December 2007
SEND THOSE BUGS DOWN THE DRAIN

As we approach winter, we enter ”The Wash Hands Season”. Colds and flu abound at this time of year and although it is always important to wash your hands often for cleanliness, good hygiene and the prevention of germ spread, it is especially important now. Why now you ask? Because hand washing is the single most effective method of preventing germs, (bacteria and viruses) from entering our body, taking over if our immune system is weak, and making us sick!

The CDC reports that new, super resilient strains of flu viruses are developing every year. While it may be prudent to get a flu shot each year, it becomes more and more difficult to keep up with the new, more virulent strains your doctors confront each year. Today’s flu serum was produced for yesterday’s virus.

This is a situation of always being behind the 8 ball. But if we wash our hands often whenever we come in from the outside world, after we’ve touch public property like subway grab rails or doorknobs, or after we’ve shaken hands with business associates, and especially before we eat, we are at least diminishing the number of bacteria, dirt and viruses that enter our bodies. If the bad guys don’t get in, they can’t take over.

Now, assuming we understand the importance of hand washing, what can we do to prevent getting sick or if we’re already feeling punk and are showing symptoms?

PREVENTION:

• Eat healthy meals
  Your immune system needs vitamins and nutrients to work effectively.
  
• Eat yogurt
  Not the pasteurized kind, but the ones that contain live cultures like lactobacillus which fights off fungus-related infections.
  
• Increase flavonoids
  Cranberry juice, strawberries, apples, grape juice, tomato juice.
  These are vitamin-like substances that act as antioxidants and decrease the rate of arterial and immune aging.
  
• Take a daily multivitamin
  Add a good Vitamin C supplement (500mg 2X a day), a Zinc supplement and/or Chinese Ginseng.
  
• Clean your air filters
  
• Reduce stress and get regular sleep
• WASH HANDS OFTEN
  

WHAT TO DO ONCE SICK:

• Know what you have: allergies vs. cold vs. flu. See a health care professional early. Colds last approximately 5+ day, flu lasts 7+. Treatments will vary. Antibiotics kill bacteria (colds) but not viruses (flu).
  
• Continue to eat well
  Forget the “starve a fever, feed a cold” or is it the other way around? Never mind, just eat!
  
• Have chicken soup
  1 cup 4X a day. Will reduce the length of a cold.
  
• Snack on pumpkin seeds
  These contain zinc which will help reduce the length of a cold
  
• Practice the 3 R’s for fighting colds and flu:
  REST, RELAXATION, REHYDRATION
  
• Take all your medication
  Whether you take pharmaceuticals or Chinese herbs, follow dosing instructions and finish your prescription.
  
• WASH HANDS OFTEN

The second most important thing is to take good care of yourself. If you do get sick, do yourself, your co-workers and the rest of the world a favor and stay home. You will do yourself, your company and all others more harm by toughing it out and going to work and spreading more germs. The stress on your body, mind and soul will prevent healing and will, in most cases, prolong the suffering. The first most important thing is, of course, WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN!