Everyone is going down like flies!
It seems like the flu virus has really got hold this year. The most important thing we can do is boost our immunity and focus on good healing foods.
Elderberry is particularly amazing at bolstering our immunity, and is particularly beneficial when dealing with respiratory infections.
While synthetic pharmaceuticals focus on dealing with infections after they have developed, elderberry has natural stopping power.
The fruit’s potency lies in the pigments that give the berry its nearly black colour. The darker the colour, the richer the pigments, which means that these dark fruits, particularly in the European Haschberg variety of black elderberry, are filled with natural healing power.
Formed in groups of molecular chains known as Anthocyanins, these pigments have been found to be capable of preventing viruses from reproducing and infecting new cells.
They also kill many of the bacteria that cause chest and respiratory infections.
As we come into contact with cold air, whether by breathing it in or through skin contact, our core temperature is reduced.
As a result, the blood vessels in the protective mucous tissues of our respiratory system constrict, and that makes it more difficult for the immune system to respond to invading bacteria and viruses.
It’s also been proven that cool, dry air also allows cold and influenza viruses to survive longer outside the body than they do during summery conditions.
A great example is found in a simple sneeze. One sneeze produces about 40,000 droplets of mucous, which exit the mouth and nose at 62 miles an hour and can travel a distance of 52 feet.
A virus contained in droplets can survive for up to 24 hours if it lands on a hard surface in a cold and dry environment with an ambient temperature of about 41 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity between 35 to 50 per cent.
In these conditions, the rate in which colds and influenza are passed from one individual to another then increases significantly.
Given these findings, seeking natural preventatives and health-boosting options seem more important than ever.
And given that there are up to five million cases of severe respiratory illness in the world in a given year, according to the World Health Organisation, it may be a good time to turn to nature’s pharmacy.
So the next time you hear a sneeze (or a cough) nearby, consider adding elderberry to your medicine cabinet, and you’ll be well prepared for what’s ahead!
Comments