Updated April, 2024

Flu and virus season is upon us again

Many believe that this season has become more worrisome because of the swine flu that we have heard so much about. In June 2009 the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. However, a pandemic does not mean that the virus is more deadly. It simply means that it has spread further throughout the world. The response to this pandemic resulted in the rapid development of the swine flu vaccine. In 2020, the world experience the COVID 19 pandemic.

We at NIHA share concerns for staying well  and want to provide our community with effective prevention measures to stay healthy, under any circumstances that we may be experiencing. It is important to keep your immune system strong. Also, if you are established with one of our integrative doctors, there are integrative medicine therapies and potent strategies of regaining your health rapidly should you fall sick.

Educate yourself and implement these effective and powerful health tactics into your life. Check out the recommended product list below and make sure you are ready for flu and cold season.

The Art of Staying Healthy When Others Get Sick

The key to health is a healthy immune system. Let us examine common sense lifestyle steps that promote health and prevent infection:

What You Eat and Drink

• Did you know that eating sugar suppresses your immune system for up to 7 hours afterwards? Avoid sugars. Starchy processed foods convert into sugars as soon as they hit the stomach, so limit processed food too.

• In a more alkaline condition our bodies have the strongest “charge” or life force. In an acidic condition, bacteria and viruses can grow very quickly. Sugar, starches and meat contribute to an acidic environment.Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, sprouts, nuts and seeds instead. Alkaline grains include millet, quinoa, and buckwheat. Coffee, juices, colas and other sodas are very acidic on the ph scale. Drinking plenty of fluids, like warm teas and fresh, pure water will help flush out your system and keep it clean. Start your day with a glass of water with the juice of a lemon or a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to help alkalize your system.

•  Include fresh garlic into your diet on a daily basis. It is antiviral, antibacterial, anti-parasitical and anti-fungal. Put it through your juicer or VitaMix. The only other form of receiving the benefit of the active ingredient allicin is taking freeze dried garlic capsules (listed below). Every other form of garlic pills are virtually worthless, because the beneficial allicin gets destroyed within one hour.

Gut Health: 80% of the Immune System lives in the Intestinal Tract

•  Scientific research shows that 80% of your immune system actually lives right in your digestive tract. Optimizing intestinal health includes proper nutrition. But it also means to simply add more beneficial bacteria. A new study published in Pediatrics shows that a daily supplementation of probiotics may reduce the incidence of cold and flu-like symptoms in children by 50 percent.

•  Avoid constipation. Again, dietary measures like plenty of fiber are key. Colon cleansing, including regular colonics throughout the season has been proven to be a very beneficial practice. You might consider a magnesium product (see list of recommended products below) to stay regular.

When you feel like you are coming down with the flu do a home enema as soon as possible.

Sleep and Stress

• A good night’s sleep strengthens your adrenals. Strong adrenals are essential for creating the energy to run your body each day and to fight an infection.
• 20 to 30 minute naps are good for you, but no longer so as not to change your natural circadian rhythm.
• Relaxing on weekends will certainly aid in balancing the stress scale, but it is actually the small, daily acts of self-care that are most beneficial to keep your immunity up throughout the season.

Hand and Respiratory Hygiene

•  Frequent hand-washing is one of the best precautions we can take against communicable disease. Don’t waste your money on antimicrobial soaps – they simply don’t work on viruses like the cold or the flu. In fact, the Environmental Work Group reports the ingredients in some hand sanitizers may be potential causes for endocrine disruption, allergies, immunotoxicity and skin, eye or lung irritations. Simply use a pure soap from a health-food store instead.
•  A Neti Pot or other Saline Rinse is an ancient therapy that works as a preventive measure by flushing out germs, dirt and allergens of your nasal passages. If you are actively sick use the Neti Pot or Saline Rinse more frequently during the day. It will assist thinning mucus and help flush it out of the nasal passage. Add some sea salt and possibly a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil into the Neti Pot water.

Exercise

• Exercise to increase circulation and blood flow. All the different components of the immune system will be better circulated. Your blood will be oxygenated, and your lymphatic system mobilized. This is a key ingredient to helping your immune system to efficiently act upon pathogens. Consider investing in a good mini trampoline, as this is a simple, easy way to detoxify the lymph system while jumping gently.

Fresh Air

• A regular dose of fresh air is important, especially in cold weather when central heating dries you out and makes your body more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses.  Also, during cold weather more people stay indoors, which means more germs are circulating in crowded, dry rooms. Sleep with your window open. Air out the house several times a day. Go for walks. Exercise outside.

Vitamin D levels

• Optimize Vitamin D levels! This is one of the absolute best strategies of avoiding infections. Vitamin D deficiency is a major culprit behind catching the seasonal flu/low immunity. We STRONGLY urge you to have your vitamin D levels monitored to confirm your levels are therapeutic at 50-70 ng.ml. The only  way to know your dose is to have your physician test your blood. You may need 4-5 times the amount recommended, but let your physician be your guide to what your optimal level should be.  This is one of the single most important and least expensive action steps you can take to begin the season.

Medically Supervised Flu and Virus Protocols

• Consider establishing a relationship with our practitioners for a routine physical and Vitamin D level evaluation early in the season. With our medically supervised health protocols, that may include powerful oral and IV protocols, they will assist you in regaining your health effectively and swiftly. The sooner you get on the program the better.

Be Prepared! Recommended Products for Flu and Virus Prevention

For acute infection the doses may change and additional supplements may be recommended. As with any supplement, follow your physician’s advice for your correct dosage.

• Fish oils: EPA and DHA will hinder the replication of the virus 2 grams /day

• Transfer Factor Plus: increases natural killer cells and other immune factors: 1/day
• Freeze Dried Garlic: 3-5 caps opened into water 2 times a day
• Vitamin D as directed from your physician

• Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid, 500mg 2x/day
• Vitamin A from Fish oil can be beneficial for acute treatment, consult with one of our medical professionals.
• Zinc helps your immune system, gut and metabolism function optimally
• Host Defense MyCommunity: A synergistically combined mushroom product that makes a super potent immune modifier. Take 1-2 capsules/day
• LimuPlex: Colostrum that contains a complex of immune factors and Fucoidan from a sea vegetable that is a  powerful immune enhancer. 1 pack/day
• Probiotics
• Netipot or Saline Rinse Kit
• Home Enema Kit
• OxiMega or Magnesium supplements to move and/or cleanse your intestines.