods as it will seriously damage your immune response.
- Wash Your Hands. Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. Be sure you don’t use antibacterial soap for this – antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good. Instead, identify a simple chemical-free soap that you can switch your family to.
- Tried and True Hygiene Measures. In addition to washing your hands regularly, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If possible, avoid close contact with those, who are sick and, if you are sick, avoid close contact with those who are well.
- Use Natural Antibiotics. Examples include oil of oregano and garlic. These work like broad-spectrum antibiotics against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa in your body. And unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics, they do not appear to lead to resistance. Note: Do not cook or heat the garlic use raw for best effect.
- Avoid Hospitals. I’d recommend you stay away from hospitals unless you’re having an emergency and need expert medical care, as hospitals are prime breeding grounds for infections of all kinds. The best place to get plenty of rest and recover from illness that is not life-threatening is usually in the comfort of your own home.
Some additional tips from natural news
http://www.naturalnews.com/038825_vitamins_natural_immunity_influenza.html
Vitamin C – Look for buffered C or time released when using supplements. Food sources are citrus fruits, berries and cherries, red peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli. Research showed that taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C every six hours effectively relieved, or even prevented, flu symptoms.
Zinc – Once signs and symptoms of a cold show use zinc to shorten the duration. Zinc sprays, every three hours.
by Dr. Isaac Eliaz
Below are suggestions from Dr. Isaac Eliaz
Coconut Oil – Possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidant properties. Studies has shown the oil, a saturated fat, has remarkable curative health benefits. It is loaded with antiviral properties including lauric acid. Lauric acid is shown to directly interfere with the ability of viruses to replicate and spread, thus halting infection. Coconut oil is even used to help with the HIV infection. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons per day to soups, salads and smoothies or even eat it straight.
Baking Soda – Also known as sodium bicarbonate is a necessary household remedy. It is used in numerous medical conditions and first aid applications. Its main power is the ability to neutralize acidity in the human body, creating an alkaline environment for viruses and germs which they hate and pack up and leave. When you start to feel the flu coming on or are exposed to a virus, begin by taking ½ teaspoon in water every two hours, six times throughout the day. Scale down two doses per day thereafter until symptoms subside. Be aware this is a temporary procedure for sodium bicarbonate has adverse reactions including Metabolic alkalosis, edema and hypertension due to the increased sodium.
This year, if you are thinking of getting a flu shot, consider natural immune boosters and healthy lifestyle habits as a first line of defense. These holistic approaches can not only protect against colds and flu, they help maintain overall health and longevity throughout the year and beyond. For more practical health and wellness information, visit www.dreliaz.org.
