Protect Yourself from the Flu without Vaccinations
With all the media coverage as of late regarding the H1N1 I’m finding it very difficult to discern fact from fear. It seems apparent to me that the hopes of many is that fear alone will send everyone running to their doctor to roll of their sleeve for the flu vaccine. I am personally very leery of this vaccine for many reasons, one of which is simply because it doesn’t appear to me that they have had sufficient time to truly evaluate the long term effects of it. Regardless, the only true method of protecting myself and my family from the severity of the flu that I subscribe to is also recommended by Dr. Kim:
- I wash my hands regularly with soap and water, especially whenever I use a public restroom and every time I return home. In between, I carry a bottle of homemade antibacterial spray that I use on my hands, my children’s hands and any objects that I feel need a little ‘refreshing’.
- I try to get enough sleep so that I’m not tired during the day (not always easy with little ones).
- We try to avoid highly processed foods, especially those that are rich in sugar and deep-fried components.
- We eat mainly nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains
- We take probiotics and a natural green food powder
- I try to get in a workout, whether it be a walk or something a little more challenging a few times a week (again, not always easy with little ones)
It’s probably naive to believe that following these tips will create a bubble around you so that you will never get the flu. From experience I can say that keeping your body healthy will protect you from many illnesses, even many variations of the flu/cold. Sometimes however, the flu or a cold will get through, but you will experience fewer symptoms and a much shorter duration because the little army within your body was ready for battle 
2 Comments
Thanks for the tips. Can you tell me how you make your homemade antibacterial spray?
Comment by Kate on October 1, 2009 at 8:54 amSure Kate. It’s really quite easy, effective and cheap. All I use is about 2/3 water and 1/3 Isopropyl Alcohol. It’s what’s used in hospitals to disinfect. Obviously hand washing is preferred, but when I can’t, a couple of sprays of this is all we need. I know that grapefruit seed extract and tea tree oil are also antibacterial so perhaps this would also work with either of those (?)
Comment by lea on October 1, 2009 at 7:30 pm