[The Epoch Times, 9 dicembre 2022]coldAndinfluenceThe resulting economic burden is greater than we imagined. Estimated in costs such as treatments, lost productivity due to illness, and lost workdays, the common cold alone costs the US economy up to $40 billion annually.
Basic ways to reduce the risk of both diseases are known to include washing your hands, not touching your face, and avoiding contact with sick people. Some people may choose to gambleinfluenceVaccines, but one important thing to understand is that this method is not very effective. An independent analysis of the flu vaccine by the non-profit Cochrane Collaboration found that even under ideal conditions (where the vaccine exactly matches the circulating flu virus), there are more than 1% who will catch the influenza, which is not much lower than the infection rate (4%) among unvaccinated people. The study authors estimate that, under typical circumstances, 100 people would need to be vaccinated to avoid a certain set of flu symptoms; or you would have to be vaccinated every year for 100 years before getting a certain flu. Interestingly, the study showed that the flu vaccine did not significantly reduce hospitalizations or lost work time, or prevent flu-related complications or those rare flu-related deaths.
People who maintain a healthy diet needn’t worry about the dangers of the flu. Good nutrition can build resistance, and even if you catch the flu, you won’t be ill for so long and your symptoms won’t be as severe. To maintain the normal functioning of the immune system, it is necessary to take in many micronutrients, and the phytochemical components of various fruits and vegetables have additional antimicrobial and immune-boosting effects. Here are some foods or supplements to help you battle this flu season.
fungusFood has a unique role in boosting the body’s natural immune defense system. Ganoderma lucidum and shiitake mushrooms can enhance the activity of natural killer cells. “Natural killer cells” are lymphocytes of the innate immune system, called NK cells, which play an important role in preventing viral infection and inhibiting cancer progression. Shiitake mushrooms have been found to protect against influenza viruses in animal studies. Fortunately, not only the special types of mushrooms mentioned above are good for the immune system, the daily consumption of white mushrooms can also strengthen the immune defenses of mucous membranes such as the mouth and respiratory tract. Dendritic cells are another immune cell that protects the airways, and the phytochemicals contained in white fungus can enhance the activity of these cells.
Mushrooms are eaten cooked. Many types of edible mushrooms contain a potentially harmful compound called agaritine, which is greatly reduced in cooked mushrooms.
Kale, kale, mustard greens, arugula, watercress, broccoli, turnip greens, kale), cauliflower, kohlrabi, etc., are allCruciferous. These vegetables contain glucuronide, so the taste is bitter or spicy. When you chop or chew these greens, the glucuronides are converted into potent cancer-fighting compounds called isothiocyanates (ITCs). In addition to their anticancer properties, isothiocyanates also support the immune system and have antibacterial properties.
The phytochemicals in cruciferous vegetables can enhance the activity of “interferon” which is an important part of the body’s antiviral response. To maximize the release of isothiocyanates, cut cruciferous vegetables finely, or eat them raw and chew them well; by destroying plant cells, the enzyme that converts glucitol into isothiocyanates (called inosinase) is activated, which is inactivated by heating.
However, it is still possible to obtain isothiocyanates from cooked cruciferous vegetables by chopping them before cooking and adding some raw cruciferous vegetables to cooked dishes. For example, if you are eating cooked broccoli, add chopped cabbage, which will provide the inosinase enzyme to release more isothiocyanates from cooked broccoli. Gut bacteria contain the enzyme inosinase, so the small amount of isothiocyanate contained in cooked broccoli is also released into the digestive tract.
berryIt is a powerful anticancer food and can also fight viruses. Berries are rich in antioxidants – flavonoids, which have antiviral effects. In fact, if you catch the flu, drinking elderberry juice, which is high in anthocyanins, can shorten the time you’re sick. Berries and grapes are also rich in resveratrol, another antioxidant phytochemical with potent antiviral properties. Resveratrol has been shown to prevent the replication of influenza and other respiratory viruses. Additionally, strawberries are rich in vitamin C, which may protect immune cells from oxidative damage.
The benefits of berries go beyond preventioncoldand flu. The flavonoid antioxidants contained in the berries are no ordinary antioxidants, flavonoids also contribute to intracellular signaling, resulting in many beneficial effects: flavonoids activate natural detoxification enzymes in the body, stop the growth of cancer cells, are anti-inflammatory and help in the regulation of blood pressure. Berries (and pomegranates) are also very high in ellagic acid, another antioxidant compound that can stop cancer cell and tumor growth.
4. Onion and garlic
There is no convincing evidence that garlic supplements reduce common cold symptoms. However, eating garlic and onions every day has clear benefits in terms of cancer defense and may also help boost the immune defense system, including boosting the activity of macrophages, T cells and NK cells. Additionally, several phytochemicals in garlic have been shown to kill respiratory viruses.
Like cruciferous vegetables, the active compounds are produced when the plant cells of onions and garlic are destroyed. Therefore, it is best to eat raw onions and garlic, chop them and chew them well.
5. The right supplements
Vitamin D and zinc also play important roles in the immune system, so getting enough of the related micronutrients can also help fight off colds and flu. Children who took vitamin D during the winter had fewer flus than a control group (children) who took an ineffective drug, and children who took regular supplemental zinc also had slightly fewer flus. Since vitamin D can be difficult to obtain from foods and zinc can be difficult to absorb from plant foods, a well-designed supplement is a good option.
Tips for dealing with a cold
If you catch a cold, treat it wisely. Many cold treatments are ineffective, and some can even prolong the illness. For example, large doses of vitamin C do not prevent a cold or reduce symptoms, and medicines that reduce fever actually hinder the body’s attack on the symptoms of the infection. (I’m in “Super Immunity” (Super Immunity) check out some common cold and flu remedies. )
Don’t panic if your cold symptoms last longer than expected. On average, patients report symptoms of the common cold that last one and a half to two weeks. In children, earache symptoms usually last from less than a day to 9 days; sore throat lasts from 2 to 7 days; cough lasts up to 25 days; and the common cold lasts 7 to 15 days. Eventually, the body will clear the virus on its own. Remember, over-the-counter medications only mask the symptoms and can even disrupt the healing process (of the body). However, if your symptoms suddenly get worse, especially if you experience difficulty breathing or if your temperature rises above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 3 days, call your doctor.
There’s no doubt that when you eat better, you’re less likely to get sick, and when you do, you heal much faster. To avoid catching a cold or the flu this year, get enough sleep, be careful not to put your hands near your nose or mouth, and eat a healthy diet. A nutrient-dense diet produces a number of immune-boosting phytochemicals in your body that also help protect against heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
About the Author: Joel Fuhrman, MD, board-certified family physician, 7-time New York Times bestselling author, is an internationally recognized expert in nutrition and natural healing. Fuhrman focuses on nutritional therapy to prevent and treat disease.
This article was originally published at www.drfuhrman.com, and is authorized to be translated and reprinted by The Epoch Times in English. For the English report, see:During cold and flu season, protect yourself by eating right。
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Responsible editor: Li Fan
