FLU (influenza-A) is a virus that runs November to April and affects 10-25% of Canadians annually, sends 20,000 to hospital and kills 4,000. According to Google Flu trends, flu is possibly slightly higher right now compared to previous years. The flu and "colds" are different.

Types of COLD viruses:

Adenoviruses
Rhinovirus
Coronavirus
Parainfluenza
Enteroviruses
Respiratory syncital viruses
Etc...

To tell the difference between 'just a cold' and 'its the Flu!' is that flu symptoms include almost always: cough and fever. Common symptoms also include fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, decreased appetite, runny nose, and sometimes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The largest study of its kind released in the Lancet a few weeks ago (1967-current) shows the flu vaccine is only 59% effective! We need to inform people as to what more they can do/take to stay healthy this year!

PRODUCTS

•  Echinacea (the RIGHT type): Jamieson FluShield
• Getting your Vit-D for immune enhancement (but wait, its absorbed best WITH a fat): Acenta NutraSea+D
• Solutions for under 12 (especially where many cough/cold childrens products deemed unsafe and ineffective!): Boiron Oscillo, Stodal, and Coryzalia
• Probiotics (if you MUST take antibiotics due to a secondary bacterial infection - common case with the flu): Bio-K
• Himalayan salt rock inhalers