AS South Africa enters the winter months and flu season with an already compromised health environment, internationally renowned nutritionist and award-winning author Patrick Holford warns that it has never been more important to support your immune system.
Between 6 000 and 11 000 South Africans die from the common flu every year, according to the Department of Health, of which half of those are the elderly (65 years and older).
Hospitalisation rates are also high with people infected with HIV, those with chronic illnesses, children under five years old and pregnant women.
Holford’s new book, Flu Fighters: how to win the cold war by boosting your natural immunity with non-toxic nutrients, follows 40 other international best-sellers and is available in South African bookstores.
Drawing on the latest independent international research, Flu Fighters offers a comprehensive guide to supporting the immune system with nutrition, as well as a collection of delicious immune-supporting recipes using simple ingredients.
Following recent numerous independent trial research studies conducted in China, Italy and the US on the effectiveness of vitamin C, vitamin D, antioxidants and zinc on respiratory distress, and based on his 35 years of research with the world’s leading universities, research institutions, hospitals and laboratories on the topic of the benefits of optimum nutrition on a range of health topics, Holford is advising people to protect themselves from the inside by building a healthy immune system.
“Just as you wear protective masks and gloves, you need to protect yourself on the inside,” said Holford.
“While the conventional view has been that vitamin C won’t stop a cold, it does make symptoms less severe and shorter with doses above six grams. In another recent trial on 252 university students at Pusan National University Hospital in South Korea, 85 per cent experienced much less severe symptoms,” said Holford.
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Ahead of and during the flu season, Holford recommends incorporating rich sources of these nutrients into your daily diet.
Take 1g of vitamin C, twice a day. At the first signs of a cold, take 1g (1,000mg) an hour until the symptoms have eased.
Get out in the sun (vitamin D) with as much skin exposed as possible, but remember to use sunscreen. Eat nuts, seeds and beans, oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon and sardines and juice ginger and lemons, and freeze in ice trays. At the first sign of a sore throat take two ginger ice cubes, one lemon ice cube, 1g of vitamin C and add hot water for a soothing, warm drink.
The book is available at bookstores as well as online at Books Direct, Takealot and Loot. There is also a Kindle version on Amazon. Visit: www.flufighters.net.
The competition ends at midnight on 26 July.
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