Face it, Mom was right: In her loving effort to keep you healthy, she nagged you constantly to wash your hands. It’s a wise prescription for staying germ-free: Germs do pass from hand to hand, and washing them regularly can save you a lot of trouble — and plenty of aches and pains — when flu seasons rolls around. In addition to heeding Mom’s advice, be sure to get your flu shot.
People who get the shot still might contract the flu, you but chances of doing so are dramatically lower. In fact, the flu vaccine can prevent about 85 percent of cases of influenza when the vaccine matches the strain of flu that is going around.
When you’re immunized against the flu, your body actually gets the information about what the flu virus looks like. Your immune system then stores that information in its memory data bank; later, if you’re exposed to the flu, your body will pull out the file on flu, immediately recognize those cells as intruders, and send out the right defense in order to thwart an attack — without your ever having to be affected at all.
If you don’t get the flu shot, on the other hand, your immune system doesn’t know what a potential intruder looks like, and you have problems. If your body has no data on file — no record of criminal activity of sorts — your immune system has no ability to respond to that particular intruder.
The flu shot isn’t your only defense against the flu, but it is by far the best. What else can you do? Get your Ds. It’s now suspected that a vitamin D deficiency may increase your risk of flu. But, unfortunately, the best source of Vitamin D (the sun’s ultraviolet rays) isn’t good for you. So you have to focus on getting enough Vitamin D-rich foods. Good sources include fortified milk and fish; a 3.5-ounce serving of salmon contains 360 IU while a glass of milk has about 100 IU. But you’re going to need a lot more than that — up to 1000 units daily — so supplements are the best way to go.
Of course flu season brings with it another dreaded illness — the common cold. And while there’s really no way to cure a cold, you can speed up its course. Here’s how:
Get Your Cs
Take 500 mg of vitamin C two times a day to boost your immune system (so it can produce more bullets to kill the invaders). You can take it in supplement form, or get it through foods such as oranges and other citrus fruits, 100 percent natural orange juice, tomatoes and bell peppers. If you’re feeling symptoms coming on, up your C to 500 mg four times a day.
And Your Zs
Feeling sniffly and sneezy? Take one zinc lozenge every six hours when you first start feeling symptoms.
Grab a Spoon
Again, you gotta give Mom credit. Chicken soup really does work when you first start feeling symptoms. Try one cup of chicken soup four times a day.
Stress Less
Easier said than done, of course. But negative emotions wreak havoc on the immune system. Meditation and other stress-relieving techniques can help counter the ill effects of stress.
Stay Hydrated
If you do catch the flu, ignore the “Feed a cold and starve a fever” mantra. You should eat normally and, most importantly, stay hydrated, especially if you have a fever. Lots of fluid will help flush your whole body of infection. And rest, rest, rest.