4 Ways to BEAT the Flu (No Shots!)

COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind these days.

But let’s not forget that it’s flu season, too.

Seasonal flu can be especially dangerous for older people.

Eight-five percent of flu-related deaths and 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people who are over 65.

I’m not a fan of the flu vaccine because it simply doesn’t work. Its efficacy rate is appalling, and I’m surprised that so many people line up for it every year.

But you can take steps to help prevent colds and flu without resorting to taking the flu shot.

Here are four top ways to help fight the flu this winter.

Vitamin D

A deficiency in vitamin D has been implicated in numerous types of infections… including COVID-19.

A meta-analysis including studies from over a dozen countries determined that when people who were deficient in vitamin D took daily or weekly D supplements, they cut their risk of a respiratory infection in HALF.

You can also get D from foods like eggs, salmon, and tuna.

Zinc

Zinc is a powerhouse against viruses.

When you become infected with a virus, zinc helps stop the virus from replicating and spreading. That’s because zinc helps block an enzyme that viruses use to trick healthy cells into replicating the viral proteins.

A zinc deficiency can also impact the production of immune cells called T cells. This could make you more vulnerable to an infection from any coronavirus (including the common cold).

The good news is that taking a 75 mg zinc lozenge has been shown to shorten the recovery time of people suffering from the common cold.

Take it at the first sign of sickness.

Probiotics

Seventy-five percent of your immune system is located in your microbiome… which means that your immune system is only as healthy as your gut.

It makes sense, then, that improving your gut health with a probiotic can reduce the risk of contracting a flu-like virus and cut down the number of days you experience symptoms.

You can boost your gut health through your diet—by eating more fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods, and less sugary, processed foods.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol has made a name for itself as an anti-aging nutrient, but it looks like it can help prevent viral infections, too.

Studies have shown that resveratrol has numerous anti-viral mechanisms that make it harder for viral cells to live.

One study even showed that resveratrol specifically inhibited a type of coronavirus called MERS.

Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes, but you’d be “hard-pressed” to consume enough red wine to gain these benefits.

Instead, try taking a resveratrol supplement.