10 Slightly Unconventional Flu Protection Tips

Ten easy tips for maintaining a healthy and happy household.

It seems bird flu just won’t go away. Despite the successful eradication of the H5N1 virus with proper cleaning techniques, animal segregation and poultry “rest days” at the market, new strains of avian flu just keep popping up.

A new strain, H7N7, was recently discovered in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, by scientists studying the H7N9 virus. The Chinese government is now considering closing live poultry markets in Nanjing and Suzhou, as part of a pilot project aimed at converting the country to frozen chicken. 

Currently about 120 million live chickens are sold in Shanghai every year. Though the newly discovered virus is still only a potential threat to humans, it’s a good time of year to start thinking about flu preventions and proper immune function.

10 (Slightly Unconventional) Flu Protection Tips

1. Scrub your hands often, but skip the antibacterial soaps and lotions.

Regular handwashing before and after eating is especially important, since that’s the time you’re most likely to touch your face. Scrub the back and front for at least 15 seconds and the friction should remove viruses.

Those antibacterial liquids may be tempting, but in fact they are only effective against bacteria. They hold no sway over viruses. What’s worse, long term use can lead to stronger, more resistant bacteria. Our bodies need their natural bacteria to maintain a balanced inner ecosystem. Best to let the body do what comes naturally. Not all bacteria are your enemies.

2. Avoid touching surfaces.

Surfaces, such as door handles, keyboards, mouses and cell phones. It may seem simplistic, but there’s a lot to be said for the hanky. Get a colourful one and fold it into your front pocket. Trendy and functional.

3. Stop touching your face!

Average Jane touches her face every three minutes. That’s important to know since virtually all flu viruses are transmitted from hand to face. Most of us touch our faces without thinking and it can be tough to stay vigilant all the time. Regular handwashing should not be underestimated.

4. Stay out of crowded places

Public transport are especially crowded, like trains and busses. Surgeries and hospitals should also be avoided. If that’s an impossibility, read on.

5. Wear a face mask and carry extras.

This is especially important for those who frequent crowded places like subway cars and busses. If others at your office are sick, coughing or sneezing, who’s to say what’s floating in the atmosphere? Just remember that your mask only works as long as it’s dry. Carry extras and change when necessary.

6. Cook your own food

Simple but revolutionary. Preparing meals in the home is the best way to assure food is clean and properly prepared. You’ll always know where your meat is coming from, and that it has been stored at the proper temperature and washed thoroughly before it shows up on your plate.

7. Wash your fruits, veggies and meat before eating.

A little food-grade iodine or vinegar can kill a lot of the nasty bacteria that live on your food and in your local supermarket. Soak for 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with water. 

8. Avoid contact with birds, feathers and droppings.

That may mean staying away from the markets altogether, or at least purchasing your veggies from a stand a good distance from any poultry. If you have young children, make sure everyone scrubs their hands thoroughly after entering the home. 

9. Go vegetarian.

Though making the switch to a meat-free lifestyle may not offer complete bird flu protection, it can go a long way to facilitating proper immune function. Just remember, being vegetarian means eating vegetables! Grains and gluten can overburden the system and cause inflammation, another beast altogether. But a diet high in veggies will keep the body stocked with all those lovely nutrients it needs to fight disease.

10. Think twice about flu vaccines.

There is ample research to conclude that flu vaccines simply don’t work.  At best, they offer protection from about 10 percent of strains currently circulating. The Cochrane Collaboration, an independent study on the effectiveness of flu vaccines, concluded that 33 people need to be vaccinated in order for one person to be protected, a horrific statistic. It also revealed “widespread manipulation of conclusions and spurious notoriety of the studies” conducted by vaccine makers. It gets worse. Over half of all flu vaccines administered in the U.S. were found to contain levels of mercury deemed unsafe by the EPA, even if approved by the FDA. 

There are no shortcuts. Flu protection is about more than just washing your hands and wearing a mask. It’s a lifestyle choice. There’s a lot you can do to boost your immune system while still enjoying the good life. Proper exercise and home cooked food prepared in your own kitchen with love and care can go a long way to keeping your family healthy and disease-free.

You are your own first line of defense against avian flu. But you are also a member of a community. Speak up to your neighbours, friends and family. If you don’t like the quality of chickens and pigs being sold in your local market, don’t buy them. Vote with your dollars. Demand that hygiene, quality and freshness take the front seat once more.

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