To fight flu, arm your immune system with diet, rest – CNN.com.

It’s no secret. The flu – and I mean ANY flu, wreaks havoc on you body. Everyone as of late has been in a slight panic over the H1N1 virus and the ensuing ‘swine’ flu. How to prevent it? How to avoid it?

A lot of talk, discussion, chatter and disagreement has been over the vaccine itself. To get vaccinated or not? Do the benefits outweigh the risks.

Aside from those individuals with already compromised immune systems and the high risk populations, I’m here to tell you to stick to the basics. Stick to what has worked, what does work, and what will continue to work in the fight against that horrible monster called the flu: Monitor Your Health. Not only monitor it, but maximize it to its fullest potential.

In other words, take care of yourself and your body. Trust me, it’s the only one you get.

The article above from CNN highlights what we should already know, but just in case you forgot, or would like a kind reminder, here are some key tips to help keep you armed against this deadly foe.

• Boost your immune system: get the vaccine (if you feel comfortable doing so)
• Good nutrition: eat the right foods. Stay away from the saturated fatty foods. More vegetable. More lean protein
• Supplements: This is just an added boost to your regular diet. Be sure to get most of your needed vitamins from the foods you eat. Adding a lil extra w0n’t hurt.
• Exercise: I don’t care what it is. Just do it. Get out there, and get moving. The more often the better. The more intense, the better.
• Sleep: This is the BIG one. Everyone functions on too little sleep. And while this works for a short time, your body will kindly remind you when it needs its rest. A tired body = a weakened immune system.

If after all this you still lose the battle and get the flu (any flu!), be sure to handle it properly. Don’t force yourself to make it to work. Don’t drag your butt to the gym. Your body will only recover if you allow it. Sleep, sleep and more sleep. After that, sleep some more. During the waking hours drink as much fluids as possible due to the dehydration that sets in from losing all your fluids via the Kleenex. A quick tip: those headaches and body aches are ‘mostly‘ due to dehydration. Fluids, fluids and more fluids.

The flu is a virus, plain and simple. There is no amount of medication that will hasten or shorten your suffering. You have to simply ‘ride it out’. All those wonderful over the counter medications are simply hiding (masking) the ‘symptoms’ of your flu, not eliminating the virus.

I wish you the best of luck this flu season.