Maximize your bug fighting response

Your hand-washing, bug-avoiding, sleep-getting self is actively fighting the flu, right? With H1N1 on the prowl transform your immune system into the Terminator (Schwarzenegger accent allowed!)

Foods that kick viral-butt

Mom told you to drink orange juice for good reason. Vitamin C fights respiratory infections, but that’s just the first step of boosting your immunity.

Foods like almonds, artichokes and kidney beans offer the biggest antioxidant bang for your bite, but don’t forget blueberries, cranberries and prunes. These foods destroy the free radicals that harm your immune system.

Beta carotene, plentiful in sweet potatoes and carrots, converts to vitamin A then wages wicked war against respiratory infection. Add fresh, uncooked garlic to dinner and you’ll be 2.5 times less likely to get sick this season (the sulphur in garlic kills viruses -dead.) Load up on oysters as well – they’re packed with zinc — a mineral that keeps your immune system strong.

Finish your night with a cup of green or ginger tea – both have powerful infection fighting qualities.

Probiotic Clout

When bacterial bad boys invade, antibiotics get rid of them. Probiotics, friendly bacterial all-stars, keep the defences strong all the time. Probiotics kill or inhibit the reproduction of harmful bacteria, produce flu fighting vitamins like folic acid and vitamin B6 and improve enzyme levels.

One recent study found that probiotics increase the body’s immune response to influenza A (H1N1 is a strain of influenza A). In another study, a Guinea Pig deficient in natural probiotic bacteria was killed by a mere 10 salmonilla cells, but it took about a trillion cells to kill one with a healthy number of probiotics.

Probiotics are found in yogurt, sauerkraut, miso soup, pickles and even red wine. Or you can use a supplement found in the vitamin section of your grocery store.

Power up your sleep regime.

Sleep quantity and sleep quality are two separate issues. Quality sleep includes a natural progression through four levels of sleep (drowsiness, light sleep, deep sleep and deep sleep with REM state). For uninterrupted, high quality shut-eye it comes down to two things:  keep it dark and drug free.

Avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol powers up your sleep regime too. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and interfere with your ability to fall asleep. While alcohol lets you nod off, you’ll wake up in mid-sleep cycle. To ensure high quality sleep and strengthen your immune system, plan carefully what you put into your body.

You are not helpless against flu bacteria. Taking steps to maximize your body’s natural flu bug fighting response can help you win your war against the flu.