***9 Ways to Avoid Getting the Swine Flu

It is often hard to stay calm, when the news reports contain such words as Swine Flu: Impending Pandemic. Moreover, just the seasonal flu kills an estimated 36,000 people here in the U.S. every year. However, anxiety works against your immunity and other important body functions. You need to strengthen your body and can do so by practicing relaxation techniques, eating healthful foods, and adding natural supplements to your diet.

Grant Yourself the Gift of Immunity: 9 Ways to Stay Healthy This Flu Season

There are a number of things we can all do in the meantime to minimize our chances of getting the infleuneza virus. Vaccines and drugs are not at all reliable when it comes to especially a new viral influenza strain. Bolstering your immune system is the best way to protect yourself and those around you. There are a number of techniques we can safely utilize. The details are found in my book: PREVENT CANCER, Strokes, Heart Attacks and other Deadly Killers.

1. Good Hygiene
The old saying still holds true: Wash your hands, often! Any time you cough, sneeze, touch food, or use the bathroom, thoroughly wash your hands. This means a gentle, natural soap and water for a good 20 seconds. Use a face mask when out in public. Keep your environment clean with natural cleaners and air purification.

2. Watch for Flu, Respiratory, or Pneumonia Symptoms
Since swine flu is manifesting as a respiratory problem, you should keep an eye out for these symptoms in yourself and others. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, muscle pain, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, giddiness.

3. Stay Home
If you are experiencing any suspicious symptoms, stay home from work, school, travel and social engagements. This will help slow the spread to other people, and help you to heal faster.

4. Relaxation
Our immunities and inflammatory responses are compromised by high-anxiety situations. Studies have shown that psychological stress reduces the immune system's reactions to hormonal secretions that are normally used to fight inflammatory response. Consider spending time focused on relaxation: buy a yoga video, explore meditation, practice positive visualization or look into guided imagery techniques. A good massage can also help.

5. Sleep
Get seven to nine hours of sleep a night, and take a nap if you need to. Sleep helps the body to heal, and limits your chances for picking up infection.

6. Healthful Diet

Proper nutrition through a varied diet is the ideal way to promote a strong immune system. Consume more fermented foods in your diet, especially fermented soybean which contains probiotic bacteria, isoflavones, saponins omerga-3 fatty acids, and phytosterols. These help to build one's immunity by helping to maintain peak levels of natural killer cells and macrophages (types of white blood cells) and by supporting cytokine production, which responds to infections.

7. Sunlight
Sunlight is the best way for your body to make vitamin D, which is great for immune system support. If you can, try to get 15 minutes of direct sunlight each day. Eat lots of berries and leafy green vegetables to protect your skin from being burned. I recommend at least 2,000 I.U. of vitamin D per day. Studies show that vitamin D stimulates the immune system and disease fighting cells, called macrophages and T cells.

8. Exercize
Regular exercise activity is wonderful for keeping the immune system strong. Several 20-30 minute brisk walks a week are recommended for most adults.

9. Natural Supplements
It is nearly impossible to get all the body needs to ward of viruses through diet. Supplementing your diet with natural products containing fermented soy, curcumin, resveratrol and green tea will give your body the boost it needs to be at its peak.

Fermented Soy: Boosts the body's immunity and regulates its inflammatory responses.

Curcumin: Have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal and immune regulating properties.

Resveratrol: Is found in red wine and has been considerered a life prolonging plant. Taking Resveratrol supplement rather than consuming alcohol is a safer, more effective way to benefit.

Green Tea: One cup of green tea provides 10-40 mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant effects greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots or strawberries. Green Tea supplements provide the maximum benefit.

Yours in Vibrant Health,

Dr. Vijaya Nair, MD, FAMS, MS

Visit www.jivasupplement.org to learn more about the natural products discussed in this article and about Dr. Nair and her extensive research.

Dr. Nair recommends the following JIVA products for boosting immunity, regulating inflammatory response and for their anti-viral properties.

Fermented Soy & Curcumin Nutritional Beverage Mix - Combines the immune supporting properties of fermented soy, curcumin, ginger, cardamom, biperine, cinnamon and more.

Jiva Curcumin & Fermented Soy Energy Plus - Contains probiotic bacteria and promotes optimal immune function.

JIVA Green Tea Plus - Combines green tea extract with a powerful Vitamin B complex to support a healthy immune system and inflammatory response.

JIVA Resveratrol Plus Formulation - Resveratrol blended with quercetin, gugul and garlic extract with anti-viral properties.

*The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

Please see the following articles for more information on these topics:
• Stress, emotion, and human immune function.
• Psychoneuroimmunology and health consequences: data and shared mechanisms.
• Treatment of Epidemic and Pandemic Influenza
• Antiviral effect of catechins in Green Tea on Influenza Virus
• Inhibition of Influenza A Virus Replication by Resveratrol
• Soy and Immunity
• Ubiquitin Vacuolar Protein Sorting System
and Entry of Influenza Virus Into Host Cells
• Traditional Healthful Fermented Soy Products of Japan