Immune-boosting Diet

Well, well.. H1N1 spreads really fast.. although there’s no case in Malaysia yet.. We have to be careful in case of d spread to our country..

So what actually H1N1 @ selsema babi?

• Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, also know as A(H1N1) or simply H1N1
• It is a subtype of influenza virus A and the most common cause of influenza in humans.
• Swine influenza, or “swine flu”, is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased incidence in the fall and winter in temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza.
• Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans (including the strain(s) responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic ) and the many strains that cause influenza worldwide each year. Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs and in birds. The 1918 flu pandemic killed 50–100 million people worldwide from 1918 to 1919~ byk tuu..
• Low pathogenic H1N1 strains still exist in the wild today, causing roughly half of all flu infections in 2006.
• In March and April 2009, an outbreak of influenza in Mexico has confirmed 192 cases, and 26 fatalities with the new strain of H1N1 were detected.
• As of April 28, the new strain was suspected to have infected more than 2,500 individuals worldwide, with 152 attributed deaths (Selsema Babi). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control warned that it was possible the outbreak could develop into a pandemic.
• On April 27, 2009, the World Health Organization raised alertness from level 3 to level 4 (max 6) worldwide, since (sustained) human-to-human transfer of the virus was confirmed.

Sebagai langkah berjage2, what we can do is boost our immune system so we r less likely utk infected by any pathogen.. Insya Allah..

So here is some tips in term of dietary yg kte ley wat utk meningkatkan daya ketahanan diri..

1. Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects against infection and enhances immunity. Vitamin C works by increasing the production of white blood cells, which fight off infection. It also works by increasing the production of antibodies and in particular, raises levels of interferon, the antibody that coats cell surfaces, preventing the entry of viruses.

Vitamin C sources: citrus fruits, potatoes, green peppers, strawberries and pineapple.

2. Vitamin E: Vitamin E is important to a healthy immune system. One function of vitamin E is that it enhances the production of B-cells, the immune cells that produce antibodies that destroy bacteria. In fact, research shows that people who eat vitamin E rich foods tend to have a higher immunity.

Vitamin E : seeds, vegetable oils and grains.

3. Beta-carotene: Beta Carotene enhances the functioning of your immune system. Beta Carotene works by increasing the number of infection fighting cells, natural killer cells and helper T cells.

Sources: sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, spinach, turnip greens, winter squash, collard greens, cilantro and fresh thyme.

*To enhance the availability of the beta-carotene in these foods, they should be eaten raw or lightly steamed.

4. Zinc: Zinc helps to prevent a weakened immune system. Studies have shown that a zinc deficiency can impair a number of white blood cells and platelets (blood cells involved in clotting), and can increase susceptibility to infection. Excessive zinc intake, however, may impair immunity and increase infections.

Sources of zinc:oysters, liver, lean beef, pork, turkey, lamb, lentils, pumpkin and sesame seeds, garbanzo beans and yogurt.

5. Garlic: Garlic is known for its cold-fighting abilities. It increases the potency of two important cells of the immune system: T-lymphocytes and macrophages. The immune-boosting properties of garlic appear to be due to its sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin and sulfides. You can eat it raw or cooked—so start adding it to your favorite foods today!

6. Omega-3 fats: The all important omega-3 fats are essential immune boosters, as they work by increasing the activity of phagocytes, the white blood cells that eat up bacteria. These fats also help strengthen cell membranes, thereby speeding up healing and strengthening resistance to infection in the body.

Omega-3 fats : fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna), flax oil and flaxseeds, omega-3 eggs, nuts and seeds, ground flaxseed to yogurt, baked goods, cereals or smoothies or use unrefined, cold-pressed flax seed oil as a salad dressing.

7. Make time for tea: Green tea is a rich source of a type of antioxidant called a catechin, it may give the beverage antigen-fighting abilities. When researchers at the University of Sherbrooke in Canada added green tea to lab samples of the adenovirus (one of many viruses that causes colds), they discovered that egcg inhibited the virus' ability to replicate. Similarly, researchers in South Korea found that egcg can also stop the influenza virus from replicating. While these studies were conducted in petri dishes instead of human subjects, some researchers believe you can reasonably bank on green tea's benefits -- particularly when it's consumed in place of colas or other sugary beverages with little nutritional benefit. "Green tea catechins can improve lymphocyte responses and seem to have anti-inflammatory effects," Stephensen says.

What to do: Trade at least one cup of coffee each day for green tea. To derive the optimal amounts of catechins from your tea, let the bag steep for at least three minutes in hot water.

Immune Drainers

Some foods or unhealthy lifestyle behaviors can make a person more susceptible to colds and flus. Avoid high-fat, high-sugar junk foods, as they can decrease the activity of the immune system. It’s also best to avoid too much caffeine (pop, coffee, tea, chocolate) as caffeine can undermine your body’s immune system and act as a diuretic, which will deplete your body of water. Also, don’t smoke! Smoking can impair your resistance as well as injure the respiratory tract, which makes you more susceptible to the flu.

Kesimpulannye, Jage kesihatan by:

1. Variety & Balance nutrition- this will ensure adequate nutrients for d body's optimum function

2. Exercise!