H1N1 – Boost Your Immune System

Ann Louise Gittleman–

Even if you don’t have the iPhone app “Outbreaks Near Me,” you’re probably concerned about the H1N1 flu pandemic sweeping the planet. A variant of the influenza-A virus, swine flu has already infected over 209,000 people worldwide.

Columbia’s President has come down with H1N1. And more than 2,000 people have died from this new flu strain.

Public health officials advise flu shots this fall. But H1N1 vaccines won’t be ready until November or December, if then.

People with egg allergies are unable to take flu shots, since these vaccines are generated in eggs. Plus we really don’t know what else may be in shots these days.

If you’re thinking of stockpiling antiviral meds (Relenza and Tamiflu), think again. The use of antiviral drugs for the treatment of people with H1N1 symptoms only shaves off a half day of symptoms.

Sesame Street’s Elmo will star in TV spots teaching kids to wash their hands and cover their sneezes. But we all need more protection than that!

Elmo’s right about frequent hand washing. Also cleanse your nasal passages, where so many viruses enter the body. Fill a neti pot, available at health-food stores, with salted water to clean out your nose (about 1 teaspoon of plain non-iodized salt to 1 cup of warm water).

A new study in Postgraduate Medicine finds that friendly bacteria (specifically the probiotic Bacillus coagulans) significantly boost the production of immune cells in adults exposed to influenza A. Other research shows that probiotics successfully fight flu in young children.

In a double-blind placebo-controlled study of 3- to 5-year-olds, a combination probiotic supplement reduced the incidence of fever by 72 percent and the incidence of coughing by 62 percent. The use of antibiotics was cut by a whopping 84 percent!

“I think it is a wise move to include the consumption of probiotics and/ or whole food vitamins,” says Gary Huffnagle, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Michigan, “along with a good diet, frequent hand washing, and other recommendations by the CDC in the battle against flu.”

Nine A Day Plus Vitamins are all natural whole food vitamins derived from natural sources, like cherry, apples, and soy. To learn more about how to keep your immune system strong & healthy click here>>

What’s more, a review of vitamin D research at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta points out the benefits of these vitamin in fighting flu and respiratory viruses. Studies running from 1948 through 2009 show the connection between vitamin D deficiency and infectious diseases.

Xylitol sprays (available at most health food stores) are also useful for this purpose. A number of studies show that xylitol, a sugar alcohol, protects against respiratory pathogens—sometimes better than saline-based rinses and sprays—while improving oral health!

Bottom line: Don’t wait to start bolstering your immunity. Cold and flu season is right around the corner.

Support your immune system—starting today—with a healthy, whole food diet. Get plenty of sleep (we’re talking 8 hours or more) plus regular exercise. Also take a well-balanced multivitamin-mineral supplement. Antioxidant vitamins A and C and the mineral zinc bolster immunity.

Most importantly, be sure to get plenty of vitamin D, the “sunshine” vitamin. Studies show that between 70 and 98 percent of Americans are currently deficient in vitamin D depending on where they live.   According to the National Institutes of Health, only those living below 34 degrees north latitude (a line connecting Los Angeles and Columbia, South Carolina) can get enough sunlight for adequate vitamin D production year-round.

Add that to the number of daylight hours Americans spend indoors in front of the computer or television, and the widespread deficiency rates make sense.

With the summer sun fading fast, and fall rapidly approaching, those of us north of the line of “D-markation”  can no longer rely on rays alone. Studies have attributed the rise in flu outbreaks during the fall and winter months to the lack of sun exposure during this time of year.

To optimize your D-fense against the flu, the Vitamin D Council recommends a daily dose of 5,000 IUs for adults, and 1,000 IUs per 25 pounds of body weight for children.  Most worrisome of all is the news from the CDC that 80 percent of U.S. children killed by swine flu are school age  (ages 5-17), a departure from the baby and toddler deaths typically associated with the flus of recent years.  As kids head back to school this month, parents must constantly remind them of the basics: frequent hand and nose washing as well as a low sugar diet and a good night’s rest.

While I’m delighted that research is now beginning to confirm probiotics’ usefulness against respiratory viruses like influenza A, I’ve been taking friendly flora for years. Looking for a safe, effective combination product? Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics 12 Plus is a real heavy hitter—the strongest probiotic I know. This nondairy, vegetarian product contains live probiotics, including the critical strain TH 10, which has been proven effective even against virulent “super bugs.”

People report feeling healthier while taking whole foods vitamins, such as 9 a day plus vitamins.

To learn more about how to keep your immune system strong & healthy click here>>

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