People in Nurses Scrubs Can Really Make a Difference

If you think back in time to when you were a little kid and were in school and then think about who you turned to when at school and in need of some care. Well, that person is of course the school nurse who offered comfort and care in times of need. The school nurse was and is a person who really makes a difference in a child's life when at school. The school nurse often times acts as parent and caretaker when the child's parent and caretaker cannot be present. The care that a school nurse puts into his or her job is remarkable and commendable at the least. Just think back to the people wearing nurse scrub jackets and waiting there at the nurse's office patiently for a patient to care for. Nurses in school settings really make a difference and offer so much to a child.

The nursing field in general also has such an impact on people's individual and daily lives. Another common place that nurses really make a huge difference is in the world of elderly care. You will see plenty of women and men running around in nurses scrubs at an elderly care center or assisted living center just making the lives of those around them that much better. Many of the elderly wouldn't make it through the day without the assistance of a nurse to help them along with their daily needs. The nurses take the utmost care and give such great attention to these people that it is amazing. It certainly takes a special person to give such care.

The nursing profession really spreads far and wide in addition to both children and the elderly. Many people these days have a difficult time affording medical care and may only see a nurse at a clinic for their entire medical care. The sign of medical care for these people is the women or man wearing nursing scrubs to alert them. Many of times it is a nurse who finds a serious illness or disease that needs further attention and without the nurse this would have never been discovered.

Nurses are special because they have more time to spend with patients and often have more patience than doctors do - or it sometimes seems that way. Nurses have a special compassion for people and that is why they really seem to touch lives in a very special way. Nurses really make a difference regardless of the type of patient they serve.

Drug Abuse Health News

Concerns About Chlorine in Drinking Water

Most people are under the impression that the chlorine in drinking water is good for their health as it destroys the harmful bacteria and pathogens present in water. While it is true to a certain extent, it is not completely true.

Chlorine was considered the best option to get rid of the dangerous pathogens in drinking water until now. However, studies have shown that chlorinated water contains something called chloroform, which is a dangerous carcinogen. For those of you that do not have an idea of what a carcinogen is, let me explain. Carcinogens are cancer causing substances which enhance the activity of free radicals in your body and increase cell damage. Doesn't sound good, does it?

Surprised to read that? Well, save your surprise for this news then. Apart from chlorine, there are plenty of drugs found in drinking water. These are prescription drugs, which, needless to say, cannot do any good to your body when taken in this manner. According to various research conducted across the country, the tap water that you get contains more than 2000 toxic chemicals, most of which are capable of causing deadly diseases like cancer. This doesn't sound great either, does it?

Apparently, chlorine in drinking water is a slightly bigger problem than the drugs that are found in drinking water. The reason is simple. A lot of people are aware of the health risks involved in drinking water that is contaminated with drugs. But only very few people are actually aware of the fact that chloroform, a derivative of chlorine, is an equally dangerous substance.

The bad news is that the drugs found in drinking water are not the only type of contaminants present in water today. The tap water supplied across the country is found to have organic and inorganic compounds, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals among others.

The good news is that there is an easy way to get rid of all these contaminants from drinking water. An activated carbon block filter can easily get rid of not just the chlorine in drinking water, but many other contaminants present in it as well.

Activated carbon blocks are extremely effective and when combined with micron filtration and ion exchange, they can get rid of almost any type of contaminant present in water. And unlike reverse osmosis or point of use distillation units, activated carbon block filters do not destroy the essential minerals present in water. So, the water you get from these units is pure and healthy.

In summary, I need to say this - the chlorine, toxic chemicals, and the drugs found in drinking water can have adverse effects on your health and your family's health. The most economical way to avoid these contaminants is to get a good active carbon block filter today. Doing so will lead to better health and peace of mind.

Drug Abuse Health News

Five Tips For Combating Hair Loss

There are many causes of hair loss and many different types of treatments to combat this embarrassing condition. The primary cause is Male and Female Pattern Baldness which affects almost half of adult males and one quarter of adult women. This cause of hair loss is directly related to your genetic makeup, a change in your hair's supply of nutrition, levels of DHT, the amount of outside stress factors you encounter and your hygiene habits.

Hair Loss Basics

Your scalp is composed of three basic layers of skin. These are the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer. Within these three layers there are nerves, blood vessels, muscles, glands, and hair. Hair (called keratin) is supported by muscles surrounding the hair bulb (papilla) and shaft. This muscle tissue and the hair itself depends on blood flow in the vessels, which in turn requires oxygen and nutrients to assure the cells remain active and start new growth. As hair grows, the sebaceous gland secretes oil in the follicle which coats the hair to ensure a smooth hair shaft thus creating hair with a healthy luster and sheen. If fewer nutrients than are needed reach the papilla, hair cells reproduce at a much slower rate. This slower cellular activity produces thin, poor quality hair.

DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), causes up to 95% of all hair loss. DHT shrinks hair follicles by shortening the growth (anagen) phase and lengthening the resting (telogen) phase of your hair's growth. This causes the hair follicles to eventually die. This is visible as an increased number of short, thin, fine hairs on the scalp and therefore the increased appearance of thinning and eventually baldness. For healthy hair growth, DHT needs to be blocked before or once increased hair loss is visible. The interaction of DHT with the androgen receptors in scalp skin and hair follicles appears to cause male and female pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia).

Sebum is the accumulation of oil from the sebaceous glands. Sebum collects in the hair follicle and hardens, creating a sebum plug which hinders and eventually stops hair growth. This excess buildup, combined with existing thin, weak hairs causes increased reduction in hair growth and therefore the increased appearance of baldness.

Genetics plays a role as to how early in life you may notice the aging of your scalp's skin layers much as you may notice the changes in the skin on other parts of your body. All of us age at different rates, and it seems like there is little we can do to change this part of our hair loss equation.

The Five Basics to Slow or Prevent Hair Loss

The good news is, when we begin to notice thinning hair, there is still life in the hair follicle itself. This follicle's production can be improved by attending to the five main areas mentioned above.

1) Proper hair nutrition includes proper diet, exercise and hydration.

2) DHT blocking can be accomplished by stimulation of the cellular processes in the hair bulb. Low Level Laser Therapy is the most efficient and safe method available today for penetrating the scalp and utilizing this process of Photobiostimulation to stop hair loss.

3) Proper scalp cleansing and use of shampoos and conditioners which remove excess sebum without drying out the optimum amount needed for a healthy, shiny hair shaft.

4) Reduction or elimination of outside stress factors and taking the minimal amount of medications needed (other than those prescribed by your physician) will also give your hair the best chance for remaining vibrant.

5) The effects of genetics on our aging scalps can only be slowed by the use of all of the above information. Being pro-active about your scalp health ensures that you will enjoy a shiny, full head of hair for as long as possible.

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Tips For Helping You to Quit Nail Biting

Fingernail biting is a common problem and a difficult habit to break. When you bite your fingernails you expose yourself the many germs found on your hands. It is not only unsightly, but can also negatively affect your health. Biting of the nails often leads to biting of the cuticles, which can cause them to become infected. Finger nail biting is just when your nervous or bored. Anyway, before I was convinced to go to a hypnotist, I went into tons of online forums to try to find people like me who had tried everything else in the book to stop biting my fingernails, I found 9 minute nail biting cure which was recommended and worked for me.

Fingernail biting, cuticle picking, hair twirling and nose picking are also very common - and annoying - habits of childhood, developing between ages 3 and 6. This behavior may continue throughout middle childhood and perhaps longer. Fingernail biting can be triggered by many factors, but mainly nervousness and stress. Most often, people don't realize they're doing so.

Fingernail biting has been shown to respond well to certain types of medication. The medications used to treat the problem include the newest, most potent anti-depressants. Nail biting can also be a sign of mental or emotional disorder. The clinical name for finger nail biting is 'chronic onychophagia'. which can result in infection, for example, gums and finger infection. As the skin on the cuticle gets broken during nail-biting, it can bleed and becomes very susceptible to microbial and viral infections.

Fingernail biting is a habit, not a disease. It is most often associated with the stress factor. This does not mean that all people who have the habit of nail biting are mentally disturbed.There are other ways to quit nail biting rather than from medication or polishes, the 9 minute nail biting cure has been recommended by many people, tried and works, I know finger nail biting is a bad habit and embarrassing sometimes, I used to hate it when people would ask me if i chewed my nails, very uneasy situation.

allergies Pilss Drugs Online

Metabolic Dieting Secrets to Get That Body You've Always Wanted

Metabolic Secrets given from a Post Falls Personal Trainer

Did you know that dieting actually lowers your resting metabolic rate so it's more difficult to keep the weight off? Sounds crazy huh! It's not hard to see why dies aren't successful most of the time. This personal trainer tells you the truth.

Your resting metabolism drops from 2 to 10 calories a day for each pound you lose. You loose a higher percentage of muscle when you go on a crash diet. Increasing your aerobic and resistance exercises and decreasing your calories. This way you can loose the fat but build up the muscles in your body. If every day you ate 200 fewer calories and worked off 200 calories you could maintain or add muscle while you are losing body fat. Did you know that you can burn more calories by drinking the correct amount of water?

Drinking 8 to 12 8oz glasses of water a day offers a higher metabolic rate to people than those who only drink half that. Your body's metabolism depends on water so if you get dehydrated, you may be burning up to 2% fewer calories. The personal trainer says this is one more reason to keep drinking water throughout the day.

Will hot foods will raise your metabolism?

If you eat about 1 tablespoon of chopped red or green chile pepper it can temporarily raise your metabolism by 23%. Better get out the salsa, which is made with tomatoes. You can raise your metabolism and eat a heart healthy food that's an excellent source of lycopene.

Did you realize that lifting weights raises your metabolism more than a cardio workout will?

Your personal trainer will teach you that he best way to gain muscle is with resistance training.

When you've trained enough to add 3 pounds of muscle to your body, you can burn about 100 extra calories every day. Your body's lean muscle mass is not significantly increased by aerobic exercise. That's why this personal trainer tells you that lifting weights is a key factor when you are getting your body into shape. The best exercises are squats, push ups, and any exercise that uses both upper and lower body movements. These types of exercises work the largest muscles and use two-part movements and they will help you build more lean mass.

How can you experience the metabolic afterburn?

The harder your workout, the bigger the payoff. You can look forward to burning at least 10 % of the total calories used during the workout in the hour or so after you stopped exercising.

If you follow your personal trainer's advice and walk for 4 miles, which uses about 400 calories, you may burn an extra 40 calories in the next few hours if you add some jogging to your routine.

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Excessive Armpit Sweating - 3 Things You Need to Know

If you suffer from excessive armpit sweating you know how uncomfortable it can make you. People who have this form of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) are often embarrassed in public places and social situations. Hyperhidrosis can occur for many reasons, including glandular disorders, obesity, menopause, drug or alcohol addiction or side effects from prescription medication. No matter what the cause, you want to be able to manage this condition and reduce the problems associated with it.

Since sweating is a natural function that cools the body off, people who sweat excessively need more than most people to stay cool. In extreme cases you might even consider moving to a cooler climate. Wherever you live, though, you should always have layers of clothing that can be conveniently removed. You can also wear darker colors and material that better absorbs sweat. Make sure you have ways to cool off, even if you have to carry a battery operated fan with you to work. These steps may not stop excessive armpit sweating, but they can help to make it more manageable.

When you sweat excessively, you are losing fluids and these must be replaced. Make sure you always have water with you and stay hydrated .

1. Take A Close Look At Your Diet Eating a natural diet (if you are overweight), reducing calories and getting exercise will help your overall health. If you have a thyroid disorder, which often causes excessive sweating, you should seek foods that have iodine, such as sea kelp, healthy fish and other sea-based foods.
2. Supplements Might Be The Answer For You Some supplements that have proven effective in some cases include apple cider vinegar and sage. You should put a tablespoon of pure, unfiltered apple cider vinegar into a glass of water and drink two or three times per day. Sage can be consumed as a tea or in an extract or other herbal supplement.
3. Identify The Underlying Causes In some cases, you have to deal with excessive sweating by addressing the underlying cause . If you have a problem with obesity or alcohol, for example, this will have to be dealt with directly. If your problem is associated with a certain medication you are taking for another medical issue, you definitely should ask your doctor to have it changed.

These suggestions can help you deal with the problem of excessive armpit sweating. It is a challenging condition, but with persistence and the effort to pinpoint the cause, it can be successfully managed.

allergies Pilss Drugs Online

Want the Body of a Fitness Model? Here's How!

Picture this - You're walking in the mall and you spot out a short sexy little dress that you would just love to wear. You pick it out just hoping that it will fit. You enter into the dressing room, that little room that haunts you and always are used to leaving feeling defeated. But this time it's different. You close the drape. You slip the dress on, and it hugs your new hard firm feminine body on all the right curves. You take a real good look at yourself in the mirror and let out a sigh of relief and of victory! It didn't sink in till just this very moment, that you now have the body of your dreams, the body of a Fitness Model!

You can't believe it. You're a new women. Your body is tight and compact, yet with all the right key feminine muscles cut to perfection. Your shoulder caps are perfect, your arms defined and firm, your back strong, posture upright and confident, you have a chisilled waistline and abs of steel.

Your glutes look lifted, tight and toned. Your quads and hamstrings look like those of an athlete, muscular yet long and lean. And your calves are perfect and they pop every time you take a step. You just can't help but to smile with pride, joy and happiness knowing that you now have the body of a fitness model.

You are feeling so great and you are oozing with sexy confidence, you decide to go for it you decide to try on a bikini 'and Yep! You are definitely NOT dreaming!

Every where you go, where ever you are seen, you exud the new fresh healthy aura of one who has the body of a fitness model. As you head out to work or school... and realize that men are always staring at you. Little do they know that you are a mom, or a full time student, or a 9-5 business executive! And now you have a confidence that's elegant and sexy, as you are striding and strutting with purpose! They all think you have the look of a model because your body shows it!

Imagine, for the first time... being like the woman on those fitness and health magazine covers! The woman you always dreamed of becoming, but always thought impossible! You need to arm yourself NOW with the tools you need to... Create unbelievable feminine muscle definition! Command more respect!

Become more confident! Get noticed when you walk into a room! No more wasting time and energy in the gym! No more surfing the Internet for the "latest and greatest" routine or 'quick fix.' Shapely. Curvy. Healthy. You've got it all and you're loving it! Well it can be done, it's just one step away! You to can have the body of a fitness model when all you need is the right program. A program that can be done in the comfort of your own home with only 5 pieces of gym equipment.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Want-the-Body-of-a-Fitness-Model?-Heres-How!&id=1629928

Migraines Without Medications

Migraine headaches afflict millions of Americans, especially among people 20 to 45 years of age. Heredity may play a significant role in migraines, in particular when both parents have the problem.

A migraine is more than a bad headache: it is an acute, throbbing pain, usually on one side of your head. In addition, the pain, which may last several days, is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sounds.

Scientists are at a loss as to what really triggers migraine episodes. Foods, cigarette smoke, stress, or even the weather, are among many of the culprits.

Whatever the causes, migraines can be debilitating. Essentially, a migraine attack occurs when the blood vessels inside your brain constrict and then expand, and thus causing nerve endings, which transmit pain messages to your brain.

You can do something about your migraine headaches, instead of resorting to medications, which only suppress the symptoms without curing the causes. Remember, all pharmaceutical drugs are chemicals and may have long-term adverse effects on your health. Think twice before you take any prescription medications.

Prevention is better than cure. To prevent a migraine episode, you should first of all identify all possible migraine triggers. Keep a diary to help identify specific triggers.

Begin with pain-safe foods: brown rice; cooked green and colored vegetables (except tomatoes); cooked or dried fruits (except apples, bananas, and citrus fruits). Have these pain-safe foods for several weeks.

Then, slowly and gradually, add other food items to see how your body may react to them. Through the process of elimination, you will soon be able to determine your tolerance or lack of it for certain foods.

Common triggers are dairy products, eggs, chocolate, meat, corn, onions, tomatoes, apples, bananas, citrus fruits, nuts, peanuts, and wheat.

In addition, avoid soda beverages, caffeinated drinks (such as teas and coffees), and alcoholic beverages (especially red wine).

The above measures are effective in preventing migraines.

However, if you feel the first hint of an impending headache, you should abort it by taking immediate action. Stop whatever you are doing, and take a rest. Use your fingers to massage or press gently on the large blood vessel that you can feel in the temple area. This can provide temporary relief in about 40 percent of people suffering from migraines.

To treat the symptoms, use feverfew, which is an herbal plant used by ancient Greeks to treat fever and headaches. Feverfew is sold at all health food stores. Feverfew comes in capsules or in fresh leaves. This popular herb is safe (except with pregnant women or those with clotting disorders), with little or no side effects.

Ginger has been used for thousands of years in the Far East to treat headache-related symptomses. Include fresh ginger in your everyday diet.

Other vitamins and minerals for prevention include calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium.

Deal with migraines without medications.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Migraines-Without-Medications&id=1629493

Don't Get Sick During This Cold and Flu Season!

Just because it "tis the season" doesn't necessarily mean that you are damned to get sick! In this article, I will teach you some of the most powerful ways of protecting yourself from the assault of these pesky cold and flu viruses. Put these techniques and tools into action and save your sick days for when you are feeling better!

What you will learn:

Why colds and flu seem to strike during cold weather. (Hint: The cold doesn't cause cold!)

Why you should NOT get the flu vaccine.

What the New York Garbage Strike has to do with the flu.

A powerful herbal supplement that can safeguard you against the negative effects of stress.

The most important flu preventing supplement on the market (Hint: It costs pennies a day)

Why regular old vitamin C won't do and which form of vitamin C to choose!

My Top supplement picks for preventing the flu.

What you can do in the next 60 seconds that may dramatically improve your primary defenses and prevent cold and flu.

Today I am going to discuss cold and flu prevention, in the next couple weeks we are going to discuss cold and flu management.

I always like to start any discussion about cold and flu prevention by telling a story. As you know, it won't be long before the newspapers and every government health agency will begin pushing the theoretical benefits of the flu vaccine. They suggest practically everyone get vaccinated against this super villain that mysteriously rears its ugly head during the months of October through January and supposedly kills 10,000 people every year. Sure enough, people herd like "sheeple" to the local Wal-Mart where nurses poke away at people's arms and send them on their way with a sense of false security.

Is all of this true?

Does the influenza virus really take a nap through the spring and summer months only to wake up with the dastardly intention to make us all sick in October through January? Does it really kill 10,000 people every year? Is the flu vaccine really helpful?

The simple answer is "No" on all counts. The influenza virus does not take a nap, it does not kill 10,000 people every year and the flu vaccine is generally not helpful. We will talk about why the flu hits during these months in the paragraphs below. As to the 10,000 per year death rate, the CDC lumps flu and pneumonia into the same statistic, one that is quoted by newspapers all over the United States. What this means is that 10,000 people per year die from flu and pneumonia together and the majority of these people perish from pneumonia which is labeled as a "complication" of flu. In addition, those people who die are usually people who may be nearing death anyway. They include those with other illnesses, people with poor immune function, as well as morbid elderly people in nursing homes. If you are in this group, then you may need to worry about catching the flu and subsequently developing pneumonia. If you are not in this group then the flu will likely mean a few days of discomfort and a few days off from work. Not ideal, but a whole lot better than impending death!

The second question is, "does the flu vaccine work?" and the answer is "we don't know for sure" but probably NOT! Because the flu vaccine is a "best guess" medication, there is a bit of a gamble on whether or not we will vaccinate against the right bugs. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we get it wrong but you can rest assured that the cards are stacked against us.

Let me reiterate an important point, the influenza virus exists in the population year round while influenza (the flu) seems to rear its symptomatic little head during the months of October through January. Now, let me tell you a true story.

Bottom Line: The flu vaccine is a "best guess" medicine - meaning we can never say for sure that it will be beneficial. Recent research shows that there is little if any benefit to getting the annual flu vaccine. In addition, the flu vaccine contains a significant amount of mercury that can cause nerve and brain problems that may not show up until years later.

The New York Garbage Strike and the Flu

Years ago, garbage men and women went on strike in New York. Needless to say, it wasn't long before the trash piled up. The city looked like a wasteland with mountains of trash appearing on practically every corner. Shortly thereafter, the rats arrived. Big, fat, hairy rats took over the city, seemingly invading the city as though they had been patiently building an occupying force underneath the streets over the years, waiting for the day that the garbage people would go on strike. So, here is the question...

Did the rats bring the trash?

Of course not! The trash brought the rats, the rats were, in essence, a symptom of poor trash management. Now, let me challenge you with another question, would it be a successful course of action to try exterminating the rats? The answer again is "no" (they tried) because as long as there is trash on the streets then rats will come much faster than we can get rid of them. The solution is to get rid of the trash and the rats will go shortly thereafter! So how does this apply to the cold and flu? Simple, make your internal environment unwelcoming to the bugs and they will not be able to grow!

Stress: The Great Immune System Poison and What to do About It

Stress is perhaps one of the most important factors in health and is not given nearly the attention it deserves in a balanced lifestyle. When the body is under chronic stress, the immune system is virtually shut down. This opens the door for infections of all kinds. In October, the stress begins with the Halloween season which really lasts all through October. Candy appears on every desk and counter and parties start popping up everywhere. During Halloween, the stress monster is busy setting the stage for sickness. This season is culminated by a night of choking down huge quantities of sugar and artificial colors and flavors that would send a horse into diabetic shock. We know that sugar poisons the immune system and this may be a reason why the cold and flu season begins in October.

If you make it through the Halloween period without getting sick we are greeted at October's exit by the Thanksgiving season which again involves stuffing our faces with high sugar and high fat foods. Of course, we cannot ignore the other stress of Thanksgiving...in-laws! Then after we are fattened up like turkeys for the Thanksgiving season, in rolls the Christmas/Hanukkah season full of more stress and sugary treats. And finally, let's top off this triple layered stress season with the cherry on top...New Years. This is a party where we stay up all night and devour as much food and alcohol as humanly possible. Is it any wonder why the flu season peaks in January? So, there it is in a nutshell...could this be the reason why the colds and flu strike us between October and January? Maybe this isn't the whole story, but you can rest assured it certainly sets the table and invites the flu in for dinner!

I have a number of clients who appear to do everything right, they eat right, they exercise regularly, they don't smoke, etc. The only thing that they cannot seem to get a grasp on is the stress in their lives and they pay the price. Stress acidifies the system and poisons the immune system. It depletes the body of vital nutrients, kills the good bacteria in your gut, ruins digestion and fills your body with stress hormones that break down the muscles and organs. Sounds pretty terrible, in fact, if I told you that a food did all of these things I am sure that you would avoid that food like the plague. Now, I realize that you cannot always get away from the stress, however, you can learn to cope with stress in a different way and there are supplements that will help your body adapt to stress in a much healthier way. One such product is called Vital Adapt and it has been working wonders for many of our most stressed clients. Vital Adapt is an herbal liquid tincture that combines some of the most powerful adaptogens on the market. An adaptogen is an herbal complex that works at the biochemical level in the body to normalize the stress hormones and bring the body back into balance. This means that you will respond better, feel more focused, have a stronger immune system and sleep better at night even though you may have an excessive amount of stress in your life. The recommended dosage is 2 droppersful three times daily. You can increase the dose to 3 droppersful three times daily during heavy stress. To further support adrenal function, I would recommend 2 tablets daily of Desiccated Adrenal from Standard Process. If you enjoy a good book, I would recommend the book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. This book is one of my favorites on the subject of stress and worry.

Bottom Line: Stress poisons the immune system. To decrease the impact of stress on your life use the tools taught in the book "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie, use Vital Adapt herbal tincture daily (2 droppersful twice daily) along with Desiccated Adrenal (2 tablets daily) by Standard Process.

Now let's discuss products that will work to keep the rest of the body healthy during the cold and flu season. First, vitamin C plays an important role in keeping the white blood cells healthy (white blood cells contain more vitamin C than any other cell in the body). My recommendation has shifted in recent months from your classic ascorbic acid vitamin tablet to what is called Whole-food Vitamin C. Whole-food vitamin C is a product that combines plant sources of vitamin C standardized to a certain level of vitamin C complex. The formula I use myself is called Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company and each capsule contains at least 120 mg of true whole food vitamin C. So, why the shift and what's the difference? The term "vitamin C" and "ascorbic acid" are often used interchangeably, however, in nature vitamin C is much more complex than just a molecule of ascorbic acid. In fact, in nature, ascorbic acid is found in a matrix of bioflavonoids, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamin K factors, enzyme activators such as tyrosinase and other important cofactors that help the body absorb and utilize this precious nutrient. Ascorbic acid, in fact, acts as the protector of the vitamin C complex not as vitamin C itself, in a sense, ascorbic acid is the protective shell of the vitamin C complex. The result is a much more potent vitamin C that requires a lesser quantity to obtain an equal or better result when taken from food sourced nutrients. I recommend 2 capsules twice daily of Pure Radiance C during the cold and flu season. If you feel that you are getting sick, increase the dose to 2 capsules four times daily.

The Most Important Flu-Preventing Supplement on the Market

Starting in October, sun exposure drops significantly which depletes vitamin D levels. The levels are likely at their lowest near the end of December. Vitamin D is most popular for its role in keeping bones strong, however, a lesser known role of vitamin D is in the immune system. When vitamin D levels are low your risk of infection increases significantly! It is thus recommended that most people get at least 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 on a daily basis. I would recommend that people have their doctors order a blood test to check for 25-OH Vitamin D in order to determine if more or less vitamin D is needed. This considerable drop in vitamin D during these cold and flu months may be a significant cause to the higher rate of viral infection and recent research confirms this link. One paper published in a recent issue of Journal of Hygiene suggests that the vitamin D/influenza connection explains the following observations:

1. Flu rates are highest after the winter solstice and virtually disappear after the summer solstice

2. Children who are exposed to sunlight have lower incidence of influenza

3. Influenza is most common in peoples of the tropics during the rainy season

4. The colder the temperature outside the higher the rate of influenza infection

5. The elderly who live in areas of highest vitamin D intake are less likely to die in the winter

6. Why cod liver oil (a source of vitamin D) protects against respiratory infection

7. Why African Americans are more likely to die of influenza and pneumonia than Caucasians. (African Americans produce less vitamin D due to the higher pigment in skin)

Top Supplements for Preventing the Cold and Flu

There are three specialty supplements that can be added to your arsenal of cold and flu fighting tools. They are especially good for prevention of cold and flu. The first is a homeopathic flu vaccine called Influenzinum. This homeopathic product uses the flu vaccine to make an extremely dilute formula which can convey all of the benefits of the vaccine with none of the potential side effects. By gently nudging the immune system into action against the flu virus, Influenzinum keeps the body's defenses mobilized. We have used this formula for many years and have received a lot of positive feedback regarding its efficacy.

The second product we recommend is some sort of herbal complex that acts as a natural anti-viral. One such product, which is available through many different brands, is elderberry extract. Elderberry is a very old remedy for all kinds of viral infections especially cold and flu. Certain compounds found in this herb surround the virus with a cage-like structure that prevents the virus from being able to invade the cell. These viruses then become inactivated and cleared by the natural immune reaction. You will find elderberry syrups in the health food store and 1 tablespoon twice daily is a great preventative. There are capsules and tablets available as well, try to find a formula that is concentrated.

The final product category that I recommend is a formula to support immune function. For preventative purposes I recommend a formula that contains herbs such as astragalus, andrographis or Echinacea or medicinal mushrooms such as maitake or shitake.

How to Shore Up Your Primary Defenses in the Next 60 Seconds

Your mucous membranes make up your primary defenses against invading organisms. These mucous secretions contain many different defense factors that bind to and inactivate viruses and bacteria that are trying to sneak in through the nose, mouth or eyes. Unfortunately, these mucous membranes are the first to dry up when the body is not saturated with plenty of water. Hardly anyone drinks enough water in our society and this damages our primary defenses. To add insult to injury, we turn on the heaters in our home that fill the air with dry heat which further inhibits proper mucous flow.The one thing that you can do in the next 60 seconds to significantly improve your primary defenses is drink a couple glasses of water and keep sipping at it throughout the day!

The bottom line is that cold and flu is optional this season! There are many things that we can do to promote health and ward off disease. By eating healthy, exercising, controlling stress and supplementing properly it is entirely possible to get through this season without using even one sick day! Sometimes, I will admit, our lives can get away from us and before we know it a cold or flu has snuck into our bodies and we find the sniffles creeping in. The next newsletter will speak to the treatment of cold and flu so stay tuned!

Final Conclusions:

The flu is not as dangerous as the press and the medical community make you think.

The flu vaccine is not nearly as effective as you are led to believe and may even cause significant side effects.

How healthy you are, your internal terrain, determines your risk of cold or flu. The bug (virus or bacteria) is the least of your worries. They cannot thrive in a healthy system.

Control stress because stress is a potent poison to the immune system. If stress is a big problem, read the book "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie.

Vital Adapt is a potent herbal formula that helps the body adapt to stress. This formula helps to keep the immune system strong during stressful times. 2 droppersful twice daily along with 2 tablets of Desiccated Adrenal by Standard Process.

Use only whole food vitamin C such as Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company. Two capsules two to three times daily.

For further protection use an elderberry extract to add an additional level of defense against viruses.

Use herbs such as Echinacea, astragalus, andrographis complex to stimulate immune function.

Drink plenty of water to keep your mucous membranes healthy, these membranes are your primary defenses against offending organisms.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Dont-Get-Sick-During-This-Cold-and-Flu-Season!&id=967306