healthbriefs
10 Natural Tips to Keep Colds and Flu at Bay E
xperts agree that a generally healthful lifestyle, including following a nutritious diet, works to ward off sniffles, stuffy noses and the aches of a cold, and may even help safeguard against influenza. But it’s best not to wait for the first symptoms of a cold or flu to manifest; instead, we can take ongo- ing preventive action by strengthening our immune system. Applying these 10 tips will naturally help keep away such bugs:
Wash hands. The best way to get rid of
everyday germs is to wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Plain soap is best. Get enough rest. Sleep plays a crucial role in the body’s recovery and repair
cycle; when people don’t get enough sleep, they compromise their defense systems. Think clean. Clean surfaces frequently shared with others, such as stair rails,
telephones, computer keyboards, countertops and door knobs, in order to avoid hand-to-hand spreading of viruses.
Freshen the air. Germs hang around in stagnant air. Make it a habit to open
the windows for a few minutes several times a day to allow fresh air to circulate. Think food first, rather than supplements. Eating healthy and naturally
provides a whole nutritional package, comprising a combination of nutrients. Rely- ing on supplements entails ingesting isolated vitamins and minerals that may pass through the body unabsorbed.
Use garlic when cooking. Garlic has antibacterial properties and helps de-
toxify the body. Drink herbal teas. Teas containing Echinacea, astragalus and licorice root
boost the immune system and help inhibit viral and bacterial growth. Drink plenty of fluids. Even when it’s cold outside, it’s important to stay hy-
drated. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks, which inhibit immune function. No hands touching the face. Most cold and flu viruses enter the body
through the eyes, nose or mouth. Exercise with gusto. Aerobic exercise speeds up the heart and makes us
breathe faster, supplying the body with more oxygen, which in turn, helps increase the body’s number of natural virus-killing cells.
Sources:
Nutrition.About.com;
HolisticOnline.com;
WebMD.com
UPDATE ON BLACK TEA’S MINERAL CON- TENT
RELIEF FOR TENSION HEADACHES
C
Black tea, a staple in many U.S. households, is the world’s most consumed beverage; yet it may contain higher concentrations of fluoride than previously thought. This could pose problems for excessive tea drinkers, say re- searchers at the Medical College of Georgia, in Augusta. Their recent study discov- ered that the fluoride concentra- tions in black (not green or white) tea have been underestimated, and also may be linked to inci- dences of skeletal fluorosis, a disease caused by excessive fluoride consumption, character- ized by joint and bone pain and damage. Study participants had a 10- to 30-year history of consum- ing one to two gallons of black tea a day. The problem is exac- erbated when the tea is steeped in fluoridated drinking water or when other fluoride sources, such as treated toothpaste, are also present, as they add to the inges- tion of that mineral.
hronic headache sufferers may well want to try mas- sage. New research from the University of Granada, in Spain, shows that the psychological and physiological state of patients with tension headaches improved within 24 hours after receiving a 30-minute massage.
The researchers are quick to also say that black tea remains a healthy beverage for those who enjoy the beverage in modera- tion—between two and four cups a day.
natural awakenings November 2010 21
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