healthy you
Flu
Fighters
U s e t h e s e t a c t i c s
t o s t r e n g t h e n y o u r
f a m i l y ’s d e f e n s e s .
BYSA RA A LTSH U L
I
F you’ve ever had a flu shot
and still found yourself
felled by flu, here’s why: In
some years, vaccines don’t
perfectly match the
influenza strains that
become rampant during
the fall and winter. Last year’s vaccine
was a case in point—it was only 58
percent effective at preventing
influenza A, the type that causes the
most illness, says Dr. Daniel B. Jemigan,
deputy director of the influenza
division at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
BEST SH O T FOR A FLU -FR EE SEASO N
Nonetheless, a flu shot is still your
key flu defense, says Dr. Gail Patrick,
clinical assistant professor of family
medicine at the University of Chicago.
Children over six months of age,
pregnant women, people with chronic
illness, and people over 65 are all
considered high-risk and should get
one. Also, “any adult should consider
getting the flu shot. If you do get the
flu despite being immunized, your
symptoms will likely be less severe
than if you weren’t immunized,
and you’ll reduce your risk for
complications such as pneumonia,”
says Patrick. Try these other
prevention strategies too.
BELLY UP T O T H E BA SICS
“The best
immune boosters arc the basics: food,
exercise, sleep, friendship, and yes,
even fun,” says Dr. Martha Howard,
medical director of Wellness
Associates of Chicago. That means
eating
6
to 9 servings of fruits and
veggies daily, exercising 30 minutes at
least 4 times a week, getting
8
hours
of sleep each night, and taking a
multivitamin. Also consider taking
500 milligrams of vitamin C with a
full glass of water four times a day
during flu season, Howard says. And
seek out fun every day, such as a good
movie or a chat with a friend.
SEE YOUR D EN TIST
“Low-grade
infections, such as chronic gum
disease, can make you more
susceptible to the flu,” says Howard.
Visit your dentist before flu season
and have your mouth checked.
TAKE A DOSE O F D
“Vitamin D is the
only immunity-enhancer I know of
that’s verified by gold-standard
evidence,” says Dr. John Cannell,
whose research has linked flu to low
levels of vitamin D. Adults should take
5,000 TU of vitamin D every day from
early fall to late spring, he advises.
TR Y G R EEN t e a
A recent study
concluded that a supplement called
Immune Guard reduced the incidence
of flu symptoms by 30 percent. “I
suggest taking Immune Guard
throughout flu season,” says Susan
S. Percival, a professor of nutrition
at the University of Florida and
co-author of the study. Buy Immune
Guard at
immune-guard.us.
HERBS FOR FLU RELIEF
If, despite your best efforts, you
catch the flu, try one of these
remedies, suggests Dr. Martha
Howard, medical director of
Wellness Associates of Chicago.
Echinacea
Take 1 teaspoon
echinacea root tincture, or 500 mg
capsules, (try GNC’s Echinacea
Extract), 6 to 8 times a day with a
glass of water as soon as you feel the
first twinges of symptoms.
Sambucol
This delicious elderberry
syrup can alleviate symptoms in half
the time it normally takes to recover
from flu. One study showed that it
increased production of flu-fighting
immune cells by up to 44 percent.
Buy at pharmacies such as Rite Aid
and CVS. Follow label directions.
Cat’s Claw
A rainforest herb, it’s a
good antiviral. Take 250 to 1,000 mg
each day. Find it at health food stores.
Ask your doctor first if you’re on
hypertension medication.
2 4 6 ОСТОВІ R
2008 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTO: VEER
