AVOID THE FLU

"The first wealth is health," said Ralph Waldo Emerson, U.S. lecturer, philosopher and poet who lived from l803-1882, a graduate of Harvard in 1821. His essays are memorable for the many epigrams they contain. His first book "Nature" was published in 1836. Maintaining good health has been the subject on every mind recently, ever since the first person died from the swine flu in Mexico on April 2nd, 2009. This is the same type of flu that took so many lives after World War I.

A call-in show on the CBC radio today gave advice on what doctors are recommending to avoid coming down with this flu - google also shows the areas of the world where most of the outbreaks are located. No vaccine is available yet. Washing the hands often, taking precautions and avoiding trips to Mexico if possible, were the main items mentioned. I tried to call CBC but there were too many calls ahead of mine. My planned question was "Does the type of food we consume relate to helping to avoid this flu?"

It appears that maintaining an alkaline body chemistry helps avoid the flu and colds along with many other diseases including cancer. When the drinking water is not alkaline, adding a few drops of lemon juice to a glass of water is a good starter. A pharmacy or a health store sell the strips available for testing the water, hopefully the pH can be kept above seven. A few drops of honey is okay to add to a lemon drink unless one is diabetic and the doctor forbids all sweets. Honey is the most alkaline of the sweets. Three quarters of the food consumed should be fruits and vegetables (green vegetables as much as possible), according to registered dietitcian. M.S. Cook, and the other twenty five percent is for the meats and other proteins. I have the book, "The Ultimate pH Solution" by M.S. Cook, DNM, DAC, CNC, and it gives many other details as well. If there is a better book, perhaps one authored by another registered dietitian, Simone Gabbay, on this subject. For further information, the toll free number is: l-866-322-8209. The local library is always very helpful. I tried to reach the Brita filter people, the filter that I presently use, to ask if their filter helps keep the water alkaline but their office was closed until the next work day, l-800-387-6940.