14 Ways To Swat The Flu Bug

Every year, the flu season arises and an average of between 10-20 percent of Americans comes down with it. This year, the cold and flu season is supposed to be more risky than usual and for the elderly and children, this could be deadly.

We've all known that taking Vitamin C may help build-up your immune system and thus may help prevent getting a cold or the flu, but there are other immune friendly herbs, supplements and actions you can take.
With us all facing the possibility of increased severity of flu symptoms and the Swine Flu, building up your body's immune system is critical for your health and for the elderly, is a way to diminish life threatening possibilities. So what can you do 'naturally' to increase your body's immune system?

Try these natural herbs and supplements:

1. Good old vitamin C, in a non-acidic form to protect the stomach, will help fight viral and bacterial infections. Vitamin C also keeps your immune cells stay strong and healthy.

2.Echinacea, especially with Goldenseal added, is a regular winter supplement for many wishing to remain healthy. Echinacea is used to help support the immune system, may increase production of white blood cells and help support a healthly respiratory function. Echinacea can only be taken for a period of time and then discontinued for a couple of weeks, before starting on it again. Follow the product directions.

3.Deodorized Garlic is a powerful herb that fights viral, bacterial and fungal infections.

4.Black Elderberry Extract Syrup is a mixture of immune building natural compounds. There are now several products that are a 'mixture' of herbs (a new major player in products include those with mushroom in them for immune health) that may help improve your immune system.

5.Green Tea, the herb that continues to surprise us with its many varied abilities. Green Tea provides powerful immune protection. Look for Standardized to 98% polyphenols, 80% catechins and 45% EGCG.

6.The new comer to the immune enhancing list is vitamin D. Having sufficient vitamin D in your body is key for keeping your immune cells strong so that they can fight any infection. Vitamin D is crucial to everyone's body and most do not have enough. Ask your Dr. for blood work to be done to see what your vitamin D level is and then you'll know what dosage you'll really need to maximize your health.

What else can you do to help prevent getting the flu bug?

A.Wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least 30 seconds. If you use a hand sanitizer, for best results, use one that has 61% of some type of alcohol in it.

B.Get 8 hours of sleep each night, eat a healthy diet and reduce the stress in your life. Your body needs quality sleep and food to stay healthy. Stress negatively impacts your immune system, so by lowering the stress in your life, your immune system is freer to fight the bigger battles of flu and infections.

C.Avoid sugar, fructose and simple carbs because they can lower your immune systems functions. We know that what you eat impacts the health of your body but you need to know it greatly impacts your body's ability to fight infections and outside negative factors, before they get in.

D.Your skin is your body's first line of defense against outside invasion. So caring for the quality of your skin is very important. Avoiding any cuts, scraps and open wounds helps prevent a way into the body of many harmful germs. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water, using skin lotions to keep your skin flexible and keeping it covered to prevent any flu germs getting on it may help you from getting ill.

E.Keep your mouth healthy. One of the easiest ways for nasty things to enter your body is through your mouth. By making sure you brush your teeth 2 or more times a day, flossing and keeping your gums healthy so they don't bleed, can go a long way towards keeping germs out of your body.

F.Try to keep your hands away from your mouth, eyes and nose - these areas are very quick ways for germs to enter the body and people have a habit of touching their faces, often, during the course of the day. Also, look at what types of other things are near or on your face that could carry germs into your nose or mouth - or onto your face where your hands then rub it into the mouth or nose. Think about regularly sanitizing your cell phone, your regular phone, your ear piece or headset with microphone, your furniture, game controls, computer mouse, any thing touched often or touched by others, etc.

Some of the worst things to touch that carry multitudes of germs are: money, a waiter or check-out person's pen for signing your name, shopping cart handles, door handle (watchout for those bathroom door handles especially, restruarnt tables that have not been cleansed properly - example: observe how many people use a table at your fast food resturant before it gets sprayed cleaned by staff.

G.If you get the flu, staying away from others is key to not infecting them but after you are well, you need to 'clean' your home. Use a quality germicide product (read the label to see what types of germs it will kill) and use it liberally throughout your home. If you sneezed or drooled on your pillow, replace it. Wash all of your bed linens in hot water and wash out your trash cans and waste baskets with hot water and germicide where your used tissues went. Replace your toothbrush.

H.Keep your body healthy with exercise. Exercise does so many important physical and mental positives and one is that it enables your body to fight off germs.

Whether it is just a cold, the flu or the Swine Flu, there are precautions and actions you can take to build your immune system and doing them doesn't have to be difficult or cost a lot of money. By preventing the likely hood of getting a cold, the flu or any other type of infection, you can live a better quality life.