BACK TO SCHOOL/COLD FLU SEASON
The environment of “back to school” and the onslaught of cooler weather can make a disastrous combination from the perspective of infection control.
Children pick up viruses from their classmates and bring them home to share with their parents.
Parents' stressed immune systems are not always up to the task of fending off those bugs, and with the combination of autumn temperature shifts, the result can feel like they are of epidemic proportions. Thankfully, there are reliable natural strategies to help bolster the immune system in preparation for cold and flu season.
Two basic but fundamental nutritional supplements for the immune system need to be a probiotic and Vitamin D.
Probiotics are thought to interact with the immune cells present in the gut, which creates a cascade effect on the rest of the immune system through the body.
Several controlled human trials have demonstrated that probiotics can decrease the incidence of common cold, as well as the duration of symptoms of those who do become. A study in children found that probiotics decreased the occurrence of the cold by 25% compared to placebo, and decreased the number of school days lost.
Vitamin D is an important supplement, since Canadians are frequently found to have suboptimal or even deficient levels of Vitamin D. Supplementation with Vitamin D has been shown to reduce the incidence of the flu in school age children by 42% when given at doses of 1200 IU per day.
You should have your Vitamin D level tested by your Naturopathic doctor or family physician in order to determine the appropriate dose for you.
Echinacea has been shown to increase the activity of immune cells, including dendritic cells, and decrease the inflammatory chemicals by the influenza A virus.
In humans, echinacea use has been shown to decrease the overall number of illness episodes and decrease the number of episodes per child by 50%; in addition, echinacea decreased the number of days of fever.
A Lancet meta-analysis of 14 studies found that echinacea reduced the odds of developing the common cold by 58%.
Another emerging herb with potent antiviral effects is green tea. Supplementation with 378 mg of green tea catechins during the winter months has been shown to reduce the incidence of flu among health workers.
Another study has shown that green tea supplementation for three months reduced the days with cold and flu symptoms by 35%.
Green tea was also shown to increase immune cell activity. Info from:HEALTH ADVICE by Philip Rouchotas,MSc,N.D. & Heidi Fritz,MA,ND Compliments of NEW ROOTS HERBAL