The following outline need not only apply to flu season. The best medicine is prevention! Full-time prevention!

Right now, it seems like I can’t go anywhere without seeing some kind of advertisement for FLU SHOTS.

I thought I could escape from the brainwashing of the medical community and pharmaceutical companies by avoiding the TV.

Apparently not.

So, since “flu season” is beginning, am I supposed to freak out and get a flu shot? Pretty much…Fear always motivates people to do things.

Oh, they also forgot to tell you that you have a 50/50 chance of getting the flu even if you’ve been jabbed in the arm with the vaccine.

Enough of my ranting…

Allow Your Body To Fight Off Influenza On Its Own!

1. Refill With H2O: Did you know your body needs plenty of water to flush out toxins that compromise your immune system? While you sleep, your body builds up toxins in the digestive tract. To naturally flush out these toxins, you must start your day with a glass of water to rehydrate the body. This improves immune system function and allows your body to operate at its highest potential.
2. Sleep…zZz…: A great night’ s sleep is like a reset button for your whole body. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can make you more likely to become sick because of an overgrowth of bacteria in the body. When we are fighting a sickness, our body naturally promotes sleep. So why not boost your immune system in the first place by getting adequate rest?
3. Pro-Biotic It: “Probiotic” means “A microbe that protects its host and prevents disease.” When you supplement your diet with probiotics, you increase the flora of “good” bacteria in your gut. Did you know the digestive system is where most of your natural immunties “hang out?” If a person has a poor digestive system due to an inadequate, non-nutritious diet, they are very likely to have recurring sickness. Their body’s defense mechanism (immune system) to sickness can never get the proper armor up because that armor is essentially nutrients. Probiotics get that armor up. Learn more in the post Probiotics: Are They Good For Our Kids?
4. Get Some Sun: Did you know the best way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D is to get out into the sun for a few minutes? The skin produces Vitamin D when it is exposed to a certain amount of sunlight radiation. Vitamin D blood levels are at their highest in the summer but reach their lowest levels during the flu and cold season (winter). When you can’t get out, or if it’s the dead of winter, load up on fish which is high in vitamin D. There are supplements out there, but do your research before buying.
5. Exercise…even if it’s just a little: Do your best to get your heart rate up with aerobic exercise for 20-30 minutes a day. Go for a light walk with the dog and baby. Run up and down the stairs a few times. Have sex! Do something!
   
   ]]> http://koalamom.com/249/flu_season_and_vaccines/feed/ 1 http://koalamom.com/86/probiotics_and_kids/ http://koalamom.com/86/probiotics_and_kids/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:44:07 +0000 Olivia http://koalamom.com/?p=86

   Did you know your digestive tract is teeming with bacteria? Good bacteria, that is.

   Probiotic is the term used to describe the billions of “friendly” live bacteria located in the intestinal tract. We are first exposed to bacteria when we are born and during infancy. The birth canal is full of

   ]]> http://koalamom.com/86/probiotics_and_kids/feed/ 1 http://koalamom.com/62/kids_bodies/ http://koalamom.com/62/kids_bodies/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:33:03 +0000 Olivia http://koalamom.com/?p=62

   

   Since I have had my son, I am extra conscious of what I put into my body and what goes into his.

   Convenience and price has led many people to accept products that are very bad for their health. Food products are full of preservatives and empty calories, with no nutritional value. Or, body products contain known skin irritants that are used to test for allergic reactions in a medical setting. Many mothers blindly put faith in doctors and children’s companies…trusting that these people have their child’s best interest at heart.

   However, this is not the case. Chemicals we can’t even pronounce are in our foods and body products.

   Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is one of the first ingredients in many conventional body washes, shampoos. and detergents. These substances are included in the products in order for them to foam up. Unbeknownst to many, these chemicals cannot be metabolized by the liver, are known skin irritants, and can lead to eye damage in children. Many other harmful effects are reported about these chemicals.

   At my baby shower, I was given Johnson’s

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