5 Simple Ways To Avoid Swine Flu

Despite its name, you don’t get swine flu by coming in contact with a pig infected with the virus. The flu caused by the H1N1 virus affects both pigs and humans and it spreads to humans when a human is exposed to the flu virus. Hence, staying away from pigs cannot protect you from swine flu. You can only avoid this contagious disease by protecting yourself from the H1N1 virus and strengthening your immune system so that it can easily fight the germs that enter your body, thereby preventing the virus from replicating in your body.

The Following Simple Tips Can Help In Protecting You From Swine Flu

Washing Your Hands

This is the most important preventive measure that every health expert recommends for preventing swine flu. After holding a person’s hand or touching a surface that might be contaminated with the H1N1 virus, always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to remove the germs from your hands. Keep your hands away from your mouth and nose until you have properly washed them.

Cover Your Mouth With Masks

The masks that surgeons wear can also help in protecting you from the swine flu virus. While walking in crowded areas or while meeting people suffering from cold and flu, the mask can help in preventing the virus from entering your mouth and nose.

Eat Vitamin C Rich Food

Increase the proportion of vitamin C rich foods in your diet. Citrus fruits, berries, guavas, papaya, pineapple and tomatoes are excellent sources of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps in strengthening your immune system and can also reduce your risk of getting sick.

Garlic

To strengthen your immune system, eat three to four cloves of garlic daily. The sulfur compounds in garlic contain anti-viral property. They help in stimulating production of the T-cells that help in destroying the influenza viruses that enter your body.

Turmeric And Milk

Ayurvedic physicians recommend drinking a glass of warm milk with a teaspoon of ground turmeric to prevent swine flu. According to a study reported in the journal Food Chemistry, Curcumin, the major constituent of turmeric, prevents the H1N1 virus from attaching to the healthy cells. It prevents the virus from multiplying in the human body.