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The Fruit that Fights the Flu

Once November hits, it's a race to the finish of the end of the year.  We usually call it "cold & flu season", but actually, it's the "Sugar Season".  Just think about it:  Oct. is Fall Festivals, Halloween - tons of candy & pies.  Then comes Thanksgiving - pies, cookies, cakes, getting together with friends & relatives you haven't seen for months in your nice warm home, traveling on planes in close proximity to coughs & sneezes in an airtight environment.  December brings Christmas - parties, homemade candies, cookies, cakes, pies with homemade germs mixed into all that sugar; again, in close quarters with lots of people.  A teaspoon of sugar can lower your body's immune system for several hours, making you more susceptible to catching all those little germ "critters" and you have absolutely no idea you're NOT fighting them off 'til a couple of days later when you begin to feel tired, sluggish, maybe a little feverish ... BOOM!  You're sick!

Here are a couple of healthy preventive measures to boost your immune system:

  • Grab a bag of apples and munch away. The quercetin in apples may help stengthen your immune system during vulnerable times. Apples (and red onions, broccoli, and tea) are great sources of quercetin -- a flavonoid that may stave off the influenza virus when the body is under stress. In a recent animal study, quercetin did just that:  The normal dip in immunity that comes with physical fatigue was pretty much cancelled out by the flavonoid.  If it works as well in humans, quercetin could help power the body through both physical and psychological stress.

  • Begin taking echinacea 3-5 days before air travel, coming in contact with large groups of people, or at the first signs of cold or flu symptoms.  You can only take echinacea for 2 consecutive wks, then discontinue for 1 week before starting again.

  • Alkalinize your system ... add 2 Tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar (the kind with the "mother" in it) to 6 oz. water every morning.  You may need to add a little maple syrup (from the maple tree, not maple-flavored syrup) for taste.  The apple cider vinegar changes your body's pH from acidic (disease-friendly environment) to alkaline (not friendly to disease), thus helping boost your immunity levels.

  • Wash, wash, wash your hands before AND after everything you touch!  Having a small-size hand sanitizer in your purse or pocket makes it very handy to stay germ-free, along with a small moisturizer to rehydrate your hands.

  • Drink plenty of water.  Water will flush your body of all the toxins & acidic waste that are causing disease.

  • When you don't have a tissue nearby, sneeze into the crook of your arm, at your elbow, rather than your hands to prevent spreading your germs!


Already feeling the effects of the flu?

Here are 3 simple self-care tips that are easy and inexpensive for softening your symptoms while you wait to see your doctor:

1.  Master Your Environment

While you can’t control the world, you can control the space you occupy:
  • Make it warm and moist -- so your sinuses stay moist, which can aid drainage (Humidifiers, vaporizers, or a warm shower should do the trick.)
  • Clean it up -- clear the area of allergens such as dust, pet hair, mold/mildew.  Wash the blankets you're taking out of storage from summer; wash pillows, comforters; vacuum your matress, couch, chairs, throw pillows.

2.  Put a Damper on the Pain

A stuffy, runny nose is bad enough without any additional pain.  Minimize pain by:
  • Applying ice and/or heat packs -- for relief of pain and pressure due to congestion and inflammation
  • Gargling with a bit of salt water -- for relief of a sore throat brought on by postnasal drip
  • Taking over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers -- for sinus pain

3.  Baby Your Nose

Whether you’re fighting off allergies, a sinus infection, or a cold, there are lots of options out there, from OTC meds to basic saline nasal sprays:
  • OTC -- for decongestants, antihistamines, and supplements that may help speed symptom control
  • Limiting irritants -- chlorinated pools, temperature changes, and secondhand smoke, to reduce nasal irritation
  • Getting wet -- with a saline nasal spray or a neti pot, which can provide quick nasal clearing
  • Drinking plenty of water -- so you stay hydrated, which can help ease discomfort and thin your nasal secretions