Fight the Flu Part 4

Sick of hot water with lemon?

Drink hot water with 1-2 Tbsp of Brewers Yeast

It might be pretty gross and bitter BUT it can help fight off the flu, diarrhea, and respiratory illness.

It is packed full of B vitamins - B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), and H or B7 (biotin).  (but no Vit.B12 -which is found in meat products)

It can also help support the nervous system, help maintain the muscles used for digestion, and keep skin, hair,(it may even prevent the graying of hair) eyes, mouth, and liver healthy.

If you are taking any medications though, make sure to talk to your doctor before you start taking brewers yeast because it can interact with a lot of medications.

It also has not been tested on children - so maybe still with the hot lemon for the kids!

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source for the past four tips

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and the Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick

Fighting the Flu part 2

how to fight off colds and flu

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Eat a clove of raw garlic

Garlic is great for its antimicrobial properties.

So when you feel a scratchy throat coming on - head to the kitchen and chew on a piece of garlic

Maybe it doesn't sound that yummy but it could help prevent your sore throat from getting worse

if you think that sounds too gross - try crushing the clove and swallowing it whole, mixed with apple sauce, or have something to eat right afterwards

Garlic can also relax blood vessels, increase blood flow, and prevent blood clots and oxidative damage.

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Stay healthy during cold and flu season

Cold and Flu season is here

Everyone is back to work, the kids are back to school

and everyone is sick!

So what can you do to try to stop you from getting sick?

Check back over the next few days for different tips

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Take a Cold Shower -

uncomfortable? yes. but research has show that there are multiple benefits during the cold season.

How? 

1. this can help your blood vessels adapt to being cold faster, peripheral blood vessels will constrict faster and you can conserve more heat.

2. German research has shown that cold water can help important virus-fighting cytokines (immune system proteins) work better together - that means fewer viral infections for you!

3. The cold water can increase lymphocytes (white blood cells) which help ward off colds and flu

4. The cold water will make you gasp! wondering why this helps? This helps open up closed and clogged air sacs in your lungs called alveoli. That means more oxygen for your body, and open, unclogged alveoli are less prone to infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia

5. The burst of cold water will then lead to increased blood flow to your organs - especially your skin, lungs, heart, and throat. Increase blood flow will help fight off illnesses

6. A cold shower can boost your mood and lower stress which will boost your immune system

start slow by exposing hands and feet to the cold water, and then work your way up

if you are susceptible to high blood pressure check with your doctor

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{image: weheartit.com}

Flu Season

It may only be Fall every where else but we are getting frost and some snow here in Calgary already.
Flu season is upon us. There is some concern that H1N1 will come back this season so time to get prepared!

The best way to prevent the flu is good hygiene and sanitation.
In my sociology of health and illness class we recently learned that the most drastic decline in mortality rates from infectious diseases occurred before the vaccines were available. This is accredited to improved sanitation and hygiene.

So wash your hands! 
The friction created by rubbing the soap all over your hands is what actually separates the germs form your hands. So use soap! 2/3 don't on a regular basis.
You should lather really well make sure you get your wrists, thumbs, between fingers and under your nails.
It should take your 20 seconds - or the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.
Rinse with warm water and then briskly dry your hands on a clean towel.

Experts say that you are better off drying your hands on pants than using a hand dryer - they heat up re-circulated bathroom air and then blow it on your hands.

Remember - vaccines are not obsolete either - if you are of high risk, or live with someone who is high risk - talk to your doctor about getting the flu vaccine.

Ginger

My Mom always tried to get my to drink Ginger tea when I was sick but I never really liked it. I have learned to like a little bit of ginger, but Im still not sure Im ready for her potent tea.

Ginger has been used for thousands of years for nausea, motion sickness, colds, joint pain, and circulation problems. It is a warming spice, like the ones mentioned in the previous post and it can be used to raise the body temperature to help fight infection.

Click the link below to read more about this health-full ingredient and get some recipes
http://www.wholeliving.com/article/power-foods-fresh-ginger

Fight Colds and Flu

{image via http://www.topnews.in/ }

Warming spices can help fight off colds and the flu.  Since fall is just around the corner I thought I would share this link with you.
It is from http://www.wholeliving.com/ and it gives a little insite into warming spices such as curry, cinnamon and ginger and also has links to recipes using these spices.

click the link below to read:
http://www.wholeliving.com/article/warming-spices