How to avoid colds and the flu?

[Ruth Sheets]

If you want to avoid cold and the flu the most critical thing to do is to keep your immune system working in top order. Doctors may be able to help when you get sick, but why not do your best to prevent sickness if you can?

Getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet, and getting sufficient exercise are vital to a healthy immune system. Washing your hands, of course, is helpful to keep the germs away, too. However, there are steps that I have taken to successfully avoid the flu and many colds, or at least shorten the duration of such illnesses, over the years. These have obviously worked on the occasion when everyone in the family comes down with a stomach virus and I stay the picture of health. It is, I believe, because I take some steps that they do not.

First, I have my blood serum tested for Vitamin D. (25-hydroxy test: CPT code 82306). The first time my Vitamin D was in normal range, but not optimal range (50 - 70 ng/ml). With my primary care physician's blessing I started supplementing with Vitamin D3 so that the level in my blood is now at optimal range. I live in the Northeast and most people here are low in vitamin D because it is impossible to get enough exposure to sunlight on a daily basis year round.

I also take a preemptive strike against illness when everyone else around me is entering cold and flu season. I take either echinacea and/or astragalus root, both herbal liquid extracts, at the recommended dosages on the bottle. Echinacea is best used short term (10 days or so) but astagalus can be used long term. I dilute the extract in warm water. Doing this prior to visiting relatives over Christmas, for example, has spared me from coming down with something, even though my nieces and nephews, as adorable as they are, seem to always have a cold.

My advice is to check with your doctor, and listen to your own body to see how these supplements influence your health. For me, they work really well, but I make sure I don't forget to eat healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep, so I have a good base. I doubt if these supplements would work so well if I ate mainly junk food, did not exercise, and burned the candle at both ends.

Here are some articles from natural health professionals on these supplements.

Vitamin D
The Vitamin Which Can Cut Your Flu Risk Nearly in Half
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/14/study-shows-vitamin-d-cuts-flu-by-nearly-50.aspx

Echinacea
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/REM00006/Echinacea-Dr-Weils-Herbal-Remedies.html
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-981-ECHINACEA.aspx?activeIngredientId=981&activeIngredientName=ECHINACEA

Astragalus
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA326627
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-963-astragalus.aspx?activeIngredientId=963&activeIngredientName=astragalus&source=1

Be well!

 

[Michele]

If you want to avoid cold and the flu the most critical thing to do is to keep your immune system working in top order. Doctors may be able to help when you get sick, but why not do your best to prevent sickness if you can?

Getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet, and getting sufficient exercise are vital to a healthy immune system. Washing your hands, of course, is helpful to keep the germs away, too. However, there are steps that I have taken to successfully avoid the flu and many colds, or at least shorten the duration of such illnesses, over the years. These have obviously worked on the occasion when everyone in the family comes down with a stomach virus and I stay the picture of health. It is, I believe, because I take some steps that they do not.

First, I have my blood serum tested for Vitamin D. (25-hydroxy test: CPT code 82306). The first time my Vitamin D was in normal range, but not optimal range (50 - 70 ng/ml). With my primary care physician's blessing I started supplementing with Vitamin D3 so that the level in my blood is now at optimal range. I live in the Northeast and most people here are low in vitamin D because it is impossible to get enough exposure to sunlight on a daily basis year round.

I also take a preemptive strike against illness when everyone else around me is entering cold and flu season. I take either echinacea and/or astragalus root, both herbal liquid extracts, at the recommended dosages on the bottle. Echinacea is best used short term (10 days or so) but astagalus can be used long term. I dilute the extract in warm water. Doing this prior to visiting relatives over Christmas, for example, has spared me from coming down with something, even though my nieces and nephews, as adorable as they are, seem to always have a cold.

My advice is to check with your doctor, and listen to your own body to see how these supplements influence your health. For me, they work really well, but I make sure I don't forget to eat healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep, so I have a good base. I doubt if these supplements would work so well if I ate mainly junk food, did not exercise, and burned the candle at both ends.

Here are some articles from natural health professionals on these supplements.

Vitamin D
The Vitamin Which Can Cut Your Flu Risk Nearly in Half
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/14/study-shows-vitamin-d-cuts-flu-by-nearly-50.aspx

Echinacea
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/REM00006/Echinacea-Dr-Weils-Herbal-Remedies.html
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-981-ECHINACEA.aspx?activeIngredientId=981&activeIngredientName=ECHINACEA

Astragalus
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA326627
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-963-astragalus.aspx?activeIngredientId=963&activeIngredientName=astragalus&source=1

Be well!

I appreciate this info Ruth! My nieces and nephews are a delight to be around but they are also petri dishes with legs! I have had excellent results with a homeopathic quick dissolving tablet made from black elderberry, called Sambucol. I have seen it at Walgreens and CVS so I am sure it is available at a store near you too!

 

[Ruth Sheets]

Michelle, I've used Sambucol on occasion. I like that, too... it works quite well. I sometimes drink Elderberry tea...for some reason I like the taste better when I don't feel well. (Can't explain why, except perhaps the body just knows it needs it then.)