subject: Cold and Flu Natural Prevention [print this page] Cold and Flu Natural Prevention Cold and Flu Natural Prevention
The natural health research team at Institute for Vibrant Living (IVL) has prepared this report on natural cold and flu prevention techniques:
Constant coughing, hacking, sneezing and sniffles are allhallmarks of the annual cold and flu season.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one billion people worldwide suffer from colds each year!
It has also been calculated that school students alone miss 22 million school days each calendar year as a result of the common cold (or at the every least, a convincing portrayal of one to mom or dad.)
A healthy dose of common sense combined with natural remedies can help to keep you and your family from becoming part of the sniffling statistics.
Why Colds Happen More in the Fall and Winter
Seasonal changes in humidity create challenges for the respiratory system and the cooler weather causes us to spend more time indoors where germs and viruses are more likely to spread.
Many viruses can live up to two hours on hard surfaces such as desks, faucets, telephones and doorknobs. When you touch an infected surface and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth you can transmit the virus into your body.
Enclosed areas where the public congregates are especially risky. Even a nearby sneeze or a whiff of second hand smoke can be a culprit in spreading viruses. Try to keep your exposure in these areas as brief as possible and use hand sanitizer promptly after touching railings, door knobs, etc. You should also do the same after shaking hands or even hugging someone. (Be tactful though, as this could hurt someone's feelings.)
Proper hand washing, when possible, can go a long way towards preventing the spread of illnesses.
Use warm or hot water and antibacterial soap when washing your hands and massage all around the fingers and palms for at least 20 seconds. Rinse well to remove the soap residue and then use a clean paper towel to dry the hands.
Other handy hand cleaners include alcohol-based wipes and gels.(Note - If you use a gel, make sure that you rub it in until it dries.)
Natural Prevention Supplements
A strong immune system is your best defense against seasonal colds and flu. That is why millions of Americans use nutritional supplements to shore up their body's disease-fighting ability.
More than 20 percent of the adult population in America now use some form of herbs, botanicals and enzymes to boost their immunity. Supplements containing Vitamin C, Zinc and Echinacea are very helpful in fighting off colds and flu.
Green tea is another form of cold preventative that is gaining popularity. It can be taken as a steeped brew or now as a new concentrated tea elixir that uses a dropper. This way it can be added to a favorite beverage, either hot or cold, in a concentrated green tea form. One such product is Green Tea Elixir from IVL. To learn more, visit IVLProducts.com
If you want to jump start your respiratory system's immune defenses, you cantry a natural herbal respiratory health formula. IVL's Second Wind is a good place to start. It may help the body to fend off the rhinovirus, which causes the common cold. Even if you wind up catching a cold, the herbal ingredients may still help to lessen the duration and severity of your symptoms.
Many holistic health practitioners recommend using a natural nasal wash in addition to ingested supplements for maximum viral protection. An excellent choice for this purpose is Xlear Nasal Wash which is also available from IVLProducts.com. This natural, non-addictive formula helps to keep nasal passages irrigated, which in turn, may reduce the chances of invasion by germs and viruses.
Fall and winter weather, in spite of some harshness, is still beautiful in many ways and don't we all have better things to do than sit around nursing a nasty cough or the sniffles?
This holiday season, let's resolve to be adamant about washing our hands regularly, eating a balanced diet, getting at least some exercise - and let's also be sure to use natural supplements to help keep our immune systems in tip-top condition for the busy months ahead!
