Influenza Blues? Seven Tips to Prevent Infection...

Cold and flu season are in full swing.  I frequently get asked if I recommend the flu vaccine.  My answer is simple...  a healthy immune system is the best defense against colds and flu.  If you have an immune deficiency or other serious illness it may be appropriate.  However, for the rest of us, strengthening your innate immunity is the key!  Besides, who willingly has formaldehyde, aluminum, MSG, or thimerosal injected into the body, anyway?

Seven Tips for Preventing and Treating Viral Infections:

1. Basic Immune Nutrients - Make sure you are getting adequate immune supporting vitamins.  I recommend Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Zinc, Omega-3 Fish Oil and high potency probiotics as some of the basics
2. Hydration & Sleep - Often overlooked but essential!  Drink plenty of fluids and avoid sticky and sweet soda or fruit juice.  Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night.  It is no coincidence that we often get a cold or the flu after activities like the holidays or travel, when we return to high stress and fail to get adequate sleep.
3. Homeopathic Medicines - One of my very favorite homeopathic flu remedies is Boiron Oscillococcinum.  I am never without this helpful cure!  It comes in adult or kid friendly versions.  Take 1 vial weekly for prevention of flu. My husband & I do this all through the winter months or when flying.  Upon the first sign of sore throat, fever or myalgias, take one vial up to 3X daily for acute illness.  It's safe at any age and has been shown to limit the severity and duration of the flu symptoms.  For best results, take at the very beginning of symptoms.  Some of my other favorites by Boiron are ColdCalm for cold symptoms and Sinusalia for sinus symptoms.
4. Elderberry - Elderberry syrup (such as Sambucol) is a great alternative to anti-viral medication.  Take one tablespooon 4X daily for up to 3 days when symptoms begin.  One study suggested that using a standardized elderberry extract, Sambucol, could shorten the duration of flu by about 3 days.
5. Avoid sugar - Perhaps the most important thing you can do to boost your immune strength is get rid of the sweets!  Avoid all sugar and highly processed foods.  Even small amounts of sugar can significantly impair the immune system, making one more susceptible to a flu infection.  One classic study showed that sugar decreased neutrophil activity (your cells that fight infection) for hours after sugar ingestion.
6. Functional Foods - Many foods are helpful to boost immunity.  Drink organic green tea, eat garlic raw or cooked, use fresh oregano and thyme to spice your foods, and enjoy fresh ginger in cooking or smoothies or make a cup of honey ginger tea.  Cruciferous veggies and certain mushrooms are also loaded with immune boosting properties.  Both garlic and onions contain compounds that rev up the activity of immune-system cells called natural killer cells and T-helper cells.
7. And don't forget to wash your hands... a simple but effective way to wash away the viruses that cause cold and flu.  Use plain soap and water (NOT the anti-bacterial soaps which contain the toxin, Triclosan)  Make your own hand sanitizer with the following simple recipe.
• Fill 4oz glass spray bottle with sterile water
• Add 1 tsp aloe vera gel
• Add 5 drops each of the following essential oils:  cinnamon, clove, rosemary, eucalyptus
• Mix 10 drops of lemon or wild orange essential oil
• Shake gently and use 2-3 sprays on your hands as needed.

Take to heart these simple tips and you should be WELL on your way to a healthy, happy, virus-fighting immune system this flu season!

Simple 4 Week Plan to Eliminate Attention Deficit Disorder Symptoms

Photo courtesy of www.freedigitalhphotos.net

ADHD may be linked to genetics, but an unhealthy diet will exaggerate symptoms, even in individuals not predisposed. Simply eliminating foods that cause symptoms can be helpful but adding key nutrients back into your diet will have an even greater impact. Individuals with ADHD may be sensitive to sugar, processed foods and artificial food dyes. Have you ever noticed how ability to focus worsens two hours after consuming an energy drink with a bright color or a candy bar? Blood sugar rises rapidly then crashes, stimulating adrenaline, jitteriness and can then result in inattentiveness and drowsiness. Imbalanced nutrients, artificial coloring and excessive carbohydrates dominate the American diet. Access to cheap, processed, unhealthy food has helped escalate the incidence of ADHD and multiple chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes and perhaps even cancer.

How a child or adult to have normal behavior if he or she is eating refined grains, sugars, processed foods loaded with chemicals and genetically engineered ingredients, and juices and sodas instead of pure water?  It is virtually impossible to have a healthy functioning brain when the proper building blocks to develop or maintain a healthy brain are not being given...

It may take a commitment to change your eating habits or the habits of your child. It requires a different mindset. Start to recognize the “non-food” items you’re putting into your body. Then take note of when you are fueling your body with healthy foods. Many people find that replenishing nutrients helps to reduce cravings for unhealthy foods. So start the change process by focusing on adding more natural foods– rather than restricting your diet.  It will be easier to get motivated to make the change.

Below is a suggested approach to begin the tune-up. It’s meant to be done in stages. Establishing a new routine takes practice and requires repetition. Be patient, focus on one week at a time and give yourself credit for each successful week.

WEEK 1

1. Switch to non-aluminum natural deoderant
2. NO DAIRY PRODUCTS, especially cow's milk. This is the single most important restriction.
   Substitute Almond milk, Rice milk
3. Drink a full glass of water with lunch and dinner.
4. Make sure you get adequate protein for breakfast (Organic eggs are a great source)
5. Make a whey or rice-pea protein shake for snack
6. Start key nutrients - a B complex with methyl-folate and methylcobalamin

WEEK 2

1. Switch to natural non-fluoridated toothpaste
2. Add magnesium, zinc, fish oil and vitamin D
3. Avoid all foods with high fructose corn syrup or sugar added
4. Limit refined grains and foods made with processed flour of any kind
5. Spend more time in nature. Researchers have found that exposing ADHD children to nature is an affordable, healthy way of controlling symptoms.

WEEK 3

1. Use only glass containers in microwave, no plastic
2. Clear your house of dangerous chemicals - use basic vinegar & lemon juice for natural cleaning and non-toxic laundry detergent
3. Try to get organic fruits and veggies into your diet regularly - 6-9 servings every day (no juice!)
   When you are really hungry eat a raw vegetable first. Take your time and enjoy the crunch!
4. Avoid additives, such as food dyes & colorings and especially the preservative sodium benzoate -- found in many soft drinks, fruit juices and salad dressings.  It was shown to cause some children to become hyperactive and destructible.

WEEK 4

1. Reduce consumption of beverages in aluminum and plastic containers
2. Eliminate soda and fruit juice from the diet
3. Avoid trans fats.  But freely use olive oil (low heat or dressing) and grape seed oil/coconut oils (higher heat cooking/baking)
4. Drink more water, particularly filtered water - at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces.
5. Try to eat fish at least once weekly and be sure to choose lower mercury options