How to Avoid The H1N1 Swine Flu With Vitamins And Supplements

Vitamins are actually really effective at treating the flu, including the swine flu.

With California declaring a state of emergency due to the recent swine flu outbreak and the CDC announcing the first US deaths due to the H1N1 flu--also known as the swine flu--now is the time to pay extra attention to your health. A strong immune system can prevent the swine flu and you can strengthen your immune system by taking the following vitamins and supplements.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Take Vitamin D which improves immunity to H1N1 flu by increasing production of antimicrobial agents in the body. These antimicrobials can fight swine flu and other types of influenza. It's no coincidence that flu season coincides with the lowest annual levels of Vitamin D. To ramp up your immune system, take 2000-5000 mg a day of Vitamin D. The best form of Vitamin D to use is D3.

2. 

   Take Vitamin C as it not only boosts levels of infection fighting white blood cells, but it also increases the number of interferon antibodies which work to keep the swine flu from even entering cells. Aim for 200 mg ingested over the course of day either in food or supplements.

3. Take Vitamin E which fosters production of natural killer cells that seek out and destroy swine flu germs. It's hard to eat enough food to reach therapeutic levels of Vitamin E, so consider a supplemental dose between 100-400 mg.

4. 

   Eat foods rich in Vitamin A to boost immune response, however, because high levels can be toxic, avoid supplements and eat your carrots. Be especially careful of Vitamin A intake if you are pregnant as high levels can hurt a fetus.

5. 

   Eat foods rich in bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids fill up cell receptor sites so H1N1 flu germs can't get into your cells and cause infection. Bioflavonoids are found in white and green teas, wine, dark chocolate, peppers, garlic, blueberries, and citrus fruits. For best results, combine with foods rich in vitamin C and calcium.

6. Take a zinc supplement. Zinc doesn't just increase immune response, it makes it fight the swine flu more aggressively. Supplement with 15 to 25 mg a day and don't go over 75 mg as that can actually weaken your immune system.

Tips & Warnings

• Continue to use common sense precautions; frequent hand washing, avoiding people who are sick, covering your face and nose when you sneeze or cough.

• It's also a good idea to sanitize communal surfaces like phones, computers, and door handles to kill swine flu germs.

Resources

• How To Prepare For A Swine Flu Pandemic
• Prevent the flu with a flu mask
• Use Vitamin D as Flu Medicine
• Homeopathic Remedies for Swine Flu
• The Science Behind Vitamin D