With accusations that the media is whipping up unnecessary fear and frenzy and shocking hints that this outbreak of swine flu has been deliberately engineered by an American pharmaceutical company and amounts to bio-terrorism, we cannot deny the fact that people have already died from it. What we really want to know is how we can protect ourselves against it and is regular detox enough to strengthen our immune systems against swine flu.
As you have not been exposed to this virus before you will have no immunity against it but there are many things you can do besides detox to strengthen your immune system and to protect yourself against being infected by this and other viruses.
The internet is full of good practical advice like washing your hands with soap and water and sneezing into a tissue but if you think that antibacterial soaps are the answer then think again. Many contain triclosan which kills the good bacteria on your skin as well as the bad. Yes, you have bacteria on your skin just like the good the bacteria in your gut. They are your fist line of defense. Once you use antibacterial products you destroy your own protection as well as the germs.
Recent research shows that their overuse may create super germs and that children that are exposed to these products are now having more signs of illness, allergies and asthma. Why? Because their immune systems have been compromised by having no good bacteria.
Bleach? Bleach can apparently spread, not kill, germs. A study shown that using hand wipes with bleach or antibacterial ingredients in hospitals spread the bacteria from one place to another. Bleach is very toxic and dangerous to inhale.
Let’s look at many other things in our modern lifestyle that can damage the immune system. Some of the major ones are:
Sugar: All simple carbohydrates inhibit the immune system. This includes fructose, glucose, sucrose and even honey. Eating sweets or sugary snacks between meals is a real killer of the immune system.
Alcohol: Studies have shown that there can be an severe decrease in neutrophils, one type of immune cell, after drinking alcohol.
Food allergy or sensitivity: Reactions to food can cause a serious depression of the immune system that is often not recognised.
Nutritional deficiencies: Many nutrients are needed for the immune system to function and deficiencies are common. Some of the most important are: Vitamins A, C, D3, E, B6, the minerals zinc, selenium and essential fatty acids.
Toxins: Pesticides, solvents, drugs, heavy metals, environmental pollution cause widespread damage to the immune system. Use natural products in the home and avoid anti-bacterial soaps that kill protective bacteria.
Stress: The many forms of stress place a huge burden on the immune system. As well as emotional stress lack of sleep and excessive exercise place a physical stress on the body.
Sleep: Lack of sleep can severely impair the immune system and increase your susceptibility to viruses.
Positive steps you can take to enhance your immune system and protect against swine flu:
Detox: There is no doubt that regular detox sessions can and will strengthen your immune system. Several sessions of detox during the year can help get rid of unavoidable toxins that get into your system and
compromise your immune system. Mini detoxes in between can help to keep it strong.
Probiotics: Focusing on your intestinal tract is very important when trying to improve immunity as 65% of the immune system is in the gut. Colon cleansing is vital. Studies have proved that a good balance of bacteria in the bowel are essential for your immune system to work well. Take a good quality probiotic every day.
Green Tea : Try gargling with green tea extract to protect yourself against flu. Just empty one capsule into a glass of water. Researchers found that it could reduce infections by as much as 87%.
Echinacea: This is a very well researched herb and almost all the research has used liquid preparations or tinctures. There are several varieties but Echinacea Augustifolia is considered to be more potent. Take it at the begining of an infection for up to 8 weeks.
Mushroom extracts: Medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in Traditional Eastern Medicine. A nine year study of AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound) derived from mushrooms showed it can increase the body’s Natural Killer Cells. 3 grams a day is recommended if you have an infection otherwise 1 gram a day is sufficient.
Monolaurin: which is derived from coconut is effective against the flu virus and is anti-fungal.. It can inactivate viruses by preventing them attaching to your cells. You will need about 1800mg to 2400mg per day to fight an infection.
Nutrients to take:
Vitamin C: In spite of reports by the majority of the Medical profession that taking Vitamin C is waste of money and even dangerous numerous studies show that Vitamin C plays a vital role in the function of the immune
system to fight infections. Huge amounts of Vitamin C are neded to fight an infection. Taking 2 grams 3 times a day is not too much.
Vitamin A: This is needed to promote a healthy lining of the respiratory system and digestive system which functions as a barrier against infection. It is not unusual for children and adults that get frequent infections to be
deficient in Vitamin A. Vitamin A can be made in the body fro betacarotene (found in orange and yellow and dark green leafy vegeatbles) but if you have low thyroid function or diabetes you may not be able to convert it.
Vitamin A itself is found in breast milk, whole milk or fortified skim -milk, and liver (eat only organic). Vitamin is stored in the liver and long term high dose supplementation can lead to toxicity. Do not take it if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. 25,000 iu is a typical maintenance dose or 50, 000 iu (1.25 mg) during an infection for not longer than 30 days.
Vitamin D: Research continues to show that deficiency of Vitamin D3 is associated with cancer, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, diabetes and obesity. Not only can it strengthen the immune system but it can shorten the duration of an infection. People who avoid the sun are likely to be deficient.
Take 1000 iu Vitamin D3 a day in an infection unless you have been instructed otherwise.
Zinc: Deficiency of zinc is very common although not often recognized. Measuring zinc in white blood cells is a better indicator of zinc status than in blood serum that is usually done. Take 75 mg of zinc for one week only
during an infection. too much for too long can inhibit immune function. 25 mg is a good maintenance dose.
Antioxidants: We constantly create free radicals as part of normal function. More are created by environmental toxins, pollution, radiation, disease and infections. Some are neutralized by the body’s own antioxidant system if enough nutrients are present. Fee radicals are very damaging to the immune system.
Although you can get many antioxidants from your diet if it is high in fresh fruit and vegetables it pays to take an antioxidant supplement to give additional protection. Good ones may contain extracts of green tea, grape seed, blueberry, bilberry, broccoli, pycnogenol and green grass.
So by taking care of yourself, eating healthily, doing regular detoxes and with some forward planning you can do a lot to lessen your chances of getting infected with swine flu and have a good chance of fighting it or other viruses should you be unlucky enough to become infected.
Our body needs vitamins and healthy foods to boost immune system. If we take good care of our immune system, it can fight off most diseases and infections. Stress, improper diet and lack of exercise factors can all negatively impact the immune system.