What You Should Know About Flu (3) [Prevention]

Q​11.    How often do you have to gurgle to expect the effect of the prevention?

A11.    Every 20 minutes. 
Flu viruses go into the body about 20 minutes after they attach to the mucus membrane and increase, so it is necessary to gurgle every 20 minutes. But that is not practical. 

There are 2 infection routes. One is droplet infection such as cough or sneezing. Another is contagion (contact infection) that is infected by touching something viruses are attached. To prevent flu infection, washing hands frequently is more practical. Brushing your teeth first in the morning is also effective.


Q12.    Why does mouth breathing raise the risk of having flu?      

A12.    If you do mouth breathing, dry and cold air goes into the lung directly, causing that the body temperature goes down, the activity of internal organs is decreased and immune strength is weakened. On the other hand, if you do nose breathing, the air is humidified and warmed because the inside of the nose is complicated like a maze.

Q13.    Why gum is good to prevent flu infection?

A13.    You can get more saliva if chewing gums a lot. Saliva contains substances which have sterilizing and antibacterial functions. So saliva keeps your mouth clean. Of course, when you eat meals, chewing well is also effective.

Q14.    Which food is expected to suppress the increase of flu viruses?
(A)    Lemon
(B)    Umeboshi (Pickled plum)
(C)    Parsley

A14.    (B)    Umeboshi (pickled plum)
According to a research, when Umeboshi was put into flu viruses, the viruses didn’t increase very much compared to the one that Umeboshi was not added. Plum vinegar polyphenol which is produced when Umeboshi is made has the function to suppress the increase of viruses and the strength of infection. Eating Umeboshi every day is expected to prevent flu infection. Putting Umeboshi into a cup of green tea is more effective due to addition of catechin in green tea.