How To Prepare Your Body For Flu Season
As millions of Americans obsess on the Ebola virus, there are other viruses that are reappearing which have been previously extinguished, such as measles, mumps and even the flu. But why are these viruses really reappearing? I think we should take a hard look in the mirror.
Why? We are allowing them to latch on to us. An unhealthy lifestyle, chronic diseases, increased sugar intake, stress and various pollutants weaken our immune system, allowing viruses to flourish. Everyone is waiting for a cure, a vaccine.
Lets face it. Our immune system is overwhelmed today by processed foods, numerous household chemicals and artificial food additives, air pollutants and stress. Many diseases associated with an unhealthy lifestyle, such as type II diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and many cancers such as lymphoma, are at their highest rate. All these affect the immune system. We are clearly not prepared physiologically to deal with viral or bacterial infections. What’s worse is that antibiotic and viral resistance is a world-wide problem. For example Herpes simplex virus type 1 has developed a resistance to Acyclovir (Frobert et al, 2006).
There are very limited antiviral treatments today against the vast majority of viruses that can infect us. While we are hopeful for a cure, a vaccine, let’s not wait on ways where we can start strengthening our immune system now! While It’s Ebola today, the flu every season, or another virus will be on us in days and years to come.
Here are a few points on how to prepare our immune system for the flu season and other viruses:
Reduce the amount of sugar intake. Sugar is inflammatory in nature and weakens our immune system
Increase the amount of medium-chain saturated fats such as coconut oil. Lauric acid, caprylic acid and myristic acid have anti-viral activity. In the body, lauric acid produces monolaurin, which is an effective virucidal agent. It has been shown to kill HIV, measles, HSV-1 and cytomegalovirus, to name a few (Enig M, Nutrients and Foods in AIDS, CRC press, 1998).
Take mushroom supplements. Shiitake, reishi and maitake have all been shown to help us build resistance to viruses.
Take a nutrition deficiency test with your nutritionist. Make sure you are at optimum level, especially with vit D, zinc and antioxidants (Acta Reumatol Port. 2014 Aug 24).
Drink plenty of water. Enough said!
Get enough sleep. This is very important for all of us to remember, juggling busy schedules.
In great health,
Dr. Sanda
To discuss your personal health with an award-winning periodontist and nutritionist contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.
