fight off viruses immune system

How to fight off viruses & bacteria!

It’s more important than ever to actively know how to fight off viruses and bacteria these days.

I had COV-ID in February this year; my husband and three children also tested positive. Initially, only my nine-year-old daughter tested positive. After trying to quarantine her in her room on the first day, we felt that we couldn’t last a week without being with her, so as a family since we are all very healthy, we decided to cuddle her, so we all contracted the virus too. 

As a naturopath for 25 years, I was able to make that educated decision, but it is not something that I’m recommending to others, but I’m using this experience for this guide to share with you what I did to fast track our healing. We only had mild symptoms for three days, and then we felt good.  

Unfortunately, my dear friend of 20 years suddenly died and with the shock and tremendous loss, my immune system took a huge knock! As a result, I contracted COV-ID again a month after the first time (a different strain). 

I must say my body handled the virus very differently this time. Last time I was strong, well and living in optimum health, so after three days, the symptoms left. This time, I quarantined myself from my family, and it hit me much harder coming from a place of weakness and distress after my friend’s death. I did all the same protocols and feel blessed that seven days later, I’m healed – but what a huge learning curve!

COV-ID and all viruses are here to stay, and now it is vital to sow into our health. I rarely get sick; in fact, the last time I had a virus/flu was over six years ago. My friend who passed has a little boy, and I looked after him during the funeral because his fever spiked up to 40 degrees. There was no way I wasn’t going to hold this sweet boy in my arms for those hours, so of course, I contracted the virus. It just drove home how important it is to have a baseline of good health, so your body has the strength to fight off any virus or disease. 

Our bodies are fighting off cancer and many other diseases each day, and if they are going to go to battle for us each day, the least we can do is make sure they have what they need, not just to win a battle here and there but to ultimately win the war so you can live a long, fruitful life you love.

I have been treating clients successfully for viruses for the past 25 years. I don’t claim to cure, but I am good at supporting a client’s immune system, so your body is strong enough to get well and stay well.

At Rejuv, we treat you holistically based on our 7 Pillars of Wellness to have long-lasting success with your health. You can use all of these tips at the first sign of any cough, cold or flu and continue until you feel well. The tips towards the end are tips I live by so you can continue as part of a healthy, vibrant lifestyle. 

Bacteria, Virus, Sugars and Your Immune System

The University of Copenhagen published a paper titled  “Bacteria and viruses infect our cells through sugars: Now researchers want to know how they do it.” (ScienceDaily, 23 April 2021), and they have confirmed; ‘Most infectious bacteria and viruses bind to sugars on the surface of our cells. 

Now researchers have created a library of tens of thousands of natural cells containing all the sugars found on the surface of our cells. The library may help us understand the role of sugars and their receptors in the immune system and the brain. We have established how the sugars bind to and activate the so-called Siglec receptors that regulate immunity. 

These receptors play a major role, as they tell the immune system to decrease or increase activities to fight off viruses and bacteria.’ Therefore, we mustn’t bombard our bodies with glucose, especially if we have contracted a virus, cough, cold, or flu.  

T Helper Cells Fight Off Viruses and Bacteria

Your immune system is like an organised army with T Helper (Th) cells, an essential part of the immune system. White blood cells recognise foreign particles and pathogens and initiate an immune response. Th Cells produce cytokines which are immune messenger proteins responsible for carrying out the various roles of the immune system. 

The Immune System Has Two Parts: TH1 & TH2

Th1:  These are called “cell-mediated” immunity, which typically deals with viral and gram-negative bacterial infections. This is your first line of defence against pathogens and viruses that get inside of our cells and make us sick.  This is called the body’s innate immune response. This consists of Killer T cells, T helper cells and T suppressor cells. This group is like the police force or army as first responders to an attack or issue in our communities. 

Th2:  These cells are responsible for the mediated immune response. They deal with gram-positive bacteria, toxins and allergens. This system stimulates the production of antibodies in response to pathogens found outside the cells. This is called the body’s acquired immune response. This is more like the CIA or special forces and helps build our natural immunity with circulating antibodies to keep us well if we reencounter the same virus. This is why we chose to get COV-ID to develop our innate immunity. 

A Balanced Immune System

The key is to have a balanced immune system – not overactive and causing autoimmune or excessive allergic reactions or not underactive when faced with a disease like cancer or from parasites, viruses or bacteria. We have trouble shifting back into good health. 

This is what I want to talk about today so that when you face an external threat like a virus, you can support your immune system to fast track your healing. 

10 Tips to Fight Off Viruses And Fast Track Your Healing

1. Hydrating Electrolyte H2O

What is one of the first things they do if you are not well and end up in the hospital?

They put you on a saline drip. By creating a natural electrolyte, you support the body’s hydration, helping the immune system work effectively and fast track your healing.

Mix up  2L of filtered water in a glass jug with the juice of 1/2 – 1 lemon plus 1/4 teaspoon of unprocessed sea salt such as Celtic Start with 500ml of this water first thing before food and then sip on this during the day to make sure you reach this water goal. Room temperature or warm water is best, and adding a teaspoon of Manuka honey is also very healing and soothing. 

2. Load on Plant-Based Vitamin C 

Plant-Based Vitamin C is antiviral & antibacterial. It needs to be plant-based and not synthetic for otherwise, your body will pee out, which is a waste of time and money.

Plant-based vitamin C is bioavailable, so opt for a complex that is Non-Corn & Non-GMO with rose hips, elderflower, elderberry, Acerola cherry, parsley and black current. This provides added bio-flavonoids and photo nutrients like our Rejuv Immune Support Capsules. For kids, you can empty these capsules into water or juice as they have a pleasant taste or use our Rejuv Kids Chewable Multivitamins.

I like to use synergist blends to get the fastest results, like our Rejuv Immune Boost and Immune Restore packs. The main difference is that the Immune Restore doesn’t just work to hoover up the bug but also restores your gut health, so your build-up of a natural defence reduces the chance of getting sick again.  

3. Detox Your Nasal Passages

The first line of defence of your body from bugs, viruses, pathogens and pollution, is your nasal passages. After exposure, the virus tries to invade and multiply in your nasal passages for at least 1-2 days before you develop any symptoms.

A steam session for your nasal passages can work miracles to wash away viral particles before they have the opportunity to take hold and thereby prevent many infections, even sinus and lung infections, from happening in the first place.

Steam your head over the tub of hot water with a towel over your head like a tent & keep 8-12 inches away from the hot water. Filtered water and a glass bowl or stainless steel pot are preferable over plastic.

I love to add in essential oils such as eucalyptus or Olbas Oil, and I also add in 30ml of Hydrogen peroxide, one teaspoon of unprocessed sea salt, and 30ml of Colloidal silver. Steam for 5-10minutes or as long as tolerated and inhale through the nose and out through the mouth.

4. Avoid Sugar

Sugar feeds viruses and bacteria, as per above, so avoid sugar and opt for fresh fruits with a GI rating of 50 or less so also not to bombard the body with fructose. Viruses and pathogens are opportunists, so don’t give them an inch, for they will take a mile! If you have a problem with sugar cravings and low blood sugar, you can also take 2 of our Rejuv Blood Sugar Support Capsules before any main meal.

5. Embrace the Fever to Fight Off Viruses & Bacteria

Don’t reach for the paracetamol first thing when you get a fever. Fever was designed by the body to cook off the bugs and pathogens literally. You may need paracetamol later, but please don’t take it right away, for your body needs a chance to do what it was designed to do.

Reach for a cold flannel first, and I always keep colloidal silver in my home due to its anti-viral & anti-bacterial properties.  30ml for kids and 60ml for adults of colloidal silver, available from any health store, first and last thing of the day until you feel better. You can also get this in a nasal spray to cleanse your nasal passages, where the bugs first enter and encounter your body’s first defence.

6. Sleep More

Permit yourself to sleep more when you’re not feeling well, for your body needs all extra energy to fight off the viruses or pathogens and shift you back into good health.

Get off devices 1 hour before bed and turn the lights down to encourage a wind-down routine. Use essential oils like lavender and Frankincense and a calming tea like WelleCo. Sleep Welle Tea or the Rejuv Moon Milk

We also have a new formula at Rejuv called Bedtime Blend, a herbal synergistic blend to support deep restorative sleep and break the habit of not being able to sleep or waking up and not falling back to sleep. 

7. Increase Your Sunshine Exposure to Fight Off Viruses & Bacteria

Sunshine will boost your natural vitamin D and your healing capacity to fight off viruses. Get your major muscle groups out in the sun, like your arms and legs, to get maximum conversion of Vitamin D with the cholesterol in your skin.

It is excellent to take vitamin D as a supplement, especially if you live in a country with limited sunshine. I like to take vitamin D as part of an overall immune blend to reduce the number of capsules each day.

I formulated our Immune Restore capsules for my COV-ID clients as an all-around boost to support your immune system’s pathways. Just two capsules give you all your vitamins, minerals, pre & probiotics, medicinal mushroom and immune-boosting herbs to keep your immune system strong. 

8. Boost Your Soups

Homemade organic chicken and vegetable soup are considered ‘natures penicillin’ for it is packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fats and amino acids.

All soup is beneficial, but a bone broth or chicken soup is particularly healing for organic chicken is high in the amino acid called cysteine that is released when the soup is made. This amino acid thins mucus in the lungs, aiding in healing, clearing airways, hydrating, and easing nasal congestion. So it’s great to heal and protect you from any virus. Then all the added veggies scale this up to a super healing meal.

You can have this soup for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks. See my blog for my immune-boosting soup recipe handed down to me from my 95-year-old granny! 

9. Load on Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Viral & Anti-Bacterial Turmeric

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial and is well documented to support the immune system. A recently published paper by Chabot & Huntwork Sept 2021 in NCBI directly links turmeric and reduces the co-morbid respiratory complications of COV-ID.  For thousands of years, many nations have incorporated turmeric into their diets to support good health, fight off viruses and bacteria.

The active part of turmeric is Curcumin and is 10 % of turmeric. Piperine is 10% of black pepper, and when combined, you get the most effective effect. Supplements like our Organic Turmeric only use Curcumin and Piperine to bring about this fast-acting healing effect. 

10. Gargle & Spit!

Even if you don’t have a sore throat, you can feel a cold/flu coming on – gargle, for this will help kill off any bugs before they multiply an entire into the lungs. I love iodine, and you can use betadine throats gargle or a tablespoon of cloudy apple side vinegar in warm water.

Gargle and spit. Oil pulling is great to do after this as well. Take one teaspoon of Coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for 5-10 minutes before you spit.

Balance To Fight, Not Fear

Like all of the 11 systems of the body, the immune system also needs balance so you can easily fight off viruses and disease. It’s not about living in fear but being wise and embracing a lifestyle to support your overall wellness.

It is also crucial that you act with my top 10 suggestions above to stop the bug in its tracks at the first signs of a virus or flu.

Get The Full List of 25 Tips to Fight Off Viruses

If you would like more tips on fast-tracking your healing, download my FREE Virus Defence Guide here. I’ve used these tips for 20 years as an Immune Bible to fight off viruses and bacteria. As soon as anyone in my family or my clients starts to get a little under the weather, I give them all of my top 25 tips so they heal fast with no severe illness ever taking hold. 

We also have a Free Wellness Profile that takes only a few minutes to complete. Your Wellness Profile will identify the three main Wellness Pillars you need to focus on to transform your life.