The news are stating that underlying factors play in to the risk of swine-flu. Of course – the underlying factors is another way of saying – how healthy are you? I think we have to realize that it is a flu which means, we are somehow all at risk and it is our immune system and our bodies ability to be stronger than the strain that determines our risk. Is it not the same with any disease that is caused by a bacteria or a virus? We are at risk when our immune system is down so that is what we have to deal with. Another risk factor that lowers immune system is stress and fear. What is the anti-dote to fear? Action!
The action to take, when strains of a flu is floating around, is boosting your immune system. And yes, removing yourself from situations that are increasing your risk are of course a good idea. It is the same with any cold, wash your hands and don’t be up close with someone with a cold or you might get it too.
So far we have seen a few cases relative to the amount of cases of other diseases that we see everyday. However, we have become so used to accepting that someone is diagnosed with a disease that eventually too could cost them their life since it might take years before it is critical, so we don’t get caught up in it. And we also don’t pay as much attention. I’m not sure I like that idea. Why are we not as alarmed and concerned when someone is diagnosed with diabetes, cancer, heart disease. That we don’t see our own ability to act and rely on medication. Or do we not realize that we should be as concerned that those conditions are as lethal as the swine-flu?
It comes back to the same thing over and over again. Take better care of yourself! CARE, everyday, how you treat yourself and your body. Health is accumulative so it is an everyday daily effort. Sorry. No other way.
It is a commitment to make as so many others you make every day. Yourself and your self-care is really the most important commitment you can ever make. And your self-nourishment is beyond food. It is how you live and how you think, how you practice care every day and how you feel about yourself and others.
Does that boost your immune system – it does indeed. Because it entails all that you do for you. Eating better and choosing better foods. Omitting and avoiding foods that hurt your immune system.
A few simple guidelines:
Stay hydrated, get your sleep, avoid coffee or limit it a lot, avoid dairy or limit it a lot, avoid refined foods like sugar, flour products, and junk food.
Add a lot of green vegetables, white ones too like onion, garlic and add ginger and turmeric for anti-inflammatory and tasty boosters. Make sure you eat complex carbs instead of refined ones – that means cooked wholegrain (brown rice, quinoa, millet) instead of pasta and bread. Have lots of omega 3 fatty acid rich foods, like nuts, seeds, fish, avocado and flax-seeds.
Drink herbal teas that boost the immune-system like pau d’arco, burdock, elderberry, and echinacea. These also come as herbal tinctures. There are also many supplements that boost the immune system. Oil of oregano is a potent fighter for the immune system and is both anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Medicinal mushrooms like reishi and the likes are great for this too. There are supplements on the market that concentrate these. New Chapter for example has one called Host Defense.
And move. Don’t get stuck in-doors on the couch. Get out there and do something to keep your body and your circulation going. Just don’t strain yourself to the point of exhaustion and don’t catch a chill after a run.