Author: abbykurth0987

Having trouble sticking to your healthy habits? This video will give you insights into your personality and tricks to help make healthy habits last.

I am glad my kids are older and I don’t need to make a decision about schooling. Here is some information that may help parents feel confident about protecting their children.

https://www.emersonecologics.com/blog/post/supporting-kids-immunity

This really is the best lentil salad ever. The spices and the raisins made it very yummy and the ingredients made it healthy. Copied from mynewroots.blogspot.com

The Best Lentil Salad, Ever
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups (1 lb.) Du Puy lentils
1 medium red onion, diced
1 cup dried currants (you could also use raisins or other dried fruit)
1/3 cup capers

Vinaigrette: 
1/3 cup cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 Tbsp. strong mustard
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

Optional add-ins:
Arugula
Walnuts
Goat cheese
Fresh herbs: flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, basil
Sprouts
Crispy seasonal veggies 

Directions:
1. Rinse lentils well, drain. Place in a pot and cover with a 3-4 inches of water, bring to a boil, reduce to simmer. Check lentils for doneness after 15 minutes, but they should take about 20 minutes in total. You will know they are cooked if they still retain a slight tooth – al dente! Overcooking the lentils is the death of this dish. Be careful!
2. While the lentils are simmering, make the dressing by placing all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake vigorously to combine.
3. Finely dice red onion – the salad is best if all the ingredients are about the same size. If using raisins, chop them roughly to make them a bit smaller, and do the same with the capers if they are large. 
4. When the lentils are cooked, remove from heat, drain and place under cold running water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled slightly but still a little warm, place lentils in a large serving bowl and toss with dressing. Add other onion, capers, and currants. If using other add-ins such as herbs, greens, or cheese, wait until just before serving. Otherwise, this salad can hang out in the fridge for a couple days.

I’m sharing this article because it really is vital for people to understand how much what they eat impacts their health.

https://www.emersonecologics.com/blog/post/how-gut-health-affects-the-entire-body

Abby Kurth, MPH, MS, CCN, Clinical Nutritionist + Wellness Coach, abbykurth@sbcglobal.net

The thyroid is a tiny little gland that has us by the throat – literally and figuratively.  This gland, located on the front part of the throat, impacts every cell in the body to regulate metabolism, and so impacts our energy and wellbeing every day.  Many people I work with don’t realize they have thyroid issues, while others are taking medication, but getting no or short term results.  Clearly, successful therapy is going to require finding the real reason behind poor thyroid function.

Primary hypothyroidism comes about when the thyroid produces less hormone due to aging, stress, thyroid gland destruction from autoimmune assault, or nutritional deficiency.  The nutrients iodine and tyrosine are required to make thyroid hormone.

When Functional Hypothyroidism is the issue, the good news is that the thyroid can make enough of the hormone T4.  The bad news is that the body cannot convert the T4 to the T3 hormone that is active in the body.  This is the person for whom basic thyroid tests may be normal, but they have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.   Liver health and having enough of the nutrients selenium and zinc, which help the conversion is important.  It is also imperative to have normal levels of the adrenal hormone cortisol, which can become too high during stress or too low after a period of chronic stress.  There are proteins that may bind the thyroid hormone and they are increased if estrogen is too high or as a result of some medications.  Thyroid medication is one that can stimulate more binding protein and this is why some people may feel better the first month on thyroid medication, but the results don’t last.

The third scenario for our thyroid is Functional Hypometabolism.  This is where the hormone levels are adequate, but not getting into our cells .  Cells have receptor sites on their surface that allow hormones to enter and then the hormone is transported to the part of the cell where it is utilized.  High cortisol from stress can again inhibit these activities, and so adrenal gland support is often indicated when trying to help the thyroid.  Nutrient deficiencies of iron and vitamin D affect the receptors, as do autoimmune antibodies. 

If we aren’t always getting the right answer to what is happening with the thyroid, we may not be asking the right question.  A usual test of thyroid function is the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate thyroid production.  Unfortunately this may not tell the whole story of poor thyroid conversion or cell receptivity.  Complete testing of the thyroid would include TSH, free T4 (hormone not bound to proteins), free T3,  as well as Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase (the enzyme that helps thyroid conversion), and Anti-TG Antibodies to look for autoimmune issues impacting the thyroid.

Here are the slides from a recent presentation I gave on preventing COVID-19. It’s still a needed topic so I’ll share these with whomever is interested. Stay safe out there!

Moving away from unhealthy foods is one strategy to move from “Sick and Tired, to Healthy and Inspired”, and prevent lifestyle related diseases. This video gives tips for taming your taste buds, and a free handout is available by completing the information at the bottom of the page. I have seen many people overcome their cravings using the strategies presented.

This was the headline in a recent newspaper article and, of course, it got my attention.  Exercise has so many benefits and this is a timely benefit in the age of COVID.

Researcher Zhen Yan, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Virginia, noted in the article that the cause of death for 3-17% of patients with SARS-CoV-2 is an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This is when the immune system floods the lungs with fluid and cells in an attempt to rid the body of the virus.  

Yan has found that exercise promotes production of an antioxidant called extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD).  Like it’s name, SOD is truly a super hero at targeting organs and decreasing the damage caused by free radicals in lung tissue.  

Yan did not give information on the amount of exercise needed to create this benefit, but the word “regular” was used in relation to exercise.  My book, “Sick and Tired, to Healthy and Inspired: 9 Steps to Prevent Lifestyle Related Diseases” lists exercise recommendations and provides hints for how to make regular exercise a habit.  I’m love seeing how many people and families have taken up walking and biking these last few months so ‘keep on truck’n’ America!

As new information comes in, I am adding to my list of recommendations for staying healthy.  Because COVID-19 is so new, there has been no research done on nutrients that may be beneficial to prevent or improve symptoms.  However, healthy foods have research to prove their use in many other types of diseases.  So, no harm in “letting food be your medicine, and your medicine be food” to paraphrase Hippocrates. 

The latest evidence is mounting that blood clotting is an issue behind the severe effects of COVID-19 syndrome.  A recent article in Science Daily stated that,  “Imaging and pathological investigations confirmed the COVID-19 syndrome is a thrombo-inflammatory process that initially affects lung perfusion, but consecutively affects all organs of the body.”   

Clots form when small disk-shaped cell fragments called platelets stick to the blood vessel walls and each other.  This plug is enhanced by long strands of fibrin.  In COVID-19, these plugs prevent the lungs from oxygenating the blood.

There are a few foods you can add to your diet that help keep the blood “thin”, but won’t affect normal blood clotting which is needed when you cut yourself.  Caution is given to people who are already on prescription blood thinners to not increase these foods beyond their usual intake without talking to their health practitioner. As stated before, these foods have been researched for other conditions, but not COVID-19.  

Garlic.  

Fortunately with social distancing garlic breath should not be an issue.

Per Dr. Michael Greget  “the protective mechanisms of garlic against cardiovascular diseases are multiple, and include a combination of anti-clotting, clot-busting, antioxidant, and blood pressure- and cholesterol-lowering effects. Dr. Greget recommends to eat garlic raw or crush the garlic and wait ten minutes before cooking to preserve the active ingredient, allin.  Dosages generally recommended in the literature for adults are 4 g (one to two cloves) of raw garlic per day – crush the garlic and wait 10 minutes to get the highest allin content.  Otherwise, one 300-mg dried garlic powder tablet (standardized to 1.3 percent alliin or 0.6 percent allicin yield) two to three times per day, or 7.2 g of aged garlic extract per day can provide benefit. 

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice used in curry that reduces inflammation and is a natural anticoagulant and anti-platelet aggregator.  Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric that inhibits the development of blood clots.  Turmeric has relatively no known side effects, unless taken in extremely large amounts. Per the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives, an acceptable dietary intake is considered to be 1.4 mg per pound of body weight per day. So, if you weigh 150 lbs. that would equal 210 mg per day.

Vitamin E Foods

Vitamin E is an anticoagulant that is helpful against stroke, an issue caused by blood clots.   Vitamin E-rich foods include almonds, hazelnuts, avocado, butternut squash, mango, sunflower seeds, broccoli, spinach, kiwi, and tomato and 2-3 of these should be eaten daily.  A supplement would ideally be listed as d-alpha-tocopherol plus mixed tocopherols to get the active natural form (instead of the synthetic form “dl-alpha-tocopherol).  An average dose for an adult is 400 iu daily. 

Omega-3 Fats

Fish and fish oils are frequently recommended for preventing heart disease and though the cholesterol clots (placque) are a bit of a different issue, the anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting effects have been well researched.  Omega-3 fatty acids can help keep platelets from clumping together.  Food sources with the highest amount of omega-3 fats are mackerel, salmon, cod liver oil, herring oysters, sardines,  and anchovies. 

I continue to offer a 25% discount on supplements during COVID-19 at wellevate.me/abby-wilson-kurth

I have been gathering the recommendations of doctors, pharmacists, and experts in the nutrition field to see what nutrients/herbs most experts are suggesting to prevent COVID-19.  I have a recommended protocol  available for 25% discount at wellevate.me/abby-wilson-kurth, but some products may be out of stock due to high demand, so this guide will help to find products with similar ingredients.  

Instructions for how to take these supplements are available for those who register on the Wellevate site (wellevate.me/abby-wilson-kurth).  You can read previous articles at abbykurthnutrition.coach.  

1. Aller C  (Vitamin C with Quercitin)
2. Complivir – (Vitamins A and C, zinc, monolaurin, andrographis, elderberry, astragalus, olive, ginger)
3. Herbal Biotic – (Berberine, forsythia, loncinera, garlic, myrrh) 
4. Immune Health Basics – ( Beta-glucans)
5. Pro-Influenza (Homeopathic)

STRENGTHENING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

We’ve been hearing the term “immune compromised” lately in relation to the COVID-19 virus.  Compromise means ‘to accept standards that are lower than desirable’, but I don’t think we need to compromise by accepting a weakened immune system – there are ways to strengthen our defenses against viruses and other microbes. My way of helping at this time is to offer some information that might support people to prevent the COVID-19 virus. 

Excerpts from an article by Biotics Research indicate that the immune system is defined as a complex network of cells, tissues, organs and the substances they make (cytokines, antibodies, etc.) that help the body fight infections and other diseases.  This network includes white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system, such as the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, lymph vessels and bone marrow. 

What is a Strong Immune System?

A strong immune system has both powerful adaptive (respond to a specific pathogen) and innate immunity (physical, chemical and cellular defenses against pathogens); both work together to protect the self from foreign invaders. Living a healthy lifestyle boosts the immune system in many ways. Typically people between the ages of 10 and 50 will have stronger immune systems when compared with infants and the elderly. Other factors that contribute to having a strong immune system include lower stress and getting a good night’s sleep.

Can the immune system be too strong?  Dr. Kendall Stewart postulates that people who mount an extremely strong immune response may often be of European extraction and are the offspring of ancestors who survived the Bubonic Plague in the mid-1300’s due to this overly active immune response.  Prescription low dose Naltrexone is helpful, but natural anti-inflammatory products like Tumeric, Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin C and Quercitin also help calm the immune over-reaction. 

The good news of the overly active immune response was noted in one study where elderly people who had high levels of self-reactive antibodies (capable of fighting their own tissue) lived longer.  The downside was that they were more likely to have autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.  Another downside is that the fatal complications from COVID-19 are often the result of ‘cytokine storm’, where the immune system runs amok without brakes and/or a chance for the body to clear out the weapons created by the immune system (white blood cells, cytokines).  

Substances that strengthen immunity and/or healthy lifestyle habits won’t make the immune system even more reactive, but rather will bring it into balance.  Normally immune systems that fight themselves are due to genetic factors in the innate immune system, but we can influence how genes are expressed with lifestyle choices and nutrition.  

Weak Immune System 

An immune system might be considered “weak” due to a person’s age, if someone is health-compromised from a medical issue, poor lifestyle (alcohol, lack of exercise, poor diet), or if taking medication that lowers the immune response. Pharmacist and Certified Clinical Nutritionist Lisa Everett Andersen writes that coronaviruses use the ACE2 enzyme to “adhere to the targeted lung cells causing…excess mucus” and more.  “Some drugs raise circulating levels of ACE2. These include ibuprofen, ACE inhibitors (i.e. lisinopril), and angiotensin II type-I receptor blockers (ARBs), (i.e. Valsartan).”

A blood test can determine how well an immune system is functioning by looking at levels of immunoglobulins, for example, which are proteins that fight infection. The test will also compare your levels of white blood cells and red blood cells to detect any possible weakness in your immune system.

Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System 

   1. Exercise.   In a year-long study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers found that walking for half an hour a day can cut your chances of getting a cold in half, but let your body rest and repair if you do get sick.  

  2. Immune System Boosting Foods.  The foods that we eat impact our health greatly.  Best foods are: 

• Bell Pepper
• Dark Chocolate
• Turmeric (curry)
• Oily fish
• Broccoli (especially broccoli sprouts)
• Sweet Potato
• Spinach
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Blueberries
• Foods listed in a previous article (raw garlic, coconut oil, oregano, kimchi, fermented foods, walnut, pomegranate, green tea, apple cider vinegar, and mushrooms (shiitake, reishi, cordyceps, and turkeytail). 

3.  Avoid immune depleting foods.   Studies have shown that ingesting about 20 teaspoons of sugar (the amount that is contained in two average 12-ounce sodas) caused a fifty- percent drop in the ability of white blood cells to engulf bacteria. The immune suppression was most noticeable two hours after eating, but the effect was still evident five hours after.  

4.  Nutrients to Boost the Immune System

1. Vitamin A – is used throughout the body, especially the lungs,  and promotes a healthy immune system. 20,000 – 30,000 IU daily. Sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, algae, and cod liver oil.
2. Vitamin C – can help support cellular functions needed by the immune system,  especially waste removal from the body. Sources of vitamin C include oranges, orange juice, broccoli, tomatoes, kiwi fruit, and red bell peppers.  3,000 mg per day for prevention.  One source recommends 1,000 mg for ever hour awake if infected by the virus. 
3. Vitamin D – 10,000 daily to prevent.  One source recommends 20,000 iu per day for 5 days if infected.  Powers up your cells and gives them the ability to fight disease. Vitamin D should come from sunlight and fortified foods, but supplements are advised during the winter months. 
4. Zinc – 20 mg/day for prevention.  Plays a central role in the immune system, including protection against pathogens. Zinc is also an antioxidant that can help balance cells. Sources of zinc include seafood, chickpeas, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
5. Probiotics — Two strains called Lactobacillus delbrueckii LE and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LB3 work synergistically in combination to support otolaryngeal health and overall immunity.

5.  Herbs and Phytonutrients  These are the herbs I’m seeing most often recommended in a COVID-19 prevention plan. 

1. Monolaurin – is derived from coconut oil and in research it seems to disintegrate the protective viral envelope, killing the virus, and in other studies it prevented the virus from attaching to its host (which is us).  
2. Andrographis – is an herb also known as “Indian echinacea” and thought to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. 
3. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra).  Neurobiologix has indicated in an article that Black Elderberry is best thought of as a preventative and not a treatment for flu.  Elderberry does raise the compounds of the immune system that create a “cytokine storm”, but not to any significant degree. 
4. Astragalus – Astragalus contains anti-oxidants and “also supports deep immune function by promoting normal levels of specific immune cells and aids in their function” (Gaia Herbs). 
5. Forsythia/Loncinera are often used in formulas together.  It promotes a healthy immune system , supports the respiratory system and benefits throat health.  Generally work best at the first sign of illness before it has settled in. 
6. Garlic – Allicin exists only in raw garlic and works inside the body by promoting the ability of white blood cells to fight infections, and by stimulating other immune cells which fight viral and bacterial infections.
7. Bioflavinoids – Bioflavonoids are found in citrus fruits, green peppers, lemons, limes, oranges, cherries, and grapes. Quercetin is a highly concentrated form of bioflavonoids found in broccoli, citrus fruits, and red and yellow onions.  Bioflavinoids have been studied in viruses and I find Quercitin immensely helpful with allergies.  
8. Beta-glucans – A study on the National Institutes of Health site found that “dietary glucans can significantly reduce the effects of influenza infection.”

If infected Pharmacist and Certified Clinical Nutritionist Tom Schnorr recommends alternating Tylenol and aspirin 2 tables every 2 hours for a fever over 102 degrees.  Sources note that a fever up to 102 degrees is the immune system doing it’s job and should not be an issue for most people. 

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (IMMUNE SYSTEM)  COVID Coverage Continued

I have been gathering the recommendations of doctors, pharmacists, and experts in the nutrition field to see what nutrients/herbs most experts are suggesting to prevent COVID-19.  I have a recommended protocol  available for 25% discount at wellevate.me/abby-wilson-kurth, but some products may be out of stock due to high demand, so this guide will help to find products with similar ingredients.  

Instructions for how to take these supplements are available for those who register on the Wellevate site (wellevate.me/abby-wilson-kurth).  You can read previous articles at abbykurthnutrition.coach.  

1. Aller C  (Vitamin C with Quercitin)
2. Complivir – (Vitamins A and C, zinc, monolaurin, andrographis, elderberry, astragalus, olive, ginger)
3. Herbal Biotic – (Berberine, forsythia, loncinera, garlic, myrrh) 
4. Immune Health Basics – ( Beta-glucans)
5. Pro-Influenza (Homeopathic)

STRENGTHENING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

We’ve been hearing the term “immune compromised” lately in relation to the COVID-19 virus.  Compromise means ‘to accept standards that are lower than desirable’, but I don’t think we need to compromise by accepting a weakened immune system – there are ways to strengthen our defenses against viruses and other microbes. My way of helping at this time is to offer some information that might support people to prevent the COVID-19 virus. 

Excerpts from an article by Biotics Research indicate that the immune system is defined as a complex network of cells, tissues, organs and the substances they make (cytokines, antibodies, etc.) that help the body fight infections and other diseases.  This network includes white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system, such as the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, lymph vessels and bone marrow. 

What is a Strong Immune System?

A strong immune system has both powerful adaptive (respond to a specific pathogen) and innate immunity (physical, chemical and cellular defenses against pathogens); both work together to protect the self from foreign invaders. Living a healthy lifestyle boosts the immune system in many ways. Typically people between the ages of 10 and 50 will have stronger immune systems when compared with infants and the elderly. Other factors that contribute to having a strong immune system include lower stress and getting a good night’s sleep.

Can the immune system be too strong?  Dr. Kendall Stewart postulates that people who mount an extremely strong immune response may often be of European extraction and are the offspring of ancestors who survived the Bubonic Plague in the mid-1300’s due to this overly active immune response.  Prescription low dose Naltrexone is helpful, but natural anti-inflammatory products like Tumeric, Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin C and Quercitin also help calm the immune over-reaction. 

The good news of the overly active immune response was noted in one study where elderly people who had high levels of self-reactive antibodies (capable of fighting their own tissue) lived longer.  The downside was that they were more likely to have autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.  Another downside is that the fatal complications from COVID-19 are often the result of ‘cytokine storm’, where the immune system runs amok without brakes and/or a chance for the body to clear out the weapons created by the immune system (white blood cells, cytokines).  

Substances that strengthen immunity and/or healthy lifestyle habits won’t make the immune system even more reactive, but rather will bring it into balance.  Normally immune systems that fight themselves are due to genetic factors in the innate immune system, but we can influence how genes are expressed with lifestyle choices and nutrition.  

Weak Immune System 

An immune system might be considered “weak” due to a person’s age, if someone is health-compromised from a medical issue, poor lifestyle (alcohol, lack of exercise, poor diet), or if taking medication that lowers the immune response. Pharmacist and Certified Clinical Nutritionist Lisa Everett Andersen writes that coronaviruses use the ACE2 enzyme to “adhere to the targeted lung cells causing…excess mucus” and more.  “Some drugs raise circulating levels of ACE2. These include ibuprofen, ACE inhibitors (i.e. lisinopril), and angiotensin II type-I receptor blockers (ARBs), (i.e. Valsartan).”

A blood test can determine how well an immune system is functioning by looking at levels of immunoglobulins, for example, which are proteins that fight infection. The test will also compare your levels of white blood cells and red blood cells to detect any possible weakness in your immune system.

Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System 

   1. Exercise.   In a year-long study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers found that walking for half an hour a day can cut your chances of getting a cold in half, but let your body rest and repair if you do get sick.  

  2. Immune System Boosting Foods.  The foods that we eat impact our health greatly.  Best foods are: 

• Bell Pepper
• Dark Chocolate
• Turmeric (curry)
• Oily fish
• Broccoli (especially broccoli sprouts)
• Sweet Potato
• Spinach
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Blueberries
• Foods listed in a previous article (raw garlic, coconut oil, oregano, kimchi, fermented foods, walnut, pomegranate, green tea, apple cider vinegar, and mushrooms (shiitake, reishi, cordyceps, and turkeytail). 

3.  Avoid immune depleting foods.   Studies have shown that ingesting about 20 teaspoons of sugar (the amount that is contained in two average 12-ounce sodas) caused a fifty- percent drop in the ability of white blood cells to engulf bacteria. The immune suppression was most noticeable two hours after eating, but the effect was still evident five hours after.  

4.  Nutrients to Boost the Immune System

1. Vitamin A – is used throughout the body, especially the lungs,  and promotes a healthy immune system. 20,000 – 30,000 IU daily. Sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, algae, and cod liver oil.
2. Vitamin C – can help support cellular functions needed by the immune system,  especially waste removal from the body. Sources of vitamin C include oranges, orange juice, broccoli, tomatoes, kiwi fruit, and red bell peppers.  3,000 mg per day for prevention.  One source recommends 1,000 mg for ever hour awake if infected by the virus. 
3. Vitamin D – 10,000 daily to prevent.  One source recommends 20,000 iu per day for 5 days if infected.  Powers up your cells and gives them the ability to fight disease. Vitamin D should come from sunlight and fortified foods, but supplements are advised during the winter months. 
4. Zinc – 20 mg/day for prevention.  Plays a central role in the immune system, including protection against pathogens. Zinc is also an antioxidant that can help balance cells. Sources of zinc include seafood, chickpeas, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
5. Probiotics — Two strains called Lactobacillus delbrueckii LE and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LB3 work synergistically in combination to support otolaryngeal health and overall immunity.

5.  Herbs and Phytonutrients  These are the herbs I’m seeing most often recommended in a COVID-19 prevention plan. 

1. Monolaurin – is derived from coconut oil and in research it seems to disintegrate the protective viral envelope, killing the virus, and in other studies it prevented the virus from attaching to its host (which is us).  
2. Andrographis – is an herb also known as “Indian echinacea” and thought to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. 
3. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra).  Neurobiologix has indicated in an article that Black Elderberry is best thought of as a preventative and not a treatment for flu.  Elderberry does raise the compounds of the immune system that create a “cytokine storm”, but not to any significant degree. 
4. Astragalus – Astragalus contains anti-oxidants and “also supports deep immune function by promoting normal levels of specific immune cells and aids in their function” (Gaia Herbs). 
5. Forsythia/Loncinera are often used in formulas together.  It promotes a healthy immune system , supports the respiratory system and benefits throat health.  Generally work best at the first sign of illness before it has settled in. 
6. Garlic – Allicin exists only in raw garlic and works inside the body by promoting the ability of white blood cells to fight infections, and by stimulating other immune cells which fight viral and bacterial infections.
7. Bioflavinoids – Bioflavonoids are found in citrus fruits, green peppers, lemons, limes, oranges, cherries, and grapes. Quercetin is a highly concentrated form of bioflavonoids found in broccoli, citrus fruits, and red and yellow onions.  Bioflavinoids have been studied in viruses and I find Quercitin immensely helpful with allergies.  
8. Beta-glucans – A study on the National Institutes of Health site found that “dietary glucans can significantly reduce the effects of influenza infection.”

If infected Pharmacist and Certified Clinical Nutritionist Tom Schnorr recommends alternating Tylenol and aspirin 2 tables every 2 hours for a fever over 102 degrees.  Sources note that a fever up to 102 degrees is the immune system doing it’s job and should not be an issue for most people. 

Hope this gives you some weapons to defend yourselves and leave you healthy enough to sing  Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” at the top of your lungs.  

Hope this gives you some weapons to defend yourselves and leave you healthy enough to sing  Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” at the top of your lungs.