Prevent Germs This Flu Season

By Bonnie Owens on November 11th, 2009

• Share
• Link to StumbleUpon
• 1 Comment

Flu season is especially tough this year. Nearly everyone I know has been sick in some form already–and it’s only November!  Flu vaccines are in short supply and with the introduction of H1N1, there are more strains to worry about.  So to protect your family this winter, it is important to get back to the basics.

There are generally only two entry points for bacteria to invade your body–the mouth and the nose.  Most bacteria takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat or nasal cavity to proliferate.  If you eliminate the bacteria in that time frame then you can usually avoid being infected with that illness.  Here are some steps you can take to stay flu free.

1. Frequent hand-washing
2. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, or bathe).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water or Listerine.  Simple gargling prevents germ proliferation.  In a way, gargling has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one.  Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.  Alternatively you can use nasal spray or a netti pot.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C .  *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can.  Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction.  They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.