With the swine flu scare on the rise and the beginning of the flu season at hand it is a good idea to make sure that your body and immune system is ready to fight off any unwanted germs or bacteria. Do you want to have to role up your sleeve for vaccines Or do you want to be in control of you own body and your own health
Many of the ways to fend off illness by strengthening your immune system are simple, inexpensive and natural. And if you make the right lifestyle changes you can live through flu season without a hiccup or a needle in your arm.
Your diet and exercise routine are the first things you need to pay attention to in order to improve your overall immune health. Try to cut as much processed food out of your diet as possible. This food is full of toxic chemicals and preservatives that weaken your immune system.
Processed food also makes you gain weight and can cause just about every other major health complication. If you don’t believe me just read the ingredients. They are nothing but chemicals that are foreign to your body. When you eat this food your immune system actually has to constantly fight the harmful toxins in the food instead of strengthen itself for when it is really needed, like when faced with the flu virus.
Drink a lot of water. Staying hydrated is critical for good health, but especially during flu season. Being dehydrated leaves you more susceptible to common colds and the flu.
Make sure you exercise regularly. This is necessary in maintaining good health and keeping your immune system strong. Sweating is your body’s natural way of expelling harmful toxins that will weaken your immune system. You don’t have to sit in a gym and pound weights to get the exercise I am talking about. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but do activities you enjoy doing and you will be more motivated to exercise.
Stop smoking. If you smoke cigarettes you can dramatically reduce your chances of catching any type of flu by quitting or at least cutting back. Don’t take pills or put on patches to quit, try hypnosis or other alternative methods that are proven to be effective.
Alcohol, like smoking, weakens your immune system and leaves you susceptible to the flu and other complications. Keep the drinking alcohol to a minimum and you will notice a drastic improvement in your immune health.
Take immunity supplements. There are several effective natural immunity supplements such as Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Nutriferon. These supplements work in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise in order to provide you the maximum in immune protection. Immune supplements can be taken regularly to prevent the flu or they can be taken at the time of the illness to speed up recovery.
I know you have heard all of this before and it sounds so simple, but the truth is that diet and exercise really work. Although most people know that they should eat right and exercise, the fact of the matter is, they don’t.
Information, no matter how truthful it is, can never make you healthy. It is only your application of knowledge that will make a positive difference in your life. If you want to be lazy, get sick, and keep eating donuts, but rely on things like pills and government vaccinations to make it through flu season go ahead. But I think life is more rewarding when you are in direct control of your own health and wellbeing.
Tags: common colds, exercise routine, flu season, flu virus, harmful toxins, immune health, lifestyle changes, lot of water, maintaining good health, major health, pound weights, processed food, swine flu, toxic chemicals, unwanted germs