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Pig cough, Angry Bovine & Other icky Ailments
Posted 04-30-2009 at 08:47 AM by Liss
Ah, these are the days of our lives, aren't they folks?
The past few years, particularly since 9/11, the media's grim forecast on the Nation makes me ill. Not from any actual sickness mind you, but from the fear they attempt to induce and the frustration I feel with each new impending report of doom; Bird Flu, Swine Flu, Mad Cow... these are just a few of the many Panic/Fear inducing reports they plaster on the Tv.
This latest affliction, Swine Flu, has people frantically stockpiling groceries and household supplies, schools closing, people wearing masks while in public and more.
I am left to wonder, when are they (our media) going to realize that the reason people panic or grow sick with fear is due to their repeated grim forecasts of our impending deaths from an imminent pandemic.
Here are the Facts:
The past few years, particularly since 9/11, the media's grim forecast on the Nation makes me ill. Not from any actual sickness mind you, but from the fear they attempt to induce and the frustration I feel with each new impending report of doom; Bird Flu, Swine Flu, Mad Cow... these are just a few of the many Panic/Fear inducing reports they plaster on the Tv.
This latest affliction, Swine Flu, has people frantically stockpiling groceries and household supplies, schools closing, people wearing masks while in public and more. I am left to wonder, when are they (our media) going to realize that the reason people panic or grow sick with fear is due to their repeated grim forecasts of our impending deaths from an imminent pandemic.
Here are the Facts:
Yes, the threat is there, but at this point, statistically, you are more likely to win the lottery TWICE than you are to die from Swine Flu.
1. Is it True? Yes, their is another Strain of Flu going around, normally found in pigs (swine), but is transmittable to humans. It is a respiratory illness, (passed in droplets in the air/ sneezing,etc).
No, you CANNOT catch it from Eating Pork or Pork products!
(Although, I must ashamedly admit, I am looking forward to the sales on pork products due to the media's hype which is scaring people from consuming it!)
2.Wash, Wash, Wash: If you practice good hygiene, (washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, particular around your eyes, nose,mouth and any other thin tissues on your body) you will reduce the chances of introducing any virus into your body.
3 Eat for Health: It never hurts to eat a healthy diet and get a little exercise every single day.
But, if you must suck down a double fudge brownie supreme sundae with hot fudge sauce, do so at home. Did you know that your body's immune system is greatly hindered for several hours after consuming Sugar, making you more susceptible to viral or bacterial infections.
I am a firm believer in "Your body is a Temple", (Mines a Pyramid), here are a few of my favorite immune boosting foods:
Vitamin C: This is the obvious one folks,4. Common Courtesy: If you have a cough, runny nose, fever, be sure to use a tissue, cover your mouth and nose when you cough & you might as well stay home rather than ambling out into public and risk being treated like a leper.
grab a glass of OJ or Grapefruit juice (not the kind loaded with sugars!). For a Frugal immune boosting drink, grab a few fresh lemons, slice them thinly, add 2 quarts clean cold water and a bit of Stevia for natural sweetness. Voila, sip throughout the day. Cheap, healthy, yummy.
Great Sources of Vitamin c:
- oranges
- collard greens
- broccoli
- brussel sprouts
- red cabbage
- kale
- strawberries
- raspberries
- grapefruit
- snow peas
- sweet potatoes
- tomatoes (canned and fresh)
- red peppers
Red chili peppers (cayenne)
Cayenne peppers have a heating effect on the body and have been proven to not only boost the immune system, but to help burn fat. (So, why not drop a few pounds in the process!)
Garlic
This another oldy, but goody. Garlic has wonderful immune boosting properties. I recommend a good healthy dose of it daily. If you don't like the scent it leaves on your body, try taking Kyolic (Aged) garlic, as it provides the nutrients & health benefits, without the scent.
Turmeric - this powerful anti-inflammatory (member of the ginger family) is another wonderful immune boosting seasoning. It makes a lovely flavorful healthy addition to chicken vegetable soup, as well as in casseroles.
5. Treatment If you truly do have symptoms of swine flu, don't panic, there are 2 antiviral drugs oseltimavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) which are effective for treatment.
6. Rest! Getting enough sleep is essential to proper immune system health. This is especially important for children.
Total Comments 13
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Very nicely put. I completely agree with you that it is just a flu and that the media is causing panic but updating every few minutes with more and more cases. So many are scared when they develop a simple sniffle that they are running to the doctor. Maybe this is a lovely way to help stimulate the economy-rush out and stockpile food, medicine, etc. just a thought.
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Great Tips Liss! And I agree with the induced panic thing.
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Wonderfully put. There is no reason to panic, it is a flu. The media is very good at causing panic when it shouldn't be done. It does make you wonder if it might not be a way to get people to spend more money.
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That really bugs me that the media is like "We're all going to die!" when its not as likely as they're making it out to be. I'm a history geek (yes, laugh all you want*) and remember hearing about a flu in the early 1900's that wiped out entire cities hence why I'm not exactly keen on going to work- where sick people come eat and leave their tissues for me to clean up. I'm really NOT pleased with the media at the moment.
I was just thinking the other day that if I didn't live with the vegetarians I lived with now I'd probably go out and buy a ham or some discount pork. |
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Liss -I to was wishing secretly for a pork sale -with graduation next week I need to buy 5 loins. As far as the media I try and only watch the news twice a week.Bobbi
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Quote:
es, the threat is there, but at this point, statistically, you are more likely to win the lottery TWICE than you are to die from Swine Flu.
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Think maybe some of the pharmaceutical companies have a hand in the scare? With more people running to the Dr., more scripts written, more meds. sold (for whatever reason) - those companies are MAKING SOME MONEY.
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Quote:
- those companies are MAKING SOME MONEY.
I've been reading all over the net of families who spent hundreds of dollars stockpiling food, supplies... lots and lots of cases of people rushing to the ER with their children. One lady posted that she was in the ER and there were more than 140 in there with face masks on waiting to be tested. Let's do an interesting calculation.. when I took ds to the doc for Poison Ivy (which was all over his face and had swollen his eye shut), the bill for the 5 hours we waited and the 6 minutes with the LPN, (no doc ever bothered to come in) was a grand total of $760. not including his $4 walmart prescription. Now.. if you want to go by that cost, you have to figure that these people are having actual tests run, getting flu meds ("just in case"), there's $1,000 per person, at least. Grrrrr. Now that's what I call Sickening. |
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I love it! Yes I'm hoping for some great pork sales too! shame on us! LOL! I got my whole family on garlic at least 4 cloves a day. Made up a big batch of sanitizer for everyone to take with them when they have to go to town. I'm betting this blows out real soon.
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i think a lot of the news channels try to over hype the swine flu.. so we don't worry about the economy, we worry about the swine flu and how NOT to get it.. it makes me laugh about how many people will NOT eat pork products right now. no, you can't get it if your pork is cooked all the way through. thanks for your post hun!
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