Flu season begins to increase in October, peaks between December and February, with influenza activity lasting as late as May—which means now is a crucial time for people to take preventative measures to prepare for flu season and boost their immune system.
Experts warn that this year’s flu season could be more severe than normal due to the low number of cases last year. Less than 2,000 confirmed cases of influenza were detected during the 2020-2021 flu season in the United States, according to the CDC.
That number is down from at least 39 million cases the year before.
What seems to appear as encouraging news on the surface is not to be taken for granted. Experts believe last year’s flu season being one of the mildest on record was due to people taking infection precautions against COVID-19. We are entering a new flu season with far more relaxed precautions in place against the pandemic, an overall sense of complacency toward the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and a desire for life the way it was prior to the pandemic.
Health experts are concerned fewer people have immunity to the flu strains circulating this winter due to the extremely low number of flu cases last year—which means taking extra precautions to boost your immune system and not let your guard down is critical.
How to Prepare for Flu Season:
Get a flu shot:
It is important for people to remember that the influenza virus is as dangerous, contagious, and prevalent as it always has been. People can unknowingly spread the flu up to a full day before exhibiting symptoms. The vaccine protects against the most common strains of the flu. Health experts modify the vaccine each year based on predictions for the upcoming flu season. While you able to receive a flu shot at any point during the flu season, now is an optimal time for protection through early next year. The CDC wants people to know that the COVID-19 Vaccine is not a replacement for the traditional flu shot and it is safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as a flu shot.
Maintain proper hand hygiene:
As flu season gets underway, it is imperative for people to continue the same best practices from when COVID-19 cases were at their highest. Hand washing remains one of the easiest ways you can protect yourself from the influenza virus as well as the common cold and the SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Consistent hand hygiene plays a key role in minimizing the spread of these infections.
Wear a face covering during high-risk situations:
Experts all agree that airborne transmission may be the dominant form of transmission for several respiratory pathogens. This includes the influenza virus which causes the flu and the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19. The high volume of people wearing face coverings last year to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 led to a double-benefit with added protection from getting the flu.
Stay hydrated:
Hydration is always important and proper rehydration during an illness such as the flu is crucial. Under normal circumstances, experts recommend the average man drinks 16 cups of water per day and the average woman drinks 11 cups of water per day, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. When your body is sick with the flu, you become more susceptible to dehydration which makes it difficult for your body to regulate temperature. Staying hydrated also helps your body decrease nasal irritation when coughing and/or sneezing.
If you are dehydrated or feeling like you may have the flu, a specially formulated Hydration Infusion is optimal since it contains key ingredients such as electrolytes which can affect your ability to rehydrate if they are not properly balanced. This blend of water, electrolytes, and essential nutrients restores fluid balance in your body, replenishes important vitamins, and reduces the body’s acidity by helping to remove common toxins.
Eat Healthy:
Eating healthy is a crucial component of a healthy immune system, especially during flu season. Many people immediately reach for citrus fruits as a way to boost the immune system, which is true since they are high in Vitamin C and a good source of antioxidants.
There are several other foods that can boost your immune system for having antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, or Vitamin C levels:
- Almonds
- Red bell peppers.
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Yogurt
Vitamin Infusions for Flu Season:
Eating healthy and staying hydrated is important year-round, yet these healthy lifestyle practices become even more important before and during flu season. No matter how much effort, energy, and attention to detail you put into your diet, it is natural for your body to need a leg up.
Nova Vita Wellness Centers has several IV Vitamin Infusions for flu season. These specially formulated infusions are backed by science and provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds directly into the bloodstream to keep your immune system in tip-top shape.
Here are a few of our most popular infusions to boost your immune system:
- High Vitamin C Infusion: In addition to the immune-boosting properties and anti-inflammatory effects from the high levels of Vitamin C, we add Zinc to this formulation to further boost the immune system.
- Defense Infusion: This infusion is specifically for upgrading your body’s wellness defense mechanisms. It improves the health of the immune system with a formulation of essential vitamins and nutrients that boost the white blood cell count in the body. This infusion is designed to combat illnesses such as the flu, common cold, and allergies while helping to prevent new illnesses.
- Cleanse Infusion: The Cleanse Infusion is great for the immune system as it provides essential amino acids, vitamins, and nutrients to improve the liver’s ability to remove toxins. The liver is the main organ involved in detoxification by acting as the body’s filter for blood coming from the digestive tract to the rest of the body. Research shows the importance of gut health and its impact on overall wellbeing. Without a healthy digestive system, healthy eating habits are futile as the body cannot fully absorb and benefit from the vitamins and minerals in our diets. A healthy gut also contains healthy bacteria and immune cells that ward off viruses and bacteria which can impact a person’s immune system, especially during flu season.
- FluAway Infusion: As the name suggests, this infusion is for anyone whose immune system got hit hard by influenza and is struggling to recover from symptoms. The infusion contains vitamins, minerals, and special ingredients such as Glutamine to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. The infusion can improve the various symptoms associated with the flu by combining B-Complex Vitamins, Vitamin C, Multitrace-5 mixture, and Glutamine.
