|
|
Nutritional Remedies for a Cold or Flu
A good way to start preparing now for cold and flu season is by reducing your exposure to toxic chemicals in your environment. By eliminating toxic chemicals in your home
and in food this will aid in strengthening your immune system. Altering your diet to include natural foods such as fruits, raw vegetables, whole grains and plenty of pure water will give your body the strength to resist illness and recover more rapidly if you do experience an infection. With the assistance of your healthcare provider or a licensed herbalist devising a plan now can save you a lot of trouble later.
Making changes in your nutritional intake and increasing vitamin and mineral consumption is a good start to boosting your immune system and overall health. Find a local supplier or farmer that offers organic, unsprayed food, as chemically treated vegetables and fruit can do more harm than good. Try to locate meat that is hormone and antibiotic free. Enjoy all your food in a relaxed, slow manner and make sure you chew thoroughly. If you are presently suffering from a flu or cold and fighting a fever, it is a good idea to reduce your food consumption. Increase your liquid intake and let your body do its job, using the fever to kill the bad bacteria or virus and flushing it from your system. When dealing with children, discuss fevers and treatment with their pediatrician.
There are many excellent natural remedies available to you for cold and flu treatments, such as 3-6 grams of vitamin C. Going against conventional wisdom, vitamin A can be even better than vitamin C; you may take up to 150,000 IUs per day for a week. While recovering from a cold or flu or to help prevent illness, add some extra garlic and onion to any dish you are cooking, as they both contain antiviral chemicals. Chicken soup with lots of fresh vegetables and onion and garlic can help boost your mood and your health. You can find pre-made, healthy soups at most health food markets. Sipping a cup of herbal tea can help you fall asleep at night when you are not feeling well, as many herbs have sedative effects. Let your physician know that unless absolutely necessary you would prefer to avoid antibiotics and you are looking to take a more natural approach. Your physician could have valuable, practical advice to put a nutrition plan in motion.
Finding the right tools to avoid excessive antibiotic or synthetic drug use can save you more than money. A healthy nutrition plan is a great first step to helping your body prepare to prevent and fight infections. Herbs such as goldenseal, Echinacea, astralagus and lomatium can also be helpful. Working with a natural care practitioner, you can find the right combination for you. Always inform your healthcare provider of any medications or herbs you are ingesting, as they may interact.
Note: Some statements in this article may not be
approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and
should not be taken as professional medical advice.
Compleat Mother
Inside Mother
Home
Subscribe!
What's New?
Mother's Tea
Guest Article
Homebirth
Editorial
Best Articles
Breastfeeding
Dear Mother Dear
Reader Letters
Eternally Pregnant
Circumcision
Read
past
issues
of our newsletter
Site Features
Book Reviews
Mother Books
Cartoons!
Poems
Links
Birth
Stories
Site
Map
Advertising
Contact Us
Birth, Joy, &
Raspberry Leaves
-a new video compiled by Catherine and Amanda Young
of The Compleat Mother
Go HERE for more information on the waterbirth video!
Click here to read: The Farmer and the Obstetrician
Click here for the Home Sweet Homebirth (Video)
