Vitamins to help fight H1N1

The H1N1 flu has been very scary to most of us. We are questioning the flu vaccine and how safe is it? What can we do to stay healthy and hopefully prevent having the H1N1 virus.

There are a couple of articles about the use of Vitamin D that I came across and would like to share.

http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Disease/swine_flu_deaths_what_you_need_to_know_111020090534.html

http://www.betterhealthresearch.com/news/new-evidence-links-vitamin-d-to-flu-prevention-19117950/

http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/Red-Wine-Chemical-Cuts-Flu-Risk_4333

 

I found another great article by mrasey.

Step 1



Take Vitamin D which improves immunity to H1N1 flu by increasing production of antimicrobial agents in the body. These antimicrobials can fight swine flu and other types of influenza. It’s no coincidence that flu season coincides with the lowest annual levels of Vitamin D. To ramp up your immune system, take 2000-5000 mg a day of Vitamin D. The best form of Vitamin D to use is D3.

1. Step 2

   

   Take Vitamin C as it not only boosts levels of infection fighting white blood cells, but it also increases the number of interferon antibodies which work to keep the swine flu from even entering cells. Aim for 200 mg ingested over the course of day either in food or supplements.

2. Step 3

   Take Vitamin E which fosters production of natural killer cells that seek out and destroy swine flu germs. It’s hard to eat enough food to reach therapeutic levels of Vitamin E, so consider a supplemental dose between 100-400 mg.

3. Step 4

   

   Eat foods rich in Vitamin A to boost immune response, however, because high levels can be toxic, avoid supplements and eat your carrots. Be especially careful of Vitamin A intake if you are pregnant as high levels can hurt a fetus.

4. Step 5

   

   Eat foods rich in bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids fill up cell receptor sites so H1N1 flu germs can’t get into your cells and cause infection. Bioflavonoids are found in white and green teas, wine, dark chocolate, peppers, garlic, blueberries, and citrus fruits. For best results, combine with foods rich in vitamin C and calcium.

5. Step 6

   Take a zinc supplement. Zinc doesn’t just increase immune response, it makes it fight the swine flu more aggressively. Supplement with 15 to 25 mg a day and don’t go over 75 mg as that can actually weaken your immune system.

My advise is to always eat healthy foods, get plenty of fresh air, air out the house, take your vitamins. If you up the vitamin dosage please always check with your doctor and some common sense.

How to avoid Jet Lag

I have suffered a great deal of Jet Lag in the past on my trips to Europe. It seems to be worse flying Eastward and had little effect on my body flying Westward. There were a couple mistakes I made that did not help the Jet Lag and perhaps made it worse. Last year when I went back to Europe I followed some tips that are mentioned below and I had no problem at all.

Here are a couple of tips to prevent Jet Lag:

• Exercise the day before the travel.
• Drink plenty of bottled water on the plane.
• Avoid alcohol, because of altitude, pressurization and dehydration, one drink during your flight has the alcoholic equivalent of nearly two and a half on the ground.
• Trip stretching while you are still traveling
• Don’t take any naps at the new time zone, try to stay awake until 11 pm to get into the natural rhythm.
• Eat plenty of healthy food before the travel, during the travel and after the travel.
• Eat brown rice , Melatonin is also synthesized by various plants, such as rice.
• Take over the counter Melatonin after travel.
• Take a yoga class or practice in the hotel room
• Reflexology, very important to stimulate the Pineal Gland, part of your Endocrine System
• Take walks after the long flight, get as much fresh air as possible

Melatonin 

Melatonin is a hormone (N-acetyl-5 methoxytryptamine) produced especially at night in the pineal gland. The pineal is a key element in the maintenance of the body’s endocrine regulation (hormone balance), immune system integrity, and circadian rhythm (daily metabolic balance).The pineal gland functions as a biological clock by secreting melatonin (along with many other neuropeptides) at night. The pineal gland serves as the timekeeper of the brain, helping to govern the sleep-wake cycle and, in animals, seasonal rhythms of migration, mating, and hibernation. Secretion of melatonin is stimulated by the dark and inhibited by light. The secretion of melatonin follows a daily rhythm governed by the body’s master clock. Melatonin levels are low during the day. At sunset, the cessation of light triggers neural signals which stimulate the pineal gland to begin releasing melatonin.

Melatonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan

. Tryptophan (l-tryptophan) is an essential amino acid formed from proteins during digestion by the action of proteolytic enzymes. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin and finally converted to melatonin which is an indole. The tryptophan during the day is converted into serotonin, a brain chemical involved with mood. Serotonin, in turn, is converted into melatonin. Synthetic melatonin and melatonin derived from bovine pineal glands are available as over-the-counter dietary supplements. Melatonin occurs naturally in some foods but in fairly small amounts. Of all the plant-based foods, oats, sweet corn and rice are richest in melatonin, containing between 1,000 and 1,800 picograms of melatonin per gram. Ginger, tomatoes, bananas and barley have about 500 picograms per gram. In the human population, melatonin levels are highest in children. Healthy young and middle-aged adults usually secrete about 5 to 25 micrograms of melatonin each night. The amount of melatonin the body secretes tends to decline with age, a possible link with an age-related rise in difficulty sleeping.

Exercises to do during travel:

What to avoid:

Another great link to watch: http://www.ihealthtube.com/aspx/viewvideo.aspx?v=5e28865bf33c36d1

http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/hormones/melatonin.php

Health Benefits of Asparagus

Asparagus is an alkaline food which is rich in protein but low in calories and carbohydrates.  It is an excellent source of potassium, folic acid, vitamins A, C and K, and traces of vitamin B complex.

A good source of dietary fiber, asparagus is also rich in niacin, phosphorus and very low sodium.  And certainly most impressive is that it is one of those few vegetables that actually has the calcium and magnesium in the ideal ratio of 2:1.

Asparagus has an abundance of an amino acid called asparagine, that helps to cleanse the body of waste material.  As a result, some people pass out smelly urine after eating asparagus.  Don’t worry if this happens to you.  Just be glad that your kidney is functioning as it should.

Asparagus is one of the few vegetables that is highly dense in healthful nutrients that help many ailments.

You never could stand the taste or smell of Asparagus but you would be amazed at all the health benefits that little vegetable has.

So here are the great health benefits I have compiled for the wonderful food of Asparagus…

• It is high in vitamin K and Folate
• Eat asparagus when you are pregnant or thinking about conceiving – because of it being high in folic acid it helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida
• Great for your heart
• Helps w*Helps menstrual cramps with fertility problems
• Great for your gastrointestinal tract and your colon
• Helps menstrual cramps
• Great food to help treat depression
• Has been known to increase the success rate of chemo therapy
• Is considered a diuretic which means it is a good anti-inflammatory – best for arthritis, asthma rheumatism, and even water retention…PMS
• Help get rid of warts
• Helps detoxify your body
• Add more asparagus to your diet to lover cholesterol
• Great for nursing mothers stimulating milk production
• Has antioxidant agents – prevents the effects of aging
• Has antifungal and antiviral qualities
• Great for your kidneys – cleansing your body by stimulating urination and preventing kidney stones
• Helps prevent bladder and urinary tract infections
• Use to be used as an a aphrodisiac – increase sexual and comforting feelings
• Helps with treating HIV
• Helps prevent multiple sclerosis
• Helps prevent scurvy
• Asparagus has anti-cancer agents – especially lung cancer
• Helps fight chronic fatigue syndrome
• Helps fight off high blood pressure
• If you bruise easily – eat more asparagus
• Is considered a laxative – eat an asparagus if you have diarrhea and constipation
• Great for your capillaries – eat more asparagus to avoid varicose veins
• Great for your eyes preventing cataracts
• If you are experiencing hair loss- eat more asparagus
• Helps treat toothaches

• http://healthmad.com/alternative/health-benefits-of-asparagus/

• http://www.juicing-for-health.com/asparagus.html

How to cook Asparagus: