Consider improving your immune system now for prevention of any cold and flu.
Go Away Cold and Flu!
You are not very popular when you have cold and flu symptoms and try to socialise or go to work. But it is not your fault that you have these cold and flu symptoms, or is it?
A cold and flu is a very common illness that can be annoying and drain you of energy.
Most often the symptoms from a cold and flu will only last for a few days. If these cold and flu symptoms become more severe or last more than about a week, medical advice should be sought.
People more at risk of complications from colds and flu include the elderly, those with a chronic medical condition (such as heart disease), or those with a depressed immune system.
The most common time to get a cold or flu is when the weather changes (winter colds) or when you are feeling a little run down. This is when your immune system is depressed and not adequately protecting you.
Are Cold and Flu The Same?
Colds and flu are often confused for one another, especially when it comes to treatment. They are, in fact, two different illnesses. The common cold is an inflammation of the mucous membranes caused by a number of viruses. Flu or Influenza is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract.
Colds tend to begin slowly, with a sore throat, sneezing and runny nose. Temperature may be normal or slightly elevated.
The flu generally comes on quickly and in most cases what we refer to as the flu is Influenza.
Influenza is a serious and highly contagious illness that can affect the healthiest of people. Flu is often called a respiratory disease, but it can affect the whole body. It can be life-threatening.
But the best way to deal with cold and flu or any illness is still prevention.
If you have recently had cold and flu symptoms you would agree that prevention is preferable to suffering through episodes of illness. So even though the medical treatment of flu symptoms may differ from the treatment for a common cold, prevention is still the goal.
Cold and Flu Prevention
Having a healthy immune system will help protect your body from being susceptible to the common cold and flu. More importantly, a weak immune system will not protect your body from these colds and flu or any other infection.
We all want to boost our immune system so that our body provides its own natural cold and flu prevention barriers. This is the concept of preventing any illness rather than just addressing the symptoms with medication.
There are many ways to boost your immune system and here we will address three of the most common which include healthy living, the flu shot or flu vaccine and supplements specifically designed to improve your immunity.
Healthy Living
Our environment is now not as pure as it once was and therefore it is harder lead a healthy lifestyle, but there are things that we can control.
Try a diet of brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, including berries, citrus fruits, kiwi, apples, red grapes, kale, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes, and carrots will help build a healthier immune system. Other immune-boosting foods include fresh garlic (which has antiviral and antibacterial properties) and old-fashioned chicken soup.
Unfortunately many of these food types are not produced and available when we need them most.
Regular exercise elevates the level of leukocytes, an Immune System cell that fights infection.
Exercise also increases release of endorphins, natural hormones that heighten your sense of well being and improve sleep quality, both of which have positive effects on your Immune System.
You may have noticed you’re more likely to catch a cold or any other infections when you’re not getting enough sleep. During deep sleep, your body produces blood cells and raises oxygen levels to strengthen immune function.
Flu Shot or Flu Vaccine
Having a flu shot or flu vaccine is a common way to protect against the flu.
New vaccines are made each year, depending on the strains of virus that are around, so it is important to have one every year.
The vaccine or flu shot will improve your chances of not getting the flu, but it does not give 100% protection and some reports suggest it does not actually offer much protection at all.
Supplements to Support Your Immune System
There are many opinions on what vitamins, minerals and herbs will support the immune system.
Some of the more commonly known supplements used to improve immune system function are vitamins C, D and E, Zinc (in moderation), Selenium, Echinacea, Omega 3, grape seed extracts and green tea. There are also many other herbs such as basil, turmeric and cumin that have health benefits and should be combined in cooking and supplements.
To boost your immune system a combination of supplements will provide you the vitamins, minerals and herbs you need to achieve the best results.
This combination should include a quality multivitamin, Omega 3 and Immunice herbal immunity boosting supplements. All of these can be taken daily in tablet form.
Immunice is one of the best natural health supplements that combine a blend of herbal concentrates which helps the body strengthen the immune system.
Start to support your immune system today for a life free of cold and flu.