Treating a Flu – My thoughts

Treating a Flu

Recently, I’ve been treating a flu, which has been quite debilitating; my focus has been on recovery, and looking into solutions to maximise said recovery.

I had not used any supplements, or foods during the early stages, I think this is where I fell short.

Generally, I usually recommend high-dosages of vitamin C, D (D3 should be taken with K2, so that it can be properly synthesized), Zinc and Selenium.

The above can be obtained from supplementation, Brazil nuts and Cashews can also provide someone with the daily required mineral intake (Zinc and Selenium).

During illness, or when exercising, mineral intake should be increased slightly, to meet the demands of the body.

It is important to not exceed recommended dosages, to avoid toxicity; some excess vitamins and minerals can be excreted in urine or faeces; however, fat-soluble nutrients will usually be stored when in excess.

 

If the above is timed right, you may prevent the development of worse symptoms, with minor symptoms persisting until the pathogen has been eliminated, that is; avoiding symptoms of Nausea and Lethargy etc.

I have also been trying the following drink, personally, I think it lacks certain ingredients (vitamin K2, Selenium), its lemon taste is easy on the tongue, drinking one or two of these per day during the first phase of illness may help to prevent the worsening of symptoms:

Tonic Health High Dose Immunity Drink Lemon & Honey Flavour 10 Sachets

Nutrition and herbal remedies

In the event that appetite is lost, then it is important to detox, for instance, berries are a good source of phytonutrients, and are a source of antioxidants.

Aloe Vera, Echinacea root, Milk-thistle etc. are known for their anti-bacterial, anti-viral qualities, a dosage of one these I would also recommend as part of recovery and detox, when a flu/cold is contracted.

I have not personally used Echinacea or Milk-thistle, and will certainly look to have my own experience on these herbs, otherwise, I will find a study to cite, regardless of the conclusion.

Pineapple is loaded with phytonutrients; however, I do not know how effective it will be for treating the symptoms of a cold or flu.

in the event if loss of appetite, try to maintain an appropriate intake of proteins, to mitigate potential loss of muscle-mass, if the body is starved, and/or is not undertaking exercise.

you will also need to ensure that you are consuming carbohydrates, so that the body can convert it to glycogen to be stored in the muscles or liver.

Glycogen is required for muscle-maintenance as well as protein, without sufficient glycogen stores, the body will attempt to use either fat or protein for energy (with protein being less efficient than fat).

Should protein be used for energy, then there is a greater risk that muscle-mass will be lost.

Final thoughts

Lastly, it is important to stay hydrated, avoid excess sugar, and maintain a healthy body-temperature; ideally, you will want to keep outdoor and indoor temperatures to be around 18-21 degrees centigrade.

image source: AI generated image, via gencraft: https://gencraft.com/generate

Expanding on the above: 22/02/2024

It is important to practice personal hygiene, especially when ill; you should avoid catching sneezes or coughs in your hands, as you could transmit particles from your hands, to any surfaces that you make contact with.

I would advise maintaining an appropriate distance from other people, to help prevent spreading of the virus.

It is important to note, that someone won’t necessarily become ill when exposed to a pathogen, the body’s innate immune system may eliminate a virus, or bacterium, before it becomes pathogenic and trigger inflammation.

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