Dr. Suneil Jain
Flu season is back, and Arizona is leading the nation in diagnoses. If you catch the flu, you’re looking at a week for full recovery and at least four days of severe symptoms. That’s a lot to ask of your social and professional obligations.
While many individuals turn to flu shots, the Centers for Disease Control have reported 40 percent or fewer efficacies in this treatment. With the right lifestyle tweaks, you may be able to avoid catching the influenza virus this season the natural way.
There are other ways to survive flu season with getting a flu shot.
Stay hydrated
Take your body weight and divide it in half. That’s how many ounces of water you should be drinking a day. Drinking water, keeps your juices flowing and helps flush out toxins.
Proper hygiene
If you’re worried about catching the flu from your surroundings, then practice good hygiene. Frequently wash your hands. This is especially important before you eat or touch your eyes or other mucus membranes.
Eat Healthy, Be Healthy
If donuts, frozen dinners and happy hour shots are the routine, your body won’t be equipped to stave off the influenza virus. Processed food, excessive sugar and alcohol intake is tough on your body and leaves less energy to naturally resist the flu. Sugar also causes inflammation, which suppresses the body’s immune system.
Vitamins are Vital
A healthy immune system is a great, natural edge to have when flu season comes to town. Doctors can prescribe the ideal dose of Vitamin D3 that will boost your immune system every day. Vitamin C is also a great addition to your diet. Food-based Vitamin C can be found in dark, leafy greens, berries, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. For Vitamin D, spend some time in the sun or munch on mushrooms.
Catch Zzz’s
Your body repairs itself when you get between seven and nine hours of sleep.
Relieve Stress
Yoga, meditation or walking your dogs can help relieve stress. Reducing your chronic stress will keep you from feeling too weak to face the flu.
If you already feel the chill of the flu setting in, don’t start sipping the NyQuil and quarantining yourself from the world.
IV and UV
At Rejuvena Health & Aesthetics, we offer IVs filled with nutrients, such as Vitamin C, and virus-battling ingredients that can give your body a boost in your fight against the flu. This, paired with UV light therapy, helps kill the virus.
Herb’s the Word
Black Elderberry syrup and colostrum are two of many immune-supporting supplements Rejuvena offers its flu patients.
Dr. Suneil Jain is a naturopathic physician and the founder and owner of Rejuvena Health & Aesthetics.
