Much ado has been made about Vice President Joe Biden’s remark on advice that he would give his own family members on how to protect against the H1N1 flu better known as the Swine Flu.
Joe Biden made the following remark while a guest on Thursday’s Today show: “I would tell members of my family — and I have — I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now... It’s not that it’s going to Mexico. It’s [that] you’re in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That’s me … So, from my perspective, what it relates to is mitigation. If you’re out in the middle of a field when someone sneezes, that’s one thing. If you’re in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom, it’s a different thing.”
While politically incorrect because it may cause people to think twice before taking an airline trip, or even a bus or train trip, and we all know how much the airline and travel industries are hurting during this economic downturn, Joe Biden’s advice makes a lot of common sense.
From personal experience, we all know that colds and flues travel quickly in confined environments. That is why schools are asked to close down and you see the residents of densely populated Mexico City riding buses and subways wearing facial masks.
I remember an experience many years ago. My husband and I took an escorted 9 day trip to Italy. Upon arrival in Rome, we met our tour director. During the first few days in Rome, we were primarily on our own with a half day escorted tour through Rome. During the remainder of the trip, we spent many long hours riding in a bus with our fellow tour mates as we visited such beautiful destinations as Florence, Venice, and Milan. By the time we reached Venice, many members of our tour group were coming down with severe cold or seasonal flu symptoms. I remember my husband not appreciating Milan very much because he was suffering from a bad cold. By the time we left to go back to New York, I was starting to feel the effects of a cold. So, one way to avoid catching the H1N1 flu is to avoid unnecessary travel in confined spaces. I must add that we were traveling during rainy and chilly April to save money which was right in the heart of flu season.
Of course, most of us can’t avoid traveling in public transportation as we go about our daily commute. In this case, be sure to follow the hygiene advice of our health officials by washing your hands frequently or using a hand sanitizer if you are not near soap and water. Teach your children to cover their mouths when they cough and use tissues when they sneeze. I teach piano, and you would be surprised at the poor hygiene that I seem among the children that I teach. Also, if you are sick, do yourself and others a favor by staying home if you can. You will feel more comfortable and your fellow employees will appreciate your consideration.
Do keep your immune system strong during cold and flu season. Get plenty of rest. Maintain any exercise routines that you follow, but be sure not to overexert yourself or get yourself chilled and sweaty.
A number of nutrients are known to protect immunity. For example antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, carotenoids as well as white tea, green tea, and other fruits and vegetables high in ORAC value (a measure of antioxidant capacity) are known to protect the immune system. There is also proven research that beta glucans found in various types of mushrooms help to protect the immune system by actually helping to activate the body’s macrophages (white blood cells) to help fight infection.
One way to provide your body with the nutrition that it needs to stay fit and resist infection is to take a good nutritional supplement. The
The GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition product also contains the ingredients needed to boost the immune system. The GeneWize product contains maitake, shitake, and reishi mushroom extracts for immune boosting beta glucans; white tea, green tea, resveratrol, and broccoli for antioxidant protection; the high antioxidant protection of super fruits: acai, goji, mangosteen, pomegranate and blueberry; and selenium, beta-carotene, vitamin C, A, & E which are vitamins and minerals known for their anti-oxidant protection. LifeMap Nutrition also contains astragalus and AC-11 which help protect the immune system. There is proven research demonstrating that AC-11 can repair DNA. These are just some of the ingredients of the GeneWize nutritional supplement.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment