With all of the recent scares of frightening new flu strains – bird flu (H5N1 influenza) and swine flu (H1N1 influenza), just to name the two best known – there is quite a lot of hype about vaccines and commercial antivirals. But, perhaps, those are not the only options available. There are plenty of simple and natural ways to protect against catching the flu — any variety of it.
Good Hygiene to Help Prevent the Flu
By now almost everyone is aware that simple hygiene can do wonders to help prevent being infected by the influenza virus. Just washing your hands frequently can make a big impact. Try not to come in contact with highly public surfaces – for instance, use a paper towel to turn the faucet off and open the restroom door. Alcohol based waterless hand sanitizers can also help when a sink is not readily available, such as at the grocery store. But this is only one step in effective flu prevention.
Proper Nutrition to Boost Immune System Health
Having all the nutrients your body needs can make all the difference between catching the flu and staying healthy.
For instance, many researchers are beginning to draw a correlation between cold and flu season being in the winter, and seasonal deficiency in vitamin D. Public Health Agency of Canada, along with researchers at McMaster University and elsewhere, have begun a study to test vitamin D's effectiveness in protecting against normal seasonal flu infection, and intends to expand that to include swine flu.
There is also long-standing evidence that vitamin C has at least some effectiveness in preventing and helping to recover from the influenza virus.
Both of these vitamins, as with most nutrients, are most effective when obtained through a healthy, well-balanced diet, though supplementation may still be useful, particularly in the case of vitamin D, which is obtained not through the diet but through sufficient exposure of the skin to ultraviolet light – difficult in the winter, due to shortened days and covering clothing.
For more information, read Top Ten Overall Immune System Booster Foods.
Sleep May Be the Best Secret Flu Fighter
Many doctors and health professionals are beginning to point to sufficient sleep as being one of the most important things to do in order to prevent the flu — or many other infectious diseases, for that matter. Some figures say that as many as two-thirds of people are chronically sleep deprived. This is extremely detrimental to the immune system's ability to fight off diseases.
For more ideas on natural ways to fight the flu and other viruses, be sure to check out Natural Antiviral Alternatives, and Natural Immune System Boosters.
Sources:
"Tassie swine flu cloud", The Mercury
" Best Defense Against H1N1 Flu? Sleep ", KSAZ FOX 10 Phoenix
"Exposure to recurrent sleep restriction . . ." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, September 2009
Prescription for Herbal Healing, by Phyllis A. Balch (Avery, 2002)
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Genevieve Kiger - Genevieve is passionate about all manner of natural subjects; herbs, herbalism, aromatherapy, and general natural health and body care.
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