SiCk :(

Right now, I am suffering from cough and colds so I have no choice but to stay at home and take a lot of rest. It maybe simple to some of us but, it still hurts! haha It is very inconvenient and the fact is, we cannot just ignore it. During my first day of sickness, I had difficulty in sleeping. I always wake up since my nose is being clogged by mucus. So today, I rested the whole day and took some medicine to ease up the heavy feeling that I have. Since I feel a lot better, I have decided to make a research and share these important details to you. I hope this helps :)

Bolstering Your Immune System in Five Simple Steps to Help Prevent Colds and the Flu

The immune system defends the body against diseases and other harmful invaders, including bacteria and the flu virus. The body's ability to resist these invaders is called immunity. In my opinion, building one's immunity against all invaders is a much more comprehensive approach than the singularly focused flu vaccination and can be accomplished by following five easy steps:

1. Advanced Hygiene - Why Hand Washing is Not Enough? - I believe that cleaning the hands in the usual fashion only rids them of a small percentage of all potential pathogens. I highly encourage individuals to practice a system called “Advanced Hygiene.” The first step of advanced hygiene starts with a semi-soft natural soap. I instruct my patients to push their fingertips into the soap in order to address the area in and around the fingernails, an infectious hotbed where I believe that the overwhelming majority of germs on the hands reside. The next step involves immersing one’s face (facial dipping) into a solution of water, sea salt and dilute iodine. This process is designed to rid the face of germs, viruses, and bacteria. This is vital since these pathogens gain access to our bodies not through our airways and respiratory tract, but through our eyes, nasal passages, mouth and ears. Fingernail cleansing and “facial dipping” disarm the autoinoculation process—the process where we unwittingly put into our bodies (through the eyes, nose, or mouth) unwanted germs or viruses.
   
2. Diet - A whole foods-based diet adds to overall human health and immunity. Examples of "immune-enhancing foods" are locally grown meats, poultry, dairy, fruits and vegetables raised organically and chemical-free. Fresh fruits and vegetables are especially vital in this capacity. While no health official would argue with the consumption of fruits and vegetables, we can take our diets a step further if we really want to bolster our immune system!
3. Supplementation - In general, I recommend my patients use supplement formulas made from "whole foods" that have been fermented. Since the majority of the immune system is located in the gastrointestinal tract, balance of intestinal bacteria is vital to helping our bodily defenses function properly. Key supplements to help bolster immunity include: Probiotics: Probiotics improve the body's ability to fight infection and enhance the immune response.
   
4. Sleep - Consistent, adequate sleep is vitally important to overall health and paramount to a healthy and well functioning immune system. Recent studies have shown that proper restful sleep is intimately tied to the balance of a number of hormones, most notably cortisol and melatonin. More important than how long you sleep is when you sleep. To insure proper glandular function it appears sleep is optimized when in sync with the day-night cycle. That means the optimal spring/summer bedtime is between 9 and 10 p.m. and the optimal fall/winter bedtime is between 8 and 9 p.m. It also appears that sleep cycles started before midnight are far more effective than those started after midnight-- regardless of the number of hours slept.
5. Reducing Stress - Stress is linked to six of the leading causes of death: Heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide--and too much stress also hinders the immune system. Constant stress could increase risks associated with a variety of conditions such as heart, allergic, and immune diseases. SOURCE : Preventtheflu.com, by Dr, Joseph Brasco, MD.