The flu is a viral infection that affects various parts of your body and can be life-threatening in some instances. MayoClinic.com reports that tens of thousands of people die from the flu each year and that getting your annual flu shot is the best way to prevent it. If you already have symptoms, you may be wondering what you can do to reduce your discomfort. Call your doctor immediately, but in the meantime, consider probiotics, or good bacteria, for their relief potential.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help you achieve good digestive health, and potentially prevent problems with digestion. There is evidence that consuming probiotics on a regular basis may protect your overall health. MayoClinic.com reports that the studies are encouraging for probiotics' potential ability to treat diarrhea, prevent yeast infections and urinary tract infections, treat irritable bowel syndrome, and prevent eczema in children. They may also reduce the severity of cold and flu symptoms.
Flu Symptoms
If you come down with the flu, you will likely feel miserable for several days. The virus that causes the flu attacks your nose, throat and lungs and comes with a variety of symptoms. MayoClinic.com notes that the flu differs from a cold because it comes on quite suddenly. If you have the flu, you will experience symptoms including a fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, cough, fatigue, weakness and nasal congestion.
How Probiotics Work
When you swallow and digest foods with probiotics, they target your digestive system, which is one of the primary routes where flu-causing germs enter your body. Increasing your intake of probiotics may prevent the flu or reduce its symptoms by attacking the germs that are causing the illness. "Journal Watch," published by "The New England Journal of Medicine," reports that children who took probiotics experienced fewer illness and symptoms than children who did not. This suggests that probiotics may have an immunity-boosting mechanism that helps your body fight back against the germs that cause the flu.
Where to Find Probiotics
There are many probiotic supplements on the market that come in tablet or vitamin form, and these can help you increase your intake of these beneficial bacteria. You can add food sources to your diet to get probiotics. Yogurt is one of the most common sources. Read the label to determine whether your favorite brand contains these beneficial bacteria. Sauerkraut, miso, kefir and other fermented foods are also sources of probiotics.
