How to Boost Your Immune System against the Swine Flu ( A(H1N1) )

You already know most of the common sense techniques for avoiding the flu, be it the swine flu, a standard flu, or even a common cold. This article explores dietary supplements that help build your defenses by enhancing your immune system. Combine these dietary techniques with common sense and you will be prepared for any flu that comes your way.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A reliable vitamin and supplement provider.
• A health care practitioner to discuss these supplements.
• Time to do your own research on dietary supplements.

1. Increase your intake of vitamin C. Vitamin C not only boosts your immune system, but in higher dosages has been shown to be an antiviral as well. The recommendation is to dramatically increase your intake at the first sign you may have been exposed to the flu. Search for "the Vitamin C Foundation" to find an effective dosage for you.

2. Add green tea or green tea extract to your diet. Several clinical studies have shown that the polyphenols within green tea have strong antiviral and therefore anti-flu properties. There have been many other health benefits linked to green tea as well, so this supplement should be a must have.

3. Spice your foods with turmeric. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has both antiviral and antioxidant properties to help you body ward off any viral infections. In addition, this compound modulates the inflammation response and decreases the likelihood that your immune system will over react with inflammatory defenses. If you do not like the taste of this spice, curcumin is also sold in an extract form for convenience.

4. Ensure you are getting enough vitamin E in your diet. There has been at least one clinical study completed that links adequate vitamin E intake with reduced viral activity. Studies have also shown there may be a link between vitamin E and a reduced duration and severity of flu symptoms.

5. Add a whey protein shake or two to your diet. Not only is whey protein a great source of protein and essential amino acids, but it also directly boosts glutathione levels in your bloodstream. Glutathione is a strong antioxidant that directly supports your immune system. Having increased levels of glutathione increases your ability to fight off infections and illness.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to do your own research into these supplements to determine if they are right for you. Good sites to reference are pubmed, webmd, or any other reputable medical site.
• Remember that the key is to supplement your immune system's viral defense, and not necessarily to increase the inflammatory reaction to a virus.
• Supplements are not intended to replace a normal healthy diet. These should be used in conjunction with a good diet.
• While these supplements may boost your immune system, you should still use common sense to avoid your exposure to the virus whenever possible.
• Always discuss adding these or any supplements to your diet with your health care professional prior to taking them.
• These supplements may interact with prescription medications, so be safe and research interactions..as well as discuss them with your health care professional.

Resources

• Preventing swine flu in schools

[jomariebro]

on 10/9/2009 DO NOT CLICK ON aPHRODITIE WOMENS HEALTH, YOU CAN HARDLY GET LOOSE!! Good tips, also wash your hands a lot, teach the kids also. During an outbreak stay out of public places as much as possible, keep the kids close to home at the first sign of illness also take zinc, drink OJ. A lot of mothers today don't take a childs illness seriously and drag them out shopping. Its sad to see obviously sick kids coughing, sneezing, crying being dragged all over Wal-Mart. Use your head and don't let your child become a statistic! JoAnne RN QMHP

[cliasays]

on 8/31/2009 Great Tips! Thanks!

[videobroker]

on 8/12/2009 Wear gloves if you touch anything that lots of people touch. For example, if you work at the post office handling hundreds of mail and mail containers all day. Since mail comes from all types of house holds, you have no idea if the virus is attached to the envelopes and especially "packages"

[penmom]

on 8/12/2009 Great tips on how to boost your immune system naturally! Thanks!

[stevejlee]

on 6/4/2009 buy this against the flu http://tamiflushop.us/product/tamiflu.html