“Mommy, I don’t feel so good,” The worst words. How to strengthen immune system response is one of the top searches around flu season.
But, when is flu season? Is the flu season 2019 over? How can you keep your kid from getting it? Every busy parent out there knows that one sick child can bring a whole house down - we want to help you prevent that.
Flu seasons can last from six to ten months, depending on the year.
The flu season 2019 is technically over, but the CDC’s FluView weekly report still shows some ILI (influenza-like illness) activity, if smaller. This season peaked in March 2019 and was the longest in ten years.
The catch? The season started in November 2018! The next flu season is expected to begin between October and November 2019 and extend through April 2020. However, you can get the flu at any time; it’s not a cold-weather virus.
Prepare yourself for the back-to-school flu spike learning how to strengthen the immune system with food. Because let’s face it, you’re busy and it’s better to save your sick days for a rainy day.
Everything You Need to Know About Flu Season (2019 and on!)
We’ll cover what is immunity, when is flu season, how to strengthen immune system response, what to do if you’re already feeling sick - or someone in your household is - and how to take care of yourself so you can ride the season as smoothly as possible.
Flu Season FAQs
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Q: What is the flu?
A: The flu, also known as Influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. It affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It is often confused with a cold, but could have deadly consequences if untreated in advanced stages.
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Q: When is flu season?
A: Flu season varies every year, but typically it starts between October and November. It usually ends by March having peaked in February. You can monitor when is flu season in your area with the CDC’s free FluView Tool.
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Q: How is the flu different from a cold?
A: Both Influenza and colds are respiratory infections, meaning they target the same area, which is why telling them apart can be challenging. However, monitoring the symptoms helps:
- Onset: is gradual for a cold, abrupt or sudden for the flu.
- Fever: is rare in colds, but usual for the flu.
- Headaches: are rare in colds, but typical for the flu.
- Intense Fatigue: is usually associated with the flu, whereas only slight discomfort is associated with a cold.
- Sneezing: is common for colds, but not necessary for the flu.
- Sore throat: is more common in colds than in flu cases.
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Cough: is mild to moderate in colds (OTC medicine usually helps) whereas it is heavy and widespread in flu cases, where respiratory therapy is generally required.
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Q: How does the flu spread in schools, parks, and more?
A: Influenza is a virus believed to quickly spread through small water droplets released into the air when people cough, sneeze, or talk eventually landing in another’s mouth or nose. It may also spread through contact with infected objects when the patient touches the object and then their nose, mouth, or eyes.
For children close quarters, sharing pencils, crayons, toys, thermoses, or even playing with each other’s fingers may lead to contagion. This is very common among young children under the age of 10.
How to strengthen immune system response in these cases? In addition to diet, clean your kid’s playthings and utensils.
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Q: Can my child or I get the flu again, if we already had it?
A: Yes, you can. Although the influenza virus is often identified by the H1N1 strand , it can be found in many variations in the environment and they change, mutate, and adapt every year, which makes it virtually impossible to be immune to it completely.
You are however encouraged to understand how to strengthen immune system response, as it is your best preventative defense.
As you can see the first back-to-school weeks are a particularly flu-susceptible season because your child moves from your controlled home environment to a closed one with a large number of other children, who may have already been exposed.
Now let’s get to the good stuff: how to keep your kids safe.
What is Immunity and How to Strengthen Immune System Antibodies
What is Immunity? At Organifi, we often talk about foods to boost immune system response because “immunity” is your body’s ability to resist a particular infection or toxin through of antibodies or specific white blood cells released by the immune system.
Immunity is not “one” thing - it’s the result of a healthy and well-coordinated number of systems.
When you’re learning how to strengthen immune system response, you’re really just learning what to feed your body to make more killer T-Cells and activate the multiple barriers the organism has to avoid, seek, and destroy harmful substances. We covered all the details of how to strengthen immune system response here.
Right now, all you need to know is that you want your kid’s lymphoid organs to produce lymphocytes and keep them coming!
How to Strengthen Immune System Response with Nutrition:
Focus on getting more antioxidants, Vitamins C, beta-glucans, zinc, and hydration! Water is key. Make it fun for them -and increase the antioxidant take- adding frozen berries to the water.
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Mushrooms: research shows the glucans in mushrooms like shiitake “improve human immunity” it might not be their cup of tea but you can hide them in pies and pizza muffins!
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Citrus fruits: well known for their high Vitamin C content. Kiwi might be a surprising one here if lime and oranges are too sour for the kids.
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Pumpkin Seeds: full of zinc, healthy protein, and a tasty addition to homemade chocolate protein brownies.
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Berries: all of them! Which is great news because kids tend to love them, and their antioxidant power is through the roof, mix them fresh with some natural yogurt to raise their probiotic intake and defense.
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Ginger and Turmeric: kids may not love this one, but as an infusion, it’s antibacterial and clears sore throats fast. How to strengthen immune system antibodies with this? Make some small shots, sweeten with honey and reward them with a piece of dark chocolate for drinking it!
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Dark Chocolate: needs to be 70% cacao or more, so that theobromine compound can activate killer T-Cells.
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Organifi Immunity: because we did all the hard work for you and made a child-safe way to boost the immune system combining beta-glucans, zinc, and maximum strength vitamin C in a tasty and natural drink!
How to strengthen immune system with Organifi Immunity? Just add water and stir! You can put it in their lunch box as they come in convenient to-go packs.
How to Strengthen Immune System Response With Essential Oils
Antibacterial soap, gel, and other chemical disinfectants are not helping you or your children stay healthy longer. Even the FDA has recommended that we stop using them for our own good. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a natural alternative to keep your hands and your kids’ sanitized.
Diluting lavender oil in a little coconut oil may help you sanitize and hydrate everyone’s hands. Lavender has antibacterial properties that tested effective against Staphylococcus.
How to Strengthen Immune System Cells With Natural Cleaning
When you’re looking into how to strengthen immune system cells with nutrition, it’s easy to forget that the skin is the first barrier in this complex system and that it needs its natural oils to defend you.
Go for natural, plant-based soaps, shampoo, and cleaning products. Basil, lavender, tea tree, and lemongrass-infused options will have the best results. If you consider natural cleaning supplies, apple cider vinegar is one of the most effective ones for surfaces - and it doesn’t have to be smelly!
What to do If You -or your loved ones- Are Already Feeling Sick
Not to worry! If you’re already feeling sick or seeing symptoms in your child, we have your back (and these tips on how to strengthen immune system response are still valid, especially the food ones!)
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Check out our 10 ways to boost your immune system when you’re sick.
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Whether it’s you or your kid, consider looking urgent care clinics to know their wait times. You can minimize stress by heading over at the lowest point if your primary care physician can’t take you.
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Batch cook soups and broth. Nothing helps you heal faster than a nice soup, but the prep time can be a nightmare. Cook veggie-heavy broths, mix in the blender and freeze for later.
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Arrange a work-from-home option with your partners or employers, so you can reduce sick days and keep up. Video conferencing, cloud documents, and email should have you covered for a couple of days.
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Instead of setting up an Out-Of-Office message, go for a Slow-to-Respond. This will buy you some time and avoid pile-ups.
- Block calendar time to get some rest and ME time. You need it, your kids need it, your work will benefit from it. Don’t tell anyone what it is for, but make sure you take it. You have to put the mask on first to be able to help others, and you help a lot of people.
If you try any of these tips, learned a bit about how to strengthen immune system response or tried Organifi Immunity let us know! We’re in this together.