photo credit: photographerpandora

 

People who follow a diet rich in the mineral Selenium, which is found naturally in Brazil nuts, cereals, meat and fish, could be less likely than others to experience severe influenze H1N1 (Swine Flu) symptoms. Studies suggest that viruses become more virulent in those who are selenium-deficient, causing more severe, longer-lasting symptoms (1).

 

Unfortunately, the UK’s Selenium intake has fallen well below the Government’s reference level of 75mcg/day for men and 60mcg/day for women. Average UK intakes are in the region of 34mcg/day (2). This raises fears that Britons are at increased risk of experiencing more severe influenza H1N1 (Swine Flu).

 

Medical nutritionist and independent advisor to Healthspan, Dr Sarah Brewer suggests that people can potentially reduce the severity of viral infections by increasing their intake of Selenium-rich foods or by taking a *Selenium supplement. If choosing a Selenium supplement Dr Sarah recommends finding a selenium yeast supplement which is widely regarded as the international gold standard quality due to its high bioavailability.

 

Dr Sarah Brewer comments: “I believe that the reason why the severity of Swine Flu infections in the US is reduced could be attributed to the fact that, as a nation, their Selenium intake levels are adequate. Lack of Selenium is now recognised as a ‘driving force’ for influenza virus mutations (3), which may explain why so many new, pathogenic influenza viruses emerge from Asia, where Selenium intakes are among the lowest in the world.”

 

Henrietta Norton, Healthspan’s senior nutritionist, said: “Selenium is often referred to as the ‘miracle mineral’ and although it’s only required in very small amounts, it’s vital to our health being essential for the body’s antioxidant enzyme defences. Of course, nothing will truly guarantee protection against a severe infection such as Swine Flu, however supplementing the diet with Selenium could enhance the body’s immune system, helping fight against infection as well as potentially reducing the severity of an infection.”

 

* Healthspan’s Selenium Yeast Tablets 200mcg with Vitamins A, C & E, offers a powerful antioxidant combination that can help the body combat the cell damaging effects of free radicals attributed to an influenza/flu infection.  These are available on www.healthspan.co.uk or by calling freephone 0800 73 123 77. They cost £5.45 for 180 tablets and £9.95 for 360.

 

References

(1) M.A. Beck et al. 2001. Selenium deficiency increases the pathology of an influenza virus infection, FASEB J. 15:1481–1483.; H.K. Nelson et al. 2001. Host nutritional selenium status as a driving force for influenza virus mutations, FASEB J. 15:1846–1848.

(2) Rayman MP 1997. Dietary selenium: time to act. BMJ 314:387-388

(3) Beck MA et al. 2004. Host nutritional status: the neglected virulence factor. Trends in Microbiology 12; 9:417-423

 

About Healthspan:

 

Healthspan was established in 1996 and is the UK’s leading home shopping supplier of vitamins, minerals and health supplements. Based in Guernsey, Healthspan offer pure, pharmaceutical grade vitamins and supplements, at permanently low, tax-free prices, direct to your door at no extra charge.

Every Healthspan product is formulated to the highest pharmaceutical standards and produced using only the purest (pharmacist approved) ingredients, in independently inspected and approved premises. For further information please visit www.healthspan.co.uk or freephone their customer service number on 0800 73 123 77.

 

Technorati Tags: Conditions and Diseases, Health, Immune system, Infectious disease, Influenza, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, Swine influenza, Virus

Research reveals why driving to school increases the risk of catching cold and flu

New research from Kleenex® Anti-Viral shows they may be unaware that their car can be a prime breeding ground for spreading and catching germs: only 1% of parents think their kids are susceptible to catching a cold in the car compared to 84% in school classrooms and 13% in the playground.

The car is potentially a cold and flu trap due to limited air circulation, passengers contained in close confinement and used tissues.

Over 50% of parents questioned admitted to leaving their used tissues in the car for longer than a day and only 30% clean them out once a month, leading to a build up of used tissues in car doors and footwells.

This combined with 94% of school runs clocking in at up to 30 minutes each way, means there is a greater chance for germs to circulate and a longer time for your family to be exposed to them.

Famous family doctor and mother of three, Dr Dawn Harper identifies cars as a high risk factor in the cold cycle and shares her top tips on how families can prepare themselves against colds and flu this winter.

She explains: “Parents are protective over their child’s health and try to maintain high levels of hygiene within the home. We are forgetting to take preventative measures when ferrying our kids around in the car – it takes just one sneeze in a car environment to release millions of air borne germs.”

“It is vital to contain these germs and the easiest way to do this is to instil hygienic tissue usage and disposal, especially as Kleenex’s research shows 55% of children using their sleeve or hand to wipe their nose if a tissue isn’t readily available!”

With a third of parents (33%) offering lifts to neighbours and friends’ children, instances of colds are not just confined within the family either. And with more than 30% not buying tissues to keep in the car, it means your own children are more likely to come down with a cold or the flu this winter.

Dr Harper continues: “Germs can remain virulent for up to 24 hours, even in a used tissue, but it is not always easy or practical to throw away a tissue immediately when you are driving. An easy way to protect you kids against cold and flu germs in the car therefore is to use an anti-viral tissue that kills 99.9 percent of major cold and flu viruses in a tissue.”

Here are her top tips for families for the winter:

Practice coughing etiquette – use a disposable tissue (preferably an anti-viral one) and remember to dispose of it as soon as you can

• Open windows to increase ventilation and reduce humidity (this will reduce the risk of airborne viruses)
• If you have a virus, avoid travelling
• Wash your hands when you get out and don’t touch your mouth before doing so
• In addition to avoiding germs and washing your hands, your family can stay healthier during cold season by getting sufficient sleep and exercise, drinking plenty of water and eating a nutritious diet
• Anti-Viral tissues available in box format, at all major retailers RRP: £2.15 for a single pack, £3.80 for twin packs.

Tests have shown that Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues will kill99.9% of the following viruses in the tissue within 15 minutes:

· Influenza A and B that causes flu

· RhinovirusesType 1a and 2 that are the leading causes of colds

· Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the leading cause of lower respiratory infection in children

Dr Harper biog: Dr. Dawn is a GP based in Gloucestershire. Dawn has been working as a media doctor for several years and her ability to simplify complex medical issues has made her an extremely sought after medical commentator and expert.

Dawn’s TV credits include ‘Embarrassing Teen Bodies’ on Channel 4 (Series 3 is currently being filmed and will be shown in October 2008), ‘Looking Good Feeling Great’ on ITV1 and ‘Who’ll Age Worst’ on UKTV. Dawn also regularly appears on ‘The Wright Stuff’ on Five, ‘This Morning’ on ITV1, ‘Women’s Hour’ on Radio 4, Radio 1’s ‘The Surgery’ and writes for a variety of publications including ‘Fresh Ideas’, ‘Healthspan’ and ‘Healthy’ magazine and will soon be NOW Magazines health expert. Her first book ‘Dr Dawn’s Health Check’ was published in 2007 by Mitchell Beazley.

About KLEENEX®

• KLEENEX® is the number one tissue brand in the UK. It has a 46.5% value share of the market
• KLEENEX® has driven all the major innovations such as KLEENEX® Anti-Viral, KLEENEX® Ultra Soft, KLEENEX® Balsam, KLEENEX® pocket packs
• Three packs of KLEENEX® are sold every second in the UK (AC Nielsen, 2007)
• The KLEENEX® brand in the UK is the first of Kimberly-Clark’s global product ranges to become Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited with the FSC logo showing on packs from January 2008

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people–nearly a quarter of the world’s population–trust K-C’s brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well being. With brands such as KLEENEX®, Andrex®, Huggies®, Pull-Ups®, Kotex® and Depend®, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 135-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

As a leading health and hygiene company, Kimberly-Clark has years of experience in educating professionals and families about good hygiene practise, whether it be through Infection Control nurses in Hospitals, through Contract Cleaners in an industrial setting or through the work it does with retailers and consumers.

Technorati Tags: ACNielsen, Andrex, Forest Stewardship Council, kimberly clark, Kleenex, Kleenex Anti-Viral, Kotex, Wright Stuff

Healthy Direct (www.healthydirect.com) the vitamin and mineral supplement provider has launched Co Q10, a new energising supplement that helps maintain general health and wellbeing.

Coenzyme Q10 is an essential nutrient which is produced naturally in the body and is the catalyst in transforming food into energy. It can help a variety of health problems from improving muscle function and reducing blood pressure to reversing the ageing process and boosting energy levels. The older you get however, the levels of Co Q10 decrease.

Henrietta Norton, senior nutritionist at Healthy Direct says: “Co Q10 is a potent antioxidant and helps our body to function efficiently and as such an important energy source, large organs can struggle if levels drop – you could say that Co Q10 acts as the body’s spark plugs! As well as aiding a variety of health problems you can also combat the damage caused by beta blockers, blood pressure lowering medication and statins.”

Healthy Direct’s Co Q10 provides 60 capsules of 100mg doses to be taken daily and is available from www.healthydirect.com or by calling 0800 107 57 57.

Technorati Tags: blood pressure, Coenzyme Q10, healthy direct, heart disease, Statin