Some of the more general tips for maintaining immunity are simple and often free.
Wash hands regularly. Especially after being out in public places – viruses linger on commonly used objects like door knobs, handrails, money, and taps for 24 hours. Always wash hands before eating and if you are around people with a flu, or even who are just coughing and sneezing. Do dress warmly and use tissues rather than a handkerchief to cough into or blow your nose .
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables – these contain phytonutrients, potent antioxidant that naturally occur in plants that the body uses to make super antioxidant enzymes to boost immunity. Studies show that white blood cells, the body’s immune army, were more robust, and vital antioxidant levels, including Vit C (looks after the watery parts of our body) and Vit E (looks after the fatty parts), were consistently higher in individuals who regularly ate vegetables.
Did you know that along with lack of sleep, too much sugar, excessive stress and even exercise can reduce your immunity? When we ‘catch' these nasty viruses, they grow in our body making us feel tired and achy causing us to sneeze and feel blocked up. If it gets worse we may also experience laboured breathing and persistent coughing which can lead to bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma. Swine flu may also cause diarrhoea, and cause loss of electrolytes. The viruses do this by releasing cytokines during their chemical warfare which causes inflammation and these nasty side effects.
Herbs can help. Olive leaf extract, green tea, pine bark and turmeric help support immunity and our white blood cells. These herbs reduce inflammation, engage the viruses and bacteria directly and essentially stab them with poisoned tipped bayonet's while giving our immune system an extra supporting hand and allowing it to become stronger. You can buy vitamin C powder and liquid Olive leaf extract if you or your children don't like capsules.
You may ask, should I still take my Res-V Plus? Well yes, you should. Taking one to three capsules daily will support your immunity too. I spoke to a Virologist the other day who has been researching papers on resveratrols effect against Influenza A virus replication. The turmeric ingredient gives the liver a hand and helps to with circulation. Curcumin the chemical compound found in turmeric is also known help the body fight viral replication. Pine bark and green tea assist the white blood cell population by helping them deal with the inflammatory chemicals that fly around destroying our precious healthy cells.
Alongside extra supplementation just remember to avoid stress if you can, avoid those late nights for the next couple of months at least. Have your Lemsip or honey (Manuka has antibiotic properties) and lemon drinks on-hand. Lastly our mothers had it right. Warm hearty Winter soups are perfect for nourishing sustenance. So make plenty of chicken stock for those quick warming and nutritious soups.
It's easy to look after your friends and family but most importantly yourself.
How to make good chicken soup
First make the chicken stock - boil a chicken or chicken carcass. Cover with enough water . You can also add 2 bay leaves, 2 rosemary sprigs and 5 stems of thyme. Spoon and strain off fat and any floating debris. In a medium sized pot gently stir fry 3 chopped garlic cloves, (ginger, 1tsp if you like the taste), and one whole onion. Do not burn or brown too much. Add one cup of finely chopped celery and carrots, 1 leek,1/2 cup of sliced pumpkin or kumara and fry until soft. Peel chicken from chicken bones and add the stock. Ginger, onion, garlic and leek help raise your immunity by killing those nasty bugs while clearing your airways. Simmer for 10 minutes and then enjoy. I hope you make enough to freeze for later.
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