Transcript How to avoid getting the flu: 7 things that really work

How to avoid getting the flu:
7 things that really work
If you want to avoid getting the flu this
winter,
follow these 7 proven techniques for
boosting your immune system,
fighting off germs, and
keeping your body healthy ...
Get enough sleep
Your immune system functions much better when you
get enough sleep. Most people really need about 8
hours per night for optimal health. If you're body is
fatigued, it simply won't be able to fight off the flu virus
(or any other infection) very well.
Exercise regularly
Exercise helps keep your immune system strong. In
fact, a recent study showed that mice who performed
mild exercise as soon as they were exposed to the flu
virus had much lower death rates.
Avoid sugar
Even small amounts of sugar can significantly impair
your immune function, making you more susceptible to
a flu infection. A large amount of sugar, such as the
amount found in a normal can of soda, hurts your
immune function for hours.
Drink lots of pure water
Keeping your mucous membranes well-hydrated is a
key to helping them fight off viruses. Shoot for about
eight 8-ounce glasses per day.
Reduce stress
Too much stress has a highly negative impact on your
overall health and, over time, it will make you much more
susceptible to a flu infection. Studies show that
prolonged stress is at least partially responsible for 90%
of all illness and disease. Regular exercise and sufficient
sleep both help reduce stress levels. Also, meditation is
a proven stress-buster that is easy, enjoyable and can be
used on a daily basis.
Wash your hands often
Also, carry a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer with
you and use it frequently, especially after you touch
anything that others have touched recently (like
doorknobs).
Eat immune-boosting foods on a daily
basis
A healthy diet, including a few proven immune-boosting
foods, is one of the best ways to avoid catching the flu.
The best flu-fighting foods are:
• Fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are packed with
healthy phytonutrients that can strengthen your immune
system, lowering your susceptibility to the flu virus.
• Fresh raw or lightly-cooked garlic - Garlic has strong
natural antiviral properties that can help to fight off a
flu virus. Also, garlic provides a strong boost to your
immune system, especially when eaten on a regular
basis.
• Green Tea - Like garlic, green tea has shown the ability
to both kill viruses and to stimulate the immune system
to fight off flu infections, especially when used daily. Try
to drink 3-6 cups of strong green tea per day during the
flu season.
• Cayenne Pepper - Cayenne has a long list of health
benefits and is believed to be a mild immune-booster.
Also, cayenne contains large amounts of natural vitamin
A, considered to be an important "anti-infection"
nutrient. Learn more about Flu superfoods...
More Tips for Avoiding the Flu
The following techniques have been shown to help minimize your exposure to the flu
virus and reduce your odds of getting sick.
• Keep your hands away from your face and head. The flu virus enters your body through the
eyes, nose, mouth, and possibly even the ears.
• Get fresh air every day. During the winter the dry heat from indoor heating systems dries out
your mucous membranes and makes you more susceptible to viruses. If you can, during the day,
crack open a window or two to give your body some relief.
• Drink little or no alcohol during flu season. Too much alcohol impairs liver & immune function,
leaving you open to all kinds of infections. Heavy drinkers are especially susceptible to flu
infections. Also, alcohol dehydrates your body which is always bad during flu season.
• Don't smoke... and avoid smoke-filled places. First & second-hand smoke significantly impairs
your immune system; dries out your nasal passages; and, paralyzes cilia, the small hairs in your
nose & lungs that help keep out viruses.
• Take regular saunas. Many experts believe taking a sauna several times a week can help to
keep you from getting the flu. Many people, especially in Europe, take saunas just for this
reason. The air you breath in a sauna is too hot for cold & flu viruses to survive.
Natural flu remedies
Although there are no true "cures" for the flu, there are some natural
treatments that seem to be able to "short circuit" the virus and
minimize - or even eliminate - flu symptoms. For the most part, they
all work best if used immediately at the outset of the flu. That is,
within the first few hours after you start feeling like a flu may be
coming on.
Hydrogen Peroxide
There is evidence that the flu virus actually enters the body through the ear
canals. Many natural health practitioners recommend putting a few drops of
hydrogen peroxide in each ear every few hours as soon as flu symptoms
appear. This kills the virus cells before they have time to multiply and spread.
You can read about this very interesting and incredibly inexpensive technique
at the follow sites:
• HealingDaily.com: Hydrogen peroxide in the ears for the flu
• Mercola.com: Hydrogen Peroxide for the Cold and Flu
Colloidal Silver
Colloidal silver is a strong natural antibiotic and antiviral substance. It
seems to disable an enzyme that harmful bacteria and viruses need
in order to survive in the human body, killing them relatively quickly.
Many people swear by colloidal silver's ability to 'knock-out' a flu
infection within hours, especially when used as soon as symptoms
appear. You can learn more at these sites:
• All-Natural.com: Colloidal Silver
• SilverMedicine.org
Elderberry
Elderberry has very strong antioxidant properties and has been used
to fight illness for centuries. Recent studies show that it may have
potent antiviral and immune-boosting properties. Some people use
elderberry extract to significantly shorten the duration of flu infections.
• KCWeb.com: Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) Overview
• Nutraingredients.com: Elderberry extract may reduce flu
symptoms