Association Mart

Faced with a potential worldwide Avian flu pandemic, I surveyed many health promoting aids available from which I could effectively achieve a state of basic readiness, and in so doing, pulled from obvious "traditional" approaches and looked towards some of the most innovative products in supplement form for popular distribution. By revealing the following diet related options, I will show how even the so called "poor" can ready themselves and their loved ones by practicing simple but exceptional immune system care. Fresh, natural spring water (the veritable source of life)

During my summer visits to the Appalachian region, I always drank and bathed with fresh spring water. On occasion, I would collect water from a free flowing source which originated from deep within the earth. It was through these experiences that I came to know the meaning behind the quote mentioned above.

In North America, it's become rare for even rural populations to have access to unpolluted ground water for domestic use which would account for the almost total absence of knowledge of the health benefits associated to the most fundamental dietary component. By bathing in and drinking unprocessed freshly pumped spring water, one absorbs minerals from the earth as well as beneficial health promoting bacteria and it's for this reason that "spas" continue to enjoy popularity.

"In addition to bathing, guests at these spas also consumed glasses of the spring water. It was believed that the water had medicinal value and could cure many illnesses. Spas attracted those afflicted with cholera, yellow fever, tuberculosis, pneumonia, dysentery, gout, rheumatism, and other diseases..." - 2. A homeowner's guide to the development, maintenance and protection of springs as a drinking water source.  Virginia Water Resources Center, Blacksburg, Virginia link: "The waters flow at a constant 74°F from the base of Warm Springs Ridge. You may still drink freely and fill your jugs at Lord Fairfax's public tap, and wade in the ancient stone pools in the Nation's smallest state park..." - 3. link *It is important to note that uncompromised standards should be used in determining whether a spring's water is adequate for human consumption. If the practice of bottling is used, the filled bottles must be refrigerated and consumed within a maximum period of four days or first frozen, then refrigerated etc. Bacteria which are health threatening will eventually gain the upper hand in unrefrigerated, fresh spring water. Serious attentiveness is called for in this situation.

Through our minds and our personalities, we experience ourselves as masters over the environment in which we live; we make decisions over the fate of the earth's environment, vegetation, animal and our own communal life. But the reality is that our very own bodies are made up of the substances which belong to the earth and its atmosphere and because of this, we are interconnected in most infinite ways with its ecosystem. In order to restore and maintain health, our bodies require life sustaining nutrients from within this very ecosystem, namely vitamins, minerals and a strong presence of beneficial bacteria. These substances are taken up readily by our bodies in their most natural states as in the example of fresh spring water because there exists an extremely complex affinity between our natural environment and our bodies.

Obtaining beneficial bacteria through fermented foods

A secondary way of obtaining health promoting bacteria is through eating traditional fermented foods found throughout the world. By consuming these types of foods (basic yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, etc.) on a daily basis, an individual not only furnishes his/her body with important nutrients and specific health promoting properties characteristic of these foods, he/she takes an active therapeutic step towards good health.

"First, fermentation neutralizes unhealthy chemicals found in grains and beans. Second, it adds a host of beneficial micro-organisms to food, making them more digestible and increasing the healthy flora in our intestinal tracts. link

These foods are generally inexpensive (go to a deli for cheap, imported sauerkraut),can be easily created in the home and are considered accessible to all.

Even today, we still detect feelings of reverence which various cultures from around the world hold towards their traditional recipes, preparations which were developed through and have withstood the test of time. Who could possibly think of discrediting the respect held towards these foods including those fermented? Good health has evidently inspired humanity in the past and today, those containing health promoting bacteria are under the microscope.

"Some research also suggests that probiotics have a beneficial effect on the intestinal micro flora, improving the functioning of the intestinal lining while helping to regulate critical components of the immune system such as lymphocytes, antibodies and natural killer cells following probiotic-mediated signaling in the gut..." - WOODCOCK et al., 2003; PARRA et al., 2004; MARCOS et al., 2004; YASUI et al., 2003; CROSS, 2004.

"Researchers have launched the first scientific society and established the first institute in North America dedicated to studying probiotics--live microorganisms consumed or applied to specific anatomic sites for their purported health benefits. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) held its inaugural conference 3-5 May in London, Ontario, Canada, attended by 70 researchers from five continents..."link

*It's possible to obtain additional healthy bacteria through dietary supplements and in this way, one can ensure that his/her body contains a strong omnipresence of these beneficial types exactly as they exist naturally within the earth's soil and its unpolluted, underground water systems. It's in this manner that those who don't have access to fresh, vibrant spring water can employ an old method for maintaining and restoring health while using a new approach. In this way, we attune our bodies to the wise design of an ecosystem in which we incidentally belong.

*There exists effective probiotics in supplement form, such as: *Bio-K plus *CustomProbiotics *Complete Probiotic Blend with soil based organisms

Antioxidants etc.

The following excerpts, written by Dr. Fuhrman, M.D. shed light on some interesting facts:

"...Clearly, the concept that powerful and competent host defenses are enabled by nutritional excellence is not merely my opinion; rather it is the reality of human physiology supported by hundreds of scientific studies..."

"...The most effective artillery we have to protect ourselves against the potential damaging effects of influenza and other infectious diseases is nutritional excellence. Micronutrients--meaning vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals..."

"...The flu is a simple viral illness which a healthy body has scores of adequate defenses against. No flu, including the bird flu, is any match for a well-nourished immune system. A healthy diet should include: At least four fresh fruits a day; four servings of vegetables a day, of which at least two are green vegetables; some raw nuts and seeds..."

"...In spite of the fear that the Avian Flu is an exceptionally virulent strain, with about half of those humans infected having died, it still stands little chance against a truly healthy immune system..."

Read more from Dr. Fuhrman's six steps to help protect your family from Avian flu.

Dr Fuhrman may or may not be rightly estimating the Avian Flu's influence on truly healthy individuals but he undoubtedly supplies excellent immune system care information. Check out some of the research work he based his opinions on, and judge for yourself.

An easy and excellent way to receive the health benefits of fresh fruit, vegetables, greens and herbs is through drinking their freshly made juice. I've found an inexpensive manual model sold in the US, made in China, that costs approx. $20 and which is also ideal for passing greens and herbs; the most robust machines are not. This model is very good because it doesn't heat the juice and extracts most of the liquid. It takes more time to make less but it's accessible to many. (Use a large carrot as a feeder and as with all juicers, include some lemon to recipes to avoid rapid oxidization).

Among some of the most innovative nutritional supplement products to appear in the last decade are the 'natural whole food concentrates'. Though not cheap, they are the answer to a demand for 'nutrient excellence' and convenience. A wide variety of quality foods are gathered together and maintained in food form which allows their nutrients to be easily assimilated by our bodies. These products can be used for daily health upkeep, to boost immunity, to restore strength following illness or to revitalize after a workout. If the threat of a pandemic intensifies considerably, they could also be included on a list of 'items to stockpile' since such a scenario could involve the implementation of restrictions on the movement of peoples/goods across borders, etc. *Sound digestion is considered fundamental to a healthy body and the tips I've given, contribute directly towards this function; probiotics restore health to the gut, fresh fruits and vegetables contain fiber which assist elimination and while some fresh juices have the property of being diuretic, others assist in elimination. I feel compelled to include that drinking clean water daily is a must and some interest should be directed towards supporting the liver and the lungs.

This article is inspired by knowledge gathered through experience. It shows a laypersons first steps towards a state of readiness in the event of a pandemic but they inevitably apply to everyday living. Should the Avian flu manifest itself in my vicinity, it's my intention to increase intake of this basic prescription and perhaps incorporate other products and practices. I encourage you to investigate further and don't hesitate to consult a naturopath or medical doctor with your health related questions.

About the author: Carol Canning lives in Montreal, Canada and has a healthy interest towards issues involving our social conditions.