• Most people over 60 years old have natural antibodies to swine flu in their blood because their parents were exposed to the 1918 flu virus.

• Having sufficient levels of healthy bacteria in your gut makes it less likely that you’ll suffer side effects from vaccinations containing thimerosol (mercury).

• All of us have cancer cells in our bodies all the time, but for most of us our immune system continually identifies and destroys them before they are ever able to take hold and grow into a tumor.

• Occasional exposure to children that have chicken pox boosts your natural immunity and helps keep you from getting shingles, an adult expression of the chicken pox virus.

• Mild childhood infections (cold or flu, chicken pox, strep throat, etc.) help the immune system mature and may play a part in preventing autoimmune disease as an adult.

• Regular use of nasal irrigation, such as with a neti pot, can drastically reduce the likelihood of catching the flu even if you have been exposed to the virus because it keeps the virus from reproducing in the nasal cavity and causing infection.

This is just a “teaser” so if you want to learn more you have to attend the webinar!  To register, click here

Registration cutoff is Saturday morning, so make sure you get in before that!

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Zinc is one of the most important nutrients for immunity, and can usually be obtained from the diet if attention is given to eating protein rich foods (although extra may be needed in supplement form if you are around people who are sick with a cold or flu or if you are starting to show symptoms). 

Below is a link to an in-depth entry on zinc from the Linus Pauling Micronutrient Center that also includes a table listing amounts of the mineral found in several zinc-rich foods.  Happy eating!

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/

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Elderberry Article

Marilyn Farms offers our own elderberry preparation (click here to view) which is available as a standard extract, or a great tasting glycerin syrup.  And, best of all, it’s now on sale!  The recommended dosage at onset of the flu is 1 teaspoon–1 tablespoon (5–15 ml) for children and 2 teaspoons–2 tablespoons (10–30 ml) for adults, taken twice daily.

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This may sound very scary, but it is important to remember that in many cases people have made a full recovery from this type of flu.  To put it in perspective, common seasonal flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people annually.  As of the writing of this blog, an estimated 150 people have died from swine flu in Mexico.  I am not making light of this virus – it is a very serious concern with dangerous possibilities, but it is entirely possible that the virus will mutate to a less virulent form and “fizzle out” over the coming weeks.  With all the media hype it’s easy to forget that possibility.  The elderly, children, and those with compromised immune systems are usually the most at risk for contracting the flu but in this case everyone should take precautions.

As mentioned above, there is no vaccination for this flu and medications are only helpful after you already have the virus.  Prevention is going to be your best bet!  Here are some basic health tips for flu prevention:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.  Hand sanitizer can be used in a pinch, but soap and water is preferable because it actually removes physical particles instead of just sterilizing them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth – especially when you’re out in public.
• Get enough sleep (7-10 hours, depending on your personal needs).  Lack of sleep can lead to immune system suppression.
• Stay hydrated, which is vital to keeping the immune system functioning.
• Eat a healthy diet that contains plenty of whole foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruit.  Nutrition is foundational to proper immune function.
• Include coconut oil in your diet.  Coconut oil contains lauric acid, a fatty acid with natural anti-viral properties.
• Minimize allergenic foods such as pasteurized dairy and wheat flour, which may suppress the immune system.
• Avoid white sugar, which directly suppresses the immune system.  Replace sugar with natural sweeteners such as stevia and xylitol – not with artificial sweeteners, which are difficult for the body to process.
• Include plenty of immune-boosting herbs in your diet such as garlic, ginger, onions, and cayenne.  If you can’t get enough of these foods in your diet or want additional support, use a tincture such as Marilyn Farms SuperForce.
• Use immune-supporting supplements to your advantage.  Some of the essentials include:
  • Vitamin C, which supports immune cell function.  For information on dosing vitamin C visit read this article on Vitamin C for Cold and Flu
  • Zinc, which is necessary to make immune cells.  For food sources and dosing visit http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/
  • Echinacea-based herbal blends, which boost immune cell formation such as Marilyn Farms Immune Boost, Virus Defense, or Cold n’ Flu
  • Elderberry, which has anti-viral properties
  • Probiotics, which are healthy bacteria that shield the gut.  They can be eaten in cultured foods like yogurt or taken in pill form (Custom Probiotics)

If you have general symptoms of cold or flu, please stay home, take care of yourself, and contact your doctor.  And above all, don’t panic – it’s bad for your immune system!

NOTE: Please talk to your physician before making any dietary or supplement changes.  This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

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