Swine Flu
Thought I would take a look and see what I can do for myself to protect from “SWINE FLU”?
First of all it was quite a difficult search to find any site that didn’t start with what to do if you are showing symptoms! “Use tissues when you sneeze! Dispose of them, and wash your hands!!” I want to know how to protect from getting it not treating it! I finally gleaned some small ideas as what to do/take for added protection.
First is to have “a varied diet”; as a general idea of how to protect against anything this seems to be a universal panacea!
Protein-rich Meat, Chicken, Eggs and Fish, Milk, Dairy Foods, Pulse Vegetables, Nuts, Seeds and Soya-based foods all supply vital nourishment for the, bug fighting, epithelial cells in these membranes. Three average-sized servings a day of any of these are important to maintain the integrity of these “barrier” tissues.
Tucking into plenty of Bright Orange and Dark Green Fruits and Vegetables such as Carrots and Pumpkins, Apricots, Mangoes, Spinach and Cabbage, meanwhile, will keep levels of vitamin A, another nutrient that is needed for strong respiratory membranes, topped up.
Vitamin C appears to be especially important in playing a role in mobilising bug-eating macrophage cells, as well as having its own specific anti-viral properties. Given that we cannot store this nutrient in our bodies, ensuring that some Vitamin C-rich foods are on the menu each day is important. This can be anything from Peppers and Spinach to Citrus fruits, Berries or even Frozen Peas. Canned fruit provides some, as do Orange and Grapefruit juices.
Other internal immune system bug-beaters include “T-cells”. The mineral zinc is crucial for the formation of these antibodies, with even a mild deficiency being linked to more frequent colds and flu. The good thing is that impaired immune responses can be restored to normal by having sufficient zinc in your diet. You can find Zinc in Beef, Eggs and Seafood, especially Crab, Oysters and Sardines. Wholegrain foods and Pumpkin Seeds are pretty good too, although Zinc from these is less easily absorbed than the Zinc in animal protein.
Iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, leads to a wide range of defects in immune-system function, some of which could lay you more open to the swine flu virus. Iron can be found in similar foods to those mentioned above as being good for Zinc. However, if you know that you are not getting these regularly, then a daily Multivitamin and mineral supplement containing 100 per cent of the recommended amount (14.8mg) is a sound immune-system booster.
The super nutrient “Allicin”, formed when Raw Garlic is crushed or chewed, appears to help to block the ability of viruses to invade and damage tissues. If you can bear it, chewing a raw clove a day may help your immunity. Research from the University of North Carolina suggests, “a general protection against influenza viruses is offered by the mineral Selenium”. Three Brazil Nuts a day will meet your daily needs.
Medical herbalists suggest that the following can boost immunity against ordinary seasonal flu: two Echinacea tablets two or three times a day, plus a 300mg tablet of extract of St Johns Wort three times a day, and a cup of herbal tea made from equal parts of 10g Mint, 10g Elderflower and 10g Yarrow. A qualified herbal practitioner should supervise such doses!
It seems as though we are going to be pushed to eat all we should every day but if we miss one out it will be the doctors get out. :o)