Secret Remedies for Colds and Flu

IN THE UNITED States alone there are an estimated one billion colds every year, usually occurring between October and March. The average adult contracts two to four colds annually while the average child gets six to ten. Indeed, nothing is more miserable than getting a cold or flu. But did you know the reason we suffer so much is because we do all the wrong things when we get sick? Drinking coffee and sodas and eating ice cream and pudding can make your flu or cold worse—or prolong it. Don’t count on a flu shot offering ironclad protection, either. Flu shots have not been as successful as hoped because viral strains constantly change and make one year’s vaccine virtually obsolete the next.

However, when it comes to colds and flu, recognize that few topics are the source of so many myths. For example, many believe that colds are caused by cold weather, and that not dressing properly for weather conditions will lead to illness. Another mistaken belief is that a person must be ill or have a weakened immune system to be susceptible to colds. The truth is that colds are caused by viruses. In order to get sick from the viruses that cause colds, you must come into contact with them. They must attach to your cells and multiply within your cells to cause infection. Although not dressing properly for the weather conditions is not a good idea, there is no evidence you can contract a cold because of it.

Second, a person need not have a weakened immune system to be susceptible to cold viruses. In one study involving healthy adults, 95 percent became infected when cold viruses were administered through the nose.¹ Of those, a large percentage developed symptoms associated with the common cold. More than two hundred viruses are known to cause colds. Indeed, there are so many different types or strains of cold viruses it is difficult to develop a vaccine to provide protection from all of them.

Unlike what many think about the transmission of colds, the viruses that cause them are usually transmitted by direct contact with the hands. The hands then touch the mouth, nose, or eyes, and the virus multiplies in the nose. The symptoms are probably the result of the body’s immune response to the virus. This causes inflammation in the lining of the nose, resulting in sneezing and a blocked, runny nose. Fluid may drain from the nose to the throat, causing soreness, and from the back of the throat to the chest, causing coughing.

Many people have similar misconceptions about the flu. One is the belief they can contract the flu from cold weather. Another is that you must be sick to be susceptible. There is also the belief that the symptoms of a cold can become so severe it can develop into the flu. The truth: the flu is also a respiratory infection caused by viruses. Just as with cold viruses, you must be exposed to the flu virus to become infected. It is not transmitted via cold weather, nor is it necessary to be sick to become infected. Unless a person is infected with both cold and flu viruses, it is unlikely that a cold will develop into the flu. It is more likely that the symptoms of a severe cold and the flu are so similar it is difficult for many to distinguish between the two.

There are three types of viruses that cause the flu: influenza types A, B, and C. Influenza type A is further classified into two groups based on their types of surface proteins that are recognized by our immune systems. Influenza types A and B viruses are the most common cause of disease. Influenza type C causes less severe respiratory infections and is usually not involved in epidemics. The type A influenza virus has also been found in animals, including birds, pigs, and whales.

The mode of transmission for flu viruses is respiratory droplets from sneezes and coughs. An infected person may sneeze or cough, and droplets carrying the virus may get on the mouth or nose of a person in close proximity. This gives the virus access to the cells of the respiratory tract, thus causing illness. Adults may be contagious before symptoms and are capable of spreading the germs for up to seven days after symptoms appear. Children may be contagious for several days before the onset of symptoms and may be contagious for ten days or more afterward. Persons with compromised immune systems may spread viruses for months.

Symptoms from the flu are usually far more severe and occur quickly after infection. In addition to the common cold symptoms, flu symptoms include high fever (above 102 degrees Fahrenheit), headaches, body aches, muscle aches, and tiredness. Sometimes people with the flu contract secondary infections, causing complications. Some examples are bacterial pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, and worsening of long-term chronic illnesses.

When you come down with a cold or flu, fast by drinking plenty of water and fresh juices, and get lots of rest.

For those who want to join the healthy trend of juicing as a cold and flu fighter, here is a list of ingredients that will help jump-start the habit. This will give you enough to juice for about a week (prepare daily).

This will help your system to expel toxic materials through the mucus it creates. Let your fever burn up your infection too. A fever mobilizes your immune system to fight infections. However, most physicians and parents turn off a fever with Tylenol and deplete levels of glutathione, a master antioxidant and detoxifier found in such supplements as folate and vitamins B₆ and B₁₂. Don’t rush to the doctor and take a lot of medications to halt the symptoms. Some are important for detoxification. (However, if you have a fever over 103 degrees, you should be examined by a physician.)

As mentioned in chapter 1, when you are sick, don’t instantly turn to antibiotics. Although they can provide powerful help when you are suffering from a bacterial infection, antibiotics’ overuse can harm you. Plus, since colds and flu stem from viruses, antibiotics cannot kill them. In addition, when antibiotics are used too frequently, bacteria can develop immunity to the antibiotic. Today our nation is seeing increasing numbers of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria because of overprescribing them. This weakens the immune system and makes you more vulnerable to repeated illness.

If seeking to build your immune system or you are bothered by a cold or the flu, try these natural substances:

• Cayenne (capsicum): Hot chili peppers, or red pepper in its powdered form, are one of nature’s remedies for these ailments. They also will fight infections and sore throats.

• Echinacea (coneflower): Boosts white blood cell production and immune system support.

• Stevia: This natural sweetener can also prevent colds and flu. Users of stevia-enhanced products report a lower incidence of these ailments.

• For juices that will help fight sickness, try blending carrots with: 1) beet and cucumber, 2) celery and radish, or 3) spinach.

• Drink plenty of fluids, including water with lemon, green tea, and diluted fruit juices.

Try alternative remedies, such as taking plenty of vitamin C. Garlic, elderberry, and herbs, such as olive leaf extract and oregano, are a natural means to help your body’s immune response. In addition, using an infrared sauna helps boost the immune system. You can overcome many infectious diseases by eliminating mucus-forming foods, such as dairy products, eggs, and processed grains. These grains include pancakes, cereals, doughnuts, white bread, crackers, pretzels, bagels, white rice, gravies, cakes, and pies. You should also shun margarine, butter, and other saturated, hydrogenated, and processed oils.

Recipe: Immune System Building

Vitamin C is an important nutrient for the immune system, your body’s leading line of defense against infectious diseases. This recipe makes two servings.

1 green apple

1/2 cucumber, peeled if not organic

2-3 leaves kale or collard greens

1 handful parsley or watercress

1 cup elderberries or blueberries

1 lemon, peeled if not organic

Cut produce to fit your juicer’s feed tube. Wrap parsley or watercress in the green leaves and push through the juicer slowly with half of the cucumber. Turn off the machine and pour in the berries, then place the plunger on top. Turn the machine on and push the berries through. Juice all remaining ingredients. Stir the juice and drink as soon as possible.

FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE

Let your body’s immune system be your first defense. When it comes to colds, flu, and sinus infections, your skin and mucous membranes are powerful defenders. Viruses and bacteria cannot penetrate the skin unless entering through a cut or break. That’s when an inflammatory response occurs, which sends your immune system into high gear to rid the body of the bacteria or virus. Cold and flu viruses enter the body through the mucous membranes, creating inflammation and swelling. Swollen, inflamed mucous membranes cause the mucous glands to secrete more mucus as they rid the body of the virus. But too much swelling can block off sinus openings so that they cannot drain. Stagnant mucus then becomes infected with bacteria, creating a sinus infection.

One of the keys to fighting these “space invaders” is appreciating the amazing nature of the immune system God built into your body to ward off viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and much more. There are many other immune system components in this stunning arsenal of defense, such as interleukins and interferons. A healthy, intact immune system can take on even the most deadly assaults. Colds, flu, and sinus infections pose little challenge to a healthy, well-functioning immune system operating at peak efficiency.