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Swine Flu and Maintaining Strong Immunity
The media-infamous H1N1 virus, or Swine flu, is not likely to be losing steam any time soon. In Marin county alone there have been 72 reports of H1N1 virus, 46 probable, 26 of them confirmed. The media seems to have made a pact to keep us aware and afraid of public exposure. But how do people get the flu and how can we protect ourselves?
Since the flu is contracted via droplets escaping from one person and entering another, people assume the best way to avoid the germ is by staying indoors, or avoiding contact with others. But the real defense is maintaining a strong immune system through food, exercise, supplements and rest. Our bodies can coexist with viruses and bacteria and stay in balance when our systems are strong. For instance, it is estimated that 98% of the population walks around with one type or another of the herpes virus. That’s a lot of asymptomatic individuals. That is in fact what is necessary to make sure we do not become violently ill with the flu - to become asymptomatic. The medical establishment offers this with vaccinations, but vaccines can have dangerous amounts of squalene, formaldehyde, or mercury in them.
With the weather changes, colder temps, dampness and wind, our bodies become more stressed and require a different level of care. With this in mind, lets look at some natural ways to stay healthy.
1) Seasonal Eating – It never ceases to amaze that the exact foods we use to nourish our bodies are also the same foods that play a major role in building natural immunity. The autumn harvest offers us all the top vitamins and minerals and phytochemicals that will be most helpful in staying healthy. Eat the colors of fall. Pears and apples to moisten lungs and intestines, pumpkins and sweet potatoes for the vitamin A. And possibly no foods are as healthful as the full array of leafy green vegetables, raw and cooked.
2) Exercise and Rest - Walking or any cardiovascular excercise oxygenates and moves lymph. Rest is equally essential in allowing the body to rebuild from stress.
3) Supplements - Consider some of these important supplemental nutrients: Vitamin D is a very important vitamin to maintain during winter. Dr. John Cannell, founder of the vitamin D council, suggests that influenza is merely a symptom of vitamin D deficiency. Studies abound to support his hypothesis.
Probiotic formulas are a necessity. It is now estimated that 75 to 80% of our immune system cells are produced in the gut, so why not help them out. Ideally, choose probiotic’s that are sugar free.
Essential fatty acids are next. Flax seed oil and fish oil are panaceas to our health on many levels.
Another important nutrient for protection is selenium. A study of 77 patients with a previous strain of swine flu showed that the people who suffered the most severe symptoms all had critically low levels of selenium.
NAC is an amino acid that has a mucolytic and antioxidant effect on our respiratory systems. Supplementing a few times a week with NAC will keep lungs ready to ward off viruses.
Lastly, don’t forget vitamin C. With over 300 direct actions in our body, it should be stock piled in everyone’s cabinets. When you feel like you may be coming down with something, you may have to take 1,000 mg every six hours.
Herbs - Astraglaus is tops for changes of season. It increases interleukin-2 and builds a “wall” or “screen” around the body. Elderberries act as an attractant for viruses, allowing our immune system to focus on removing viruses instead of the double duty of attracting and removing. Use the syrup or tea all season long. Mushroom formulas are also deep immune tonics - ask for help choosing one.
Preparing your immune system now is the best prevention out there. Remember as humans we are not meant to live disease free but the idea is to coexist, or mitigate and shorten the severity and duration of each bacteria and virus that we meet. So enjoy all that Fall has to offer us. Wash hands often, laugh often.
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