According to government figures, there have now been over 2,500 reported cases of Swine Flu in the UK! With the WHO now calling it a Pandemic and governments the world over stocking up on anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu, what are the natural alternatives.
Well, Swine Flu, just like Bird Flu and others are all strains of Influenza, each of differing severity and contagiousness, but nevertheless flu.
Tamiflu has been shown to reduce recovery time by between 1 and 1.5 days if started within 40 hours of the symptoms starting.
Recently there have been three studies using between 6 and 8 grams of vitamin C daily, showing that if taken within 24 hours of the symptoms beginning, this recovery time can be reduced by as many as three days! The anti-viral properties of vitamin C and many other antioxidant nutrients are comparable to many conventional drugs.
For any serious infection we would recommend taking vitamin C to ‘bowel tolerance’. Start with 2 grams (2000mg) every 3 to 4 hours. Some people find Ascorbic Acid (the most common Vit C source) too acidic, in which case I would recommend a combination including Sodium Ascorbate.
Other nutrients that have anti-viral activity and are a great addition to vitamin C include; Selenium (at least 50µg), Zinc (15mg), vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin D. From a herbal prospective one of the very best anti-viral and health giving products is Mushroom Complex and of course the old favourite Echinacea!
The trick with any infection is not getting it in the first place, so always keep your immune system strong. But if the Swine Flu pandemic really does break out then always keep a stock of vitamin c and other antioxidant near by!
Sources:
Direct Gov UK: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831
Natural Products: Natural Products Magazine – June ’09 issue
Centre for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
The ‘all new’ Product Spotlight section!
You are cordially invited to look out for our NEW Product Spotlight section every month.
The idea of the Product Spotlight is to focus on a different product every month. This is done to help you, a) get to know the product range better, b) perhaps find products you didn’t know we did and may well find useful, and c) get you used to having a look round the site in readiness for our upcoming competition, in which you could win £’s worth of prizes!
So please do take a look and let others know as there may be something helpful for them!
Good Health
All at Bio Nutrition
For quite a few years now Bio Nutrition have had a product called Lycopene Complex. A great little capsule bestowing the power of the tomato and the benefits of the Mediterranean diet upon all who took her!
Well it appears that the scientists have finally realised we were onto something. At the beginning of June a group of British scientists released a new pill called ‘Ateronon’ at the national conference of the British Cardiovascular Society. Claiming that in tests these fantastic tomato based pills could ‘slash cholesterol levels in eight weeks’ and they were ‘much more effective than Statins’, currently taken by thousands of Britons.
Heart expert Dr Rob Hicks said the pill could ‘save lives on a global basis’!
Heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer, with almost 200,000 people dying a year from it and 275,000 suffering heart attacks.
What was in this little pill? Nothing more than 7mg of Lycopene. How much will they charge for this in a chemist? £35 for a months supply!
Lycopene Complex contains 10mg of Lycopene (42% more than Ateronon), together with vitamin E and Selenium, two other essential nutrients, in a easy to take vegetarian capsule.
Gaining all the heart benefits of the Mediterranean diet as well as improved eye health and for the men protection for the prostate.
Is this little wonder expensive? We don’t think so, all those great health benefits at only £11.95 for up to a months supply.
Sources:
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8076556.stm
Daily Express: http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/104633/Tomato-pill-to-beat-heart-disease-
