Garlic contains powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties that keep colds and flu at bay, and also shorten the duration of a cold or flu. It destroys and/or inhibits various bacteria and fungi, with an antibacterial action equivalent to 1% penicillin! Garlic is even effective against strep, staph, and anthrax bacteria - wow! Remember, it needs to be RAW and it needs to be smashed or chopped up fine to release its active components. Always eat raw garlic with other foods to avoid stomach upset. It's easy to mix with avocado or add to salad dressings.  Raw garlic is one of my favorite "super foods"! It's also great to reduce inflammation, protect your heart, lower blood pressure, fight cancer, aid weight loss, and fight all kinds of infections. Share it with a friend and eat daily:) If you just can't swallow raw garlic, try a garlic supplement like the one below.

Use hydrogen peroxide:
One of the most important and simple things you can do is to use hydrogen peroxide in a bath or in your ears. What?! In my ears?! Yes! Use simple 3% hydrogen peroxide you find at the drug store, dump a bottle in your bath or even more effective, put about a few drops in each ear, several times a day. You'll feel and hear it bubbling and fizzing -- and it will begin working to kill a cold or flu bug within minutes. This will more than likely stop a flu reaction all together! For many years people in the know have been attacking the influenza virus and common cold where they begin their breeding process, in the inner ear (middle). It IS important to begin treatment as soon as symptoms appear for this remedy to be most effective. This simple treatment has no side effects and those drops cost less than a penny per dose, so you really don't have much to lose. Plus, it is less toxic and more effective than any flu vaccine on the planet.

Cleanse your sinuses: 
Neti Nasal Cleansing. This is an ancient healing system from India, done effectively by billions of people for thousands of years.  This simple, easy and soothing technique can reduce viruses in addition to providing relief from sinus congestion. Even Dr. Oz is now recommending it! As he said in Healthy Living Magazine:  "When you use it [a Neti pot] properly, it reduces dust and other contaminants in the nose, and it's a very effective way to clean the sinuses. Modern studies are showing that it's as effective as drugs for preventing sinus infections. Regular use of a neti pot is also hugely beneficial for people with nasal allergies and headaches. It just takes all the gelatinous goo out of there." Well, we could all use that! Regular neti nasal cleansing helps to keep us healthy and well all year long.

Grab some Ginger:
Ginger has been traditionally used to treat colds and flu. Studies have shown that ginger helps kill influenza viruses (even avian flu), and that it increases the immune system's ability to fight infection. Ginger contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds. It's pain relieving, antiseptic and antioxidant. It is valuable for preventing and treating colds, sore throats and inflammation of mucus membranes. Ginger reduces pain and fever and has a mild sedative effect that will encourage rest. And it's tasty, too!  To drink as tea, soak fresh ginger in hot water. Include it in meals like soups and salads -- see a really great soup recipe below. Ginger is also delicious in a green smoothie or juice!

Protect yourself with Probiotics:
Our key defense against viruses like colds and flu is our immune system -- and 70 percent of our immune system is located in our digestive system. This means that if our gut is overrun with bad bacteria, there's a good chance our immune system will not be functioning at its best. Introducing friendly bacteria into the digestive system improves how we absorb vitamins, nutrients and co-factors, so overall immunity is boosted. This is especially important if we exist largely on diets of processed and pasteurized foods, which are virtually devoid of the friendly bacteria we need to flourish -- and if we've taken antibiotics, which kill both the good and bad bacteria in our gut, leaving barren territory for all sorts of trouble to brew. It is best to eat our probiotics through cultured and fermented foods like real, raw sauerkraut, kim chee, cultured veggies, miso or natto. If you don't eat these foods regularly, consider a probiotic supplement like Flora-G Plus.