Button that coat, wash those hands, and grab your Echinacea, flu season is here, check these strategies for beating the flu. #PSSM #Wellness #BeatFlu
Wearing a coat in the cold, and bundling up with a scarf and hat are just good advice, but they won’t be enough to protect you if the flu comes knocking. It’s a virus that needs to be headed off early and Dr. Matthias Wiederholz of Performance Spine and Sports Medicine said some of the old advice is the best, but cutting edge studies suggest there might be more that can be done to keep the flu in check.
The first and foremost way to avoid the flu is the advice that’s been around for generations and it’s so simple everybody can do it – proper hand washing.
“Proper hand washing with warm water, soap and lather for at least two minutes,” said Wiederholz. “Try to avoid touching your face. Hands pick up germs and then transfer to mucus membranes which are eyes, nose and mouth.”
Other obvious ways to avoid illness is to avoid contact with those who are already sick, part of why it’s important for parents of sick children to keep them at home.
Aside from conventional advice, Wiederholz said there are studies with vitamins and herbs, which have shown promise in combating the flu.
“Vitamin C has been well studied and shows some positive results,” he said.
Echinacea can shorten the length of the flu by up to 1.4 days, according to Wiederholz. Some other herbs which have shown promise are Aloe Vera, astragalus, ashwaganda, andrographis, Chinese Thoroughwax, eleuthero, ginseng, licorice, oats, wild indigo and several others.
He warns against people with autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions using herbs.
But the best way of all to stay healthy is to start healthy. Wiederholz said, “A healthy diet is a key factor in maintaining health and wellness. The standard American diet is pro inflammatory and predisposes one to illness. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet helps prevent illness. Getting proper nutrients is key, particularly minerals and antioxidants.”
A non-inflammatory diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and omega 3 fatty acids, from fish or fish oil supplements.
