Prevent the FLU !!

Do I have the Flu? What is the flu? Well, it’s not a cold, but it is a viral respiratory infection. Which means that you breath in the infection and it begins to multiply like crazy and then it spread throughout your body. http://health.howstuffworks.com/question744.htm

Every flu season brings sad, scary stories of how many people have come down with the flu and how many have died from the flu. But let us remember that it is God who gives and takes life Job 1:21. And God has a plan for our lives from beginning to end Psalm 139:16 & Jeremiah 29:11. So let us use our time wisely Psalm 90.

After reading the things that prevent the flu in our physical bodies, I got to thinking about the kinds of things that produce weakness, disease, and death in our spiritual bodies and what we could do to prevent them. Our enemy keeps “mutating” his viruses so that we are often caught unawares. The symptoms are: a critical spirit & sarcasm, disinterest in spiritual matters, avoiding fellowship, an arrogant spirit, etc. And I’m sure you’ve seen how quickly viruses spread in a group of believers. Here are some things that you can do during this spiritual flu season to keep you healthy and productive spiritually.

1. FREQUENT PRAYING Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

2. JUST DON’T Gripe, Complain, or Whine Do everything without complaining or arguing, Philippians 2:14

3. PRAISE GOD WITH YOUR MOUTH for all you’ve got, for all He’s given you, for all He IS give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

4. BREATH DEEPLY of the knowledge of your freedom in Christ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

5. BOOST YOUR SPIRITUAL IMMUNE SYSTEM by FELLOWSHIPPING REGULARLY with Godly encouraging people Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

6. DRINK IN GOD’S WORD as much as you can But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17

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Someone sent me some very helpful information regarding preventing the flu in our physical bodies. I hope you find it beneficial. God bless you!

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all of you to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. FREQUENT HAND-WASHING (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "HANDS-OFF-THE-FACE" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. GARGLE TWICE A DAY WITH WARM SALT WATER (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. CLEAN YOUR NOSTRILS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY DAY WITH WARM SALT WATER.

· Use Yoga asanas (Jala Neti or Sutra Neti) to clean nasal cavities),

· Blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

· Over the counter saline nasal sprays are simple and cheap and will have the same effect used 3 times daily.

5. BOOST YOUR NATURAL IMMUNITY WITH FOODS THAT ARE RICH IN VITAMIN C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. DRINK AS MUCH OF WARM LIQUIDS AS YOU CAN. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

There are many sites with very useful information regarding preventing the flu. Below are a few that seemed to offer sound practical advise.

http://www.preventtheflu.com/

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/12-tips-prevent-cold-flu