Aussie women are the real target of the dreaded winter cold and flu season, with a new study revealing that stressed out, overworked and rundown mums are compromising their own health, work and social life to stay home and take care of their sick children.
Commissioned by Wagner Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract™, the Newspoll survey of more than 1200 Australians aged 18-64 showed that 60% of Aussie mums were very likely to cancel any plans they had to stay home and mind their sick children - 13% higher than dads - and over three in five (61%) said they would let their unwell child sleep in their bed to comfort them, compared to 55% of fathers.
An overwhelming majority (86%) of parents with children younger than 12 were likely to take the day off work to stay home with their sick child, and three in five said they would not send their child to school or day care if they were ill, even if they had been given medicine. Four in five women (78%) believed they were at major risk of catching a cold or flu from a sick person at home, compared to just 65% of men, and a further 75% of women said that being overworked, rundown or stressed was a major risk factor, significantly higher than just 59% of men.
Sydney naturopath and TV presenter Emma Sutherland said the findings highlight the need for women to have a strong, healthy body before the winter months hit. She said high levels of stress lead to immune suppression, increasing the body's likelihood of catching a cold or flu.
"Mums are usually the primary caretaker in the household and very often have to juggle the various pressures of everyday life. Between keeping their productivity and energy levels up at work, managing the household chores and taking care of sick children - winter can be a very intense period for women," said Ms. Sutherland.
The survey also exposed the more disgusting drawbacks of the dreaded winter cold and flu. Almost nine in 10 (85%) Aussies have witnessed people who do not use a tissue or hanky to wipe their nose, four in five have seen people wipe their nose on their sleeve, and around half have had someone sneeze on the back of their neck, or experienced a snotty handshake.
Women were particularly more at risk of catching a cold or flu from being subject to a child sneezing in their face with 71% experiencing this, compared to just 59% of men.
When it came to preventative techniques to fight the onset of cold and flu, nine in 10 Australians said they undertook regular hand washing. Interestingly, 86% of women said they ate plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, compared to just 77% of men, while men were much more likely to take the 'easy option' with over two in five (43%) choosing to get a flu vaccination - 9% higher than their female counterparts. More than one in two (53%) Aussies said they use vitamins and supplements to help ward off cold and flu.
"Relaxation methods, good quality sleep, a healthy diet, regular exercise, washing your hands often, and boosting your immunity with natural supplements will all help you fight infections," said Emma Sutherland.
Ms. Sutherland said she often prescribes the use of an aged garlic supplement to patients due to its ability to fight and prevent colds and flu, and because it is a natural antibiotic and powerful antioxidant.
"Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract uses a unique, award-winning natural process, taking 20 months to complete, that converts the unstable compounds found in raw garlic to immune boosting antioxidants. The result is a super-charged garlic that helps support the body's natural immune defences against cold and flu, without the garlic breath," Emma Sutherland said.
Influenza hospitalises 15,000 Australians and claims the lives of around 2500 each year, which is why Emma Sutherland recommends preventative techniques to help boost the body's immunity and improve its ability to ward off winter colds and flu.
1. A diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains ensures you get the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are essential for a healthy immune system. Eat plenty of onion and garlic for their antimicrobial properties to keep germs at bay, and consider taking natural supplements like Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract™ to help prevent winter colds and flu. Ginger and chilli are warming foods and adding them to your dishes can also be a great immunity booster in the cooler months.
2. Ensure that you go into the winter months with adequate levels of Vitamin D. Research has shown that people with low Vitamin D get more frequent and more severe colds than people with high levels. As it is a fat soluble vitamin, be careful of eating "low fat" foods as you will be missing out on Vitamin D.
Natural sources are full fat dairy, sardines, egg yolks and cod liver oil.
1. My first tip is to act quickly! Start taking natural antimicrobial herbs such as an aged garlic extract like Kyolic, Echinacea, Andrographis and Elder at the first signs of illness. It is far more effective to do this rather than waiting as you can prevent the virus from taking hold.
2. Avoid all forms of sugar including glucose, fructose, sucrose or processed juice as they significantly reduce the ability of white blood cells to destroy viruses. This is due to sugar blocking white blood cells from using Vitamin C, and this vitamin is vital in the fight against infection.
3. Start supplementing with Vitamin C as well as zinc. As mentioned, white blood cells require Vitamin C in their fight against infection but they also need the mineral zinc. Zinc can be found in oysters, sunflower seeds, lamb and beef while foods high in Vitamin C include blackcurrants, red chilli, red capsicum, broccoli, kale and lemon.
4. Temporarily reduce dairy products as these tend to increase mucous production and lead to congestion. This is a big tip for children as they tend to consume a lot of cheese, yoghurt and milk.
5. Taking natural supplements like Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract, as well as "friendly bacteria" such as Probiotica P3 to help support immune function and improve resistance to infection. Traces of probiotics are found in some foods (yoghurt, milk, miso and some juices and soy beverages) but are best administered via dietary supplements in capsule, tablet or powder form to ensure they survive the stomach acid and arrive where they are in needed in the intestine in sufficient numbers to make a difference.
Risk Factor: Being overworked, run-down or stressed: Stress increases the levels of adrenal gland hormones, including adrenalin and cortisol. Among other things, these hormones slow down white blood cell formation and function. The effects of these hormones lead to suppression of immune function, leaving the body susceptible to infections. The level of immune suppression is usually proportional to the level of stress; the greater the stress the greater the negative impact. Relaxation techniques such as exercise, meditation, reading and laughing as well as good quality sleep will go a long way in boosting your immunity and decreasing the likelihood of catching a cold or flu.
Risk Factor: Not eating the right foods: Many foods will reduce your immunity while others will boost it and knowing which ones to load up on is the key to staying free from nasty infections. This is probably one of the biggest risk factors - if you don't develop a strong resistance then despite all your efforts, you will probably get sick. Avoid having too much sugar, alcohol, caffeine and processed foods as these will leach vital vitamins, minerals and antioxidants from your body. Smoking depletes Vitamin C and zinc which are two major nutrients used by the immune system. Foods that support a strong immune system include berries, plums, raisons, prunes, pomegranate, sweet potato, broccoli, artichokes, apples, carrots, tomatoes and kiwifruit. The key is to eat beneficial foods on a daily basis, not just occasionally!
Risk Factor: Experiencing a change in the weather: Many people catch colds at the change of season and the sudden shift in environmental factors such as temperature, wind and humidity can go a long way in providing ideal conditions for germs to thrive. If you are prone to hayfever or colds at these times then start supporting your immune system in the months beforehand. Taking a natural remedy like Wagner Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract can help build your body's natural immune defences against cold and flu. Kyolic's unique 20-month ageing process results in a super-charged immune boosting garlic supplement without the garlic breath.
Risk Factor: Air-conditioning in the home or workplace: We spend far more time in air conditioning than we did even 10 years ago and it does have some downsides. The spread of germs is made all the more easy and lack of fresh air means those germs are more densely concentrated. At home, open your windows and air out the house as much as you can and use the air con only when really necessary. At work, get out of the office on your lunch break and ensure you use hand sanitiser before eating. Add a few drops of lemon balm essential oil to a tissue and place it near the fan in your computer. Lemon balm has shown strong antiviral properties in clinical research and it is beautifully uplifting too.
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