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STAY HEALTHY ON YOUR TRAVELS

Travel in the time of flu

It's hard not to panic and cancel travel plans while being bombarded by the manic swine flu coverage in the media. But find out more before you take a decision. Experts say swine flu can be particularly virulent in some high-risk patients. Sure, travelling for children below 5 years, the elderly above 65 years, pregnant women, and those with chronic asthma, heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease may be tricky. Check with your doctor before making plans if you fall into any of these groups.

Airport lounges and in-flight settings are places where infection can spread. Also check with your doc if you need a prophylactic dose of Tamiflu. It is a must for those who come in contact with a swine flu patient. Prevention expert Dr Randeep Guleria, professor of medicine, AIIMS, Delhi, says the H1N1 virus affects people with a compromised or weak immune system. What this means is that you need to amp up your immunity to stay safe. Eat healthy (see box) and get enough sleep. Your doctor will tell you if you need fish oil or any other supplementation for protection.

Foods that fight flu

To get long-term immunity and protection from illnesses, you need to eat the right way and get stronger.

Yogurt Probiotics: Healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs.

Oats and Barley: These grains contain beta-glucan, a type of fibre with anti-microbial and antioxidant capabilities. It boosts immunity, and may help antibiotics work better.

Garlic: Contains the active ingredient allicin that fights infection. Garlic takers are two-thirds less likely to catch a cold, research says.

Fish: Selenium, plentiful in shellfish such as oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams, helps white blood cells produce cytokines--proteins that help clear flu viruses out of the body. Salmon, mackerel and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections.

Chicken Soup: The amino acid cysteine, released from chicken during cooking, chemically resembles the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine. The soup's salty broth keeps mucus thin the same way cough medicines do. Added spices, such as garlic and onions, can increase soup's immune-boosting power.

Tea: Tea drinkers had 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood than others who drank a placebo hot drink, in a Harvard study. The amino acid L-theanine is abundant in both black and green tea.

The Right Moves

Yoga can go a long way to boost your immune system. A regular practice of well-rounded postures like the sun salutation helps. Take extra time for the corpse pose and pranayam. According to Christina Brown, the writer of The Yoga Bible: "While asana practice encourages health on the cellular level, corpse pose greatly assists healing on a deep level. Pranayama calms the mind and relieves the stress with chronic illness." All of these are easy done anywhere, anytime. Do them regularly and stay protected!

Stay fit with Travel Plus! Write to [e-mail] with any travel-related health query. Prevention India editor Sanghamitra Chakraborty will answer them all, and tell you about the latest research.

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