Dear Health Conscious Reader,
I’m just getting ready to leave Brazil, which means I’ll be hopping on a plane to South Florida soon. Naturally, all I’m hearing about is the swine flu.
My office has even sent me several emails, asking me if I could post an alert, because the phones have been swamped with calls.
Am I worried about the swine flu? Personally … no. I know that my immune system is the best it has ever been. I don’t get sick … period.
But when it comes to you and my patients, yes, I do have concerns.
I don’t believe this is going to be the huge pandemic the fear-mongers are predicting. But I do think it could have some widespread affects … especially on the elderly and those who have a low immune threshold.
And here’s the real problem: If you’ve been loading up on a lot of refined foods … if you aren’t getting enough antioxidants … if you’re stressed out and not getting enough sleep … if you suffer from recurrent inflammation … your immune function could easily be suppressed.
These things all lower your immune function and leave you more susceptible to flus, viruses and colds.
So the best thing you can do right now is start building up your immune defenses. Here are the supplements I recommend for maximum antioxidant protection:
CoQ10 – CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that shields your body from the free radicals that bombard your cells every single day. I recommend that everyone take CoQ10 regularly as a constant source of new energy for your cells. You can stop and pick some up at the health food store, or order a bottle of my Accel. It’s a special form of CoQ10 called ubiquinol, that’s 8 times more potent than regular CoQ10.
SOD – Often called the body’s “master antioxidant,” SOD can do more for your health than any other antioxidant on the planet. SOD doesn’t just seek and destroy free radicals … it acts as a suit of armor, making every cell in your body more resilient and better able to fight off free radical attacks.
Resveratrol – Resveratrol acts as a potent antioxidant by binding with free radicals. It’s found naturally in grapes, blueberries and cranberries, but it’s difficult – if not impossible – to get enough of it from food alone. That’s why I created my Res3 formula … a powerhouse mixture of Resveratrol , SOD and Green Tea for the highest degree of protection.
Cod Liver Oil – The omega 3 essential fatty acids found in cod liver oil can help reduce inflammation. And it’s full of Vitamin D, which acts as a great immune system booster. In fact, a recent study found that people recovering from colds, flus and other respiratory infections had low levels of vitamin D in their blood. The study results also showed people with lower levels of vitamin D were 40% more likely to have respiratory infections. 1 You can find good quality cod liver oil at your local health food store, or order my Norwegien Cod Liver Oil here … fresh from the pristine coldwaters of the Norwegian Sea.
Daily Multi-Vitamin – Unfortunately, with our western diet of processed and refined foods, most of us are lacking all the vitamins our bodies need. This chronic lack of critical nutrients puts you at risk for today’s most serious health threats. I always say that taking a multi vitamin is the first step to better health for everyone. It’s inexpensive and easy to add to your daily routine. I recommend that my patients use Daily Power to make sure they’re getting everything they need for the best of health.
You can’t entirely isolate yourself from infection. The trick is to have sufficient antibodies in your system.
In the meantime, wash your hands regularly and keep them away from your face. I suggest using a good old-fashioned bar of soap and rubbing your hands for at least 30 seconds before rinsing.
Drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest, and stay off the airlines if you’ve been sick recently or have a known history of weakened immune defense.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
- Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol.169 No.4, Feb. 23, 2009.