• Archives

  • Oct8

    Two Ways to Improve Your Flu Immunity: D3 and Vaccines

    Posted in: Aging and Costs of Aging, Drug Food Safety, Vitamins and Supplements, Wellness and Health

    Earlier this month, I got a flu shot. I also took 2000IU of vitamin D3.  Some people see this as redundant.  Not me.

    The recent news that pregnant women who get flu shots protect their fetuses and themselves meshes perfectly with the recent news that vitamin D3 is more of a (helpful) steroid hormone than a vitamin. Too little vitamin D means more fatal infections.

    Almost two thirds of the U.S is deficient in vitamin D. That’s nothing to sneeze at. Some scholars believe Vitamin D deficiency is the “seasonal stimulus” for flu epidemics.  In fact, 2000 IU daily prevented nearly 100% of the flu in an excellent RCT study of post-menopausal women.

    Epicurious asked me for a list of flu-fighting foods: I came up with six (actually six categories):

    Quercetin Powerhouse Produce, Vitamin D–Rich Foods, Chicken Soup, Green Tea, Yogurt/Kefir, and Chilies.

    But even these foods should be used in addition to vitamin D3, and a flu shot.

    The more people learn about the relationship between what they eat and their personal health, the fewer medications and devices they are likely to need, and the less disease they are likely to have.

     

  • Oct5

    Stress Reduction: Bottom Line Impact

    Posted in: Aging and Costs of Aging, Environmental Health, Hypertension, Uncategorized, Wellness and Health

    Chronic stress affects productivity and the bottom line.  It also increases and worsens heart disease, stroke, impotence, hypertension, back problems and depression. Obesity and flu go up too.

    Stress can kill…or at least injure.  It causes rigidity and diminishes the ability to help others.

    Working well under acute, short-term pressure is one thing, and can be entirely helpful and healthy.

    Working well under constant, unremitting, long term stress is another thing altogether. It means higher cortisol levels, a constant-fight-or-flight-response, and burn-out. Not healthy.

    The most powerful and easiest interventions workers can learn are small, focused interventions to minimize stress and balance work and family.

    This leads to lower employee turnover and improved productivity…just what I teach in seminars.

    Consider these facts from the Business Group on Health: 

    • “Each year, an estimated 39 million work days are lost to obesity-related illnesses.4

    • Influenza-attributable illness for adults aged 18 to 64 years accounts for $5.6 billion in lost productivity resulting from 17 million missed workdays.2

    • Depression is estimated to cause 200 million lost workdays each year at a cost to employers of $17 to $44 billion.5

    • Hypertension complications are a major cause of preventable absenteeism, reduced productivity and disability, making it one of the most expensive health conditions for employers.6″

    The answers to these conditions is not more work, more medication, more hunkering down or “company fun days.”

    Instead, it’s breathing techniques to stop the stress barrage. It’s teaching resilience. It’s permitting more control over time, and giving people time away to recharge…for their sake, for the company’s sake, and for the work’s sake.

     

  • Dec16

    Give Me the Recalled Flu Shots and I'll Give You Flu Fighting Foods

    Posted in: Wellness and Health

    By now, most people know that nearly 20% of kids’ Swine Flu Shots are less potent than when they left the lab.

    And that 800,000 doses are being recalled, even though most of them have already been given!

    The CDC says not to worry, and not to re-administer. Kids up to 9 years old should get two doses about a month apart.

    But if you’ve been following along, you know there are powerful weapons in your kitchen medicine cabinet that can help you fight the flu.

    Flu fighting foods. Imagine if your kid got a bowl twice monthly of my Simple Sopa Azteca (an easy chicken soup rich with chicken flavor and vegetables, and btw, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories). A meal and just maybe, a medicine too.

    And yes, there’s real research and tastier recipes to boot: check out Epicurious’ feature on flu fighting foods as well.

    Are you using foods to stay well in Winter?

     

  • Sep13

    Flu Prevention: Best Foods for Exercisers

    Posted in: Aging and Costs of Aging, Wellness and Health

    Health reform, including flu prevention, starts in the kitchen.

    One misconception: H1N1 (swine flu) virus is not spread by food. And though there are other reasons you may not want to eat pork, you cannot get swine flu (or influenza A or B) from eating pork or pork products.

    You also cannot get it from tap water or from drinking water. Or from flu shots: 5-10 percent of people have mild flu-like symptoms for about 24 hours after a flu shot, but that is not the flu.

    What you can do is wash your hands often, for 15-20 seconds, with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand cleaner until your hands are dry. This is the best and easiest prevention.

    H1N1(Swine flu) virus and all other flu is likely spread in the same way: person to person through coughing or sneezing, by other people who have the flu.

    The best foods for flu prevention are

    *those rich in the flavonoid quercetin (research done in mice, post-exercise, showed stressful exercise increased flu susceptibility, quercetin canceled it out; same thing in research done in cyclists!): apples, onions, broccoli, all high in quercetin…and flavonoids reduce inflammation

    *(as a bonus, organic tomatoes have higher quercetin levels than conventionally grown ones!)
    *chicken soup (actually reduces mucus and facilitates coughing it up: fantastic ChefMD Sopa Azteca de Pollo to help (disclaimer: it’s mine).

    *green tea: high in flavonoids, and anti-viral activity against influenza.

    Enjoy! And stay healthy!

    John La Puma, MD
    www.drjohnlapuma.com

     

  • Apr27

    Flu Foods: What to Eat

    Posted in: Aging and Costs of Aging, Vitamins and Supplements, Wellness and Health

    You already know the basics: wash your hands often; use paper not hand towels; throw away used tissues; cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

    But did you know that some foods can help improve your immunity against flu viruses? Here are the top 3, all backed by the best science:

    a. Brewer’s yeast/baker’s yeast, often used as a protein supplement or energy booster. But 500mg of this as the supplement Epicor dramatically reduced flu symptoms in healthy people…like those who are getting swine flu. Try some sprinkled on hot oatmeal—which itself improves immunity– or in a salad.

    b. Apples, onions, tea and broccoli, because they’re rich in quercetin. A vitamin-like substance also in capsules, quercetin reduces susceptibility to Influenza Infection following stressful exercise. Toss sliced apples in lemon juice to keep them from rusting.

    c. Try North American ginseng: healthy older adults vaccinated against Influenza A who took “Cold-Ex” ginseng daily had half the colds and flu of those who didn’t take it, and had symptoms half as long. Ginseng tea with honey is also an option, but doesn’t deliver a consistent dosage.

    d. Try to be at ease. Ok, not a food. But a positive emotional style (vs. depressed, anxious or hostile) predicts resistance to illness after exposure to Influenza A virus.