Food Talk: Can diet help avoid swine flu?

QUESTION: Is there any special diet to help avoid swine flu?

ANSWER: The best question to ask yourself is: “What can I do to stay healthy?” Currently we tend to focus on the frightening aspects of the swine flu outbreak but there are a few things you can do to keep yourself healthy now and anytime.

The first line of defense is washing your hands.

Wash your hands often. Use regular soap and warm water. Wash for a full 20 seconds.  This is about the same amount of time it takes to sing the alphabet song. Be sure to scrub around your nails and the back of your hands. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used in a pinch. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes. This is a very easy way to spread germs.

You should eat a healthy diet that is antioxidant rich. These assist your immune system and help fight disease. Foods that are antioxidant rich are citrus fruits, carrots, green peppers, broccoli, blueberries, pomegranates and green leafy vegetables (such as spinach). 

Insufficient levels of Vitamin D in the body may make us more susceptible to infections. Get 15 minutes of sunshine a day if possible. Try eating more foods containing Vitamin D. Foods rich in Vitamin D are dairy foods, eggs, salmon and foods that are fortified. If you cannot do these things you may want to talk to your doctor about taking a supplement.

You do not need to avoid pork products. The swine flu is so called because the virus partly originated in pigs, though it also contains bird and human genes. You may see it referred to as H1N1. Swine flu generally causes typical flu symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, coughing, sore throat, vomiting and headaches. Like other flu, it may be serious if not managed properly.

It is safe to continue to eat pork, just follow safe food handling practices. Avoid raw or undercooked pork and avoid cross-contamination between raw and cooked pork. Again, wash your hands. You can be the greatest contaminator.

For more nutrition information, please contact Registered Dietitian Ellen Loftis at (479) 549-2425.