Tips for Preparing for Flu Season

Autumn is here, and hopefully you are out enjoying yourself in the crisp air and taking part in all of the seasonal festivities. In order to keep having fun all fall and winter long, it is important to remember that this wonderful autumn air also means that flu season is just around the corner. Taking certain simple precautions to protect yourself and your family can make all of the difference in keeping yourself well this year. Here are some important steps that you can take to prepare for flu season and stay healthy.
Eat and Drink for Health
One of the simplest steps we can take to ward off the flu is a practice everyone should ideally adhere to all year round: choose a healthy diet that will help your body to maintain a strong immune system. This does not really require any special or complicated diet. The basics are to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and to eat a diet that is healthy and balanced. Food choices that may be particularly beneficial will include lots of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants carry many benefits, and are becoming more and more known to the public. One of these wonderful benefits is they can work as immune boosters, helping you and your family to have a healthier life overall.

Avoid Germs
There are many steps you can take to limit your contact with germs. Some of these may be more obvious than others, but if you begin a mindful routine of keeping yourself and the objects you come into contact with sanitized now, you will likely have formed good habits by the time flu season is in full swing. Proper hand washing is a hugely important practice. Many people know that they should wash their hands, but are not necessarily washing properly. To really benefit you should wash in warm, soapy water for between 30 to 60 seconds. It may help you to keep track of the time if you get into the habit of singing a song like the ABC's as you wash, and this will definitely help young children with washing their hands. In public places, try to wipe off surfaces like doorknobs with sanitizing wipes, if possible, as the flu virus can live up to 48 hours on hard surfaces. A good alternative is to use a hand sanitizer after touching these surfaces, but remember not to eat or touch food immediately afterwards. Wait a few minutes first so the sanitizer has time to kill the flu germs.

Get a Flu Shot
Though you should definitely follow every step to keep yourself healthy, the method of protection that is by far the most effective is getting a flu vaccination. The flu shot is recommended for almost anyone over six months of age, with a few exceptions, including people with severe allergies to chicken eggs or a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. If you do decide to get a seasonal flu shot, be sure to get it as early in the season as you possibly can, because its effectiveness only really kicks in by developing the right antibodies in your body about two weeks after the shot is administered.

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Benefits of Gluten Free Foods for Your Body

Gluten and Celiac
People with celiac disease are advised to stay away from food products with gluten. This is the reason why many health food stores and groceries offer gluten free foods. Gluten is a type of protein that is found in wheat, cereals and some grains. Its purpose is to maintain elasticity during fermentation, which prevents foods from having a sticky texture.


GLUTEN FREE FOOD

Individuals who suffer from celiac disease can't process gluten. The illness can lead to complications such as infertility and gastrointestinal troubles because gluten is a harmful invader to their body. Their bodies' immune system creates a response that damages the small intestines and results in several nutritional deficiencies and gastrointestinal issues.

Foods for People without Celiac Disease
Gluten is found in most processed foods. Going on a diet means avoiding eating processed foods, which often contain a lot of empty calories anyway. Avoiding processed foods becomes a natural way to lose weight.
There are people who are sensitive to gluten but don't suffer from celiac disease. They would feel better with a diet consisting of gluten free foods. Gluten sensitivity is a common condition where people have adverse reactions to gluten. Some of its symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, fatigue, and pain in joints and bones.
When going on a diet, you eat more vegetables and fruits. They are healthy food sources without starch. A gluten free diet eliminates unhealthy oils and unhealthy carbohydrates from your system. It also reduces the risk of some cancers, diabetes, and even heart disease. The diet can also help protect from germs and viruses.
A gluten free diet can help you lose weight. It is composed of gluten free foods that have essential carbohydrates, proteins and fat. You just have to keep the right portion size and choose starches without gluten such as sweet potatoes and brown rice.
Choosing the Right Foods
It is easier to find foods without gluten today compared to the past. But not all of them are healthy as some contain high amounts of cholesterol and saturated fats. Since people with celiac disease can safely eat lean meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products, a gluten free diet will be made up of natural foods.

If you have symptoms of celiac disease, or other symptoms of gluten sensitivity, then it will be beneficial to start eating gluten free foods. Though it is a great natural weight loss method, food choices will be limited because gluten is found in so many foods. You have to give up on breakfast cereals, breads, crackers, pastas, and most processed foods with gluten. You can also decrease your nutrient intake without a properly balanced diet when choosing gluten free. Therefore, it is ideal to consult with a dietician before going on a gluten free diet.

Get rid of gluten from your diet now!




by R. Swierkowski

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