Keep Colds and Flu from Catching You
T
functional ability of our most powerful Natural Killer immune cells, blocks cancer in the body, reduces inflammation and safely removes heavy metals and environmental toxins. These diverse benefits make MCP a powerful daily supplement for immune and overall health. By Dr. Isaac Eliaz
here’s just no getting around it. Once the temperature drops, cold and flu season returns to loom over our health like stormy weather. The impacts of our fast-paced lifestyles, holiday travels and festivities, along with the seasonal changes, lead most of us to believe that colds and flu are inevitable facts of winter. But they’re not. With healthy diet, lifestyle choices and supplementation, you can protect yourself year-round with natural solutions that will help strengthen your defenses and keep you vibrant and energized.
Cold or Flu? Know the Difference As an integrative physician, my patients often come to me with an important question: how can I tell whether I have a cold or the flu? Both are respiratory illnesses, but each is caused by different viruses. In general, colds are usually milder than the flu and present symptoms that include nasal stuffiness, sneezing and a runny nose. Adults and older children generally have minimal or no fever, but infants and toddlers often run a fever in the 100-102 degree range. Depending on which virus is the offender, a cold might also produce a headache, cough, postnasal drip, burning eyes, muscle aches, or a decreased appetite—but the most prominent cold symptoms are usually nasal related. The flu is a much more serious illness and can produce symptoms such as fever, body aches, fatigue, and dry cough. Most people who get the flu recover within a week (although they may have a lingering cough and tire easily for a while longer), but for elderly people, newborn babies and people with certain chronic illnesses, the flu and its complications can become life threatening.
Healthy Lifestyle for Immune Support Keeping the immune system in top form does take a bit of vigilance. That’s because there are numerous contributing factors that can weaken immunity, including stress, exhaustion, chronic inflammation, sedentary lifestyle, overly processed/refined foods, dehydration, and exposure to toxins, among others. Combat challenges to your immune system by following these health-promoting habits. You will not only boost your immune system, but your overall health and vitality as well: Hydration: One of the most important things you can do to steer clear of illness is to stay hydrated, since water comprises over half of your body mass. 20 january 2012 • Tampa Bay Wellness
Proper hydration allows for efficient transmission of your body’s most critical communications, and helps eliminate toxins and foreign invaders so you can clear infection more efficiently. Proper Sleep: Deep, restorative sleep cycles are a fundamental part of your body’s repair process and a number of studies have demonstrated that failing to get enough sleep has numerous consequences for physical, mental and emotional health. It is important to set regular sleep patterns to help regulate and strengthen your immune system. Balanced Diet: A nutrient-rich diet emphasizing fresh fruits, vegetables, nourishing proteins and unprocessed foods is critical for maintaining optimal immune health throughout the seasons. This type of diet is linked with increased immune activity, decreased oxidative and free-radical damage, improved digestion, healthy inflammation response, healthy glucose metabolism, healthier lipid profiles and many other benefits. In addition, high quality proteins are essential to help your body maintain and build strength and immunity.
All-Natural Remedies In addition to leading a balanced lifestyle, incorporating certain nutrients, herbs and supplements into your daily routine offers critical support for short and long term immune health: Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP): Modified Citrus Pectin is an all-natural supplement made from citrus fruit peels and modified for enhanced absorption and bio-activity throughout the body. Numerous studies show that MCP is a powerful anti-cancer therapy, anti-inflammatory, and a safe chelator of heavy metals and toxins. Recent studies also prove its ability to significantly enhance immune function for both short term and long term immunity. MCP boosts the
Medicinal Mushrooms: Medicinal mushrooms regulate immune function and combat infection, especially on a long-term basis. Mushrooms naturally contain Beta glucan compounds which enhance immunity by boosting macrophage activity – your first line of defense. Species that are especially beneficial for immunity include Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, and Shiitake, among others. Each offers numerous health benefits that can improve vitality, decrease harmful pathogens in the body, and even prevent deadly viruses from infecting us. Herbal Formulas: There are many powerful herbs and herbalyformulas support. My isafor immune otchkiss top recommendations include the Chinese herbal rainer formulas Yin Qiao San,at Gui Ziody Tang and ynamics Ge Gen Tang, as well as a Tibetan herbal formula containing 19 unique botanical ingredients that synergistically perform to reduce inflammation, boost circulation, improve immune function, and increase antioxidant defenses. Also, tonifying and adaptogenic herbs such as Astragalus, Ginseng and Eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng) can be effective on a preventative level or can help combat symptoms once they’ve set in, depending on the specific characteristics of the flu or cold.
B L T
H
B
D
Vitamins and Minerals: Research shows that daily doses of vitamin C, vitamin D-3 (especially during winter) and zinc offer significant boosts to the immune system. Zinc is also the most important mineral to the thymus gland, which orchestrates the immune function in the human body. Lastly, practice common sense tactics on a daily basis to maintain your health and keep from getting sick. Some of the easiest and most effective strategies include keeping your distance from people who are sick, avoiding contact with your nose, eyes or mouth, and washing your hands frequently. Simple daily and long-term natural cold and flu prevention—paired with natural treatment options—can help keep you and your family healthy throughout the seasons. For more information on these and other all-natural prevention and treatment options, visit www.dreliaz.org. www.tampabaywellness.com