Swine flu or the 'H1N1' flu virus (a more technical name for the same virus) is now a growing and increasingly significant public health emergency in the UK. The British Government is keeping a close watch on it so that people are aware, informed and prepared to take action steps to keep themselves and their families healthy.
Below we have listed the main UK websites offering up to the minute information about the problem. There are lots and lots of websites who offer information - too many to list so we have narrowed the list down to the top five most succinct and helpful in our opinion:

http://www.direct.gov.uk
Direct Government information and advice on the current status

http://www.nhs.uk
UK NHS guidelines and preventative advice

https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk
Spread of the virus update information

http://www.direct.gov.uk/contacts
Local level NHS and support network information by UK region

http://www.dh.gov.uk
The UK Government Department of Health site

There are also nutritional considerations towards boosting your immune system. This is the advice from one of our supplement manufacturers

• Eat a wholesome diet primarily of natural wholefoods (organic wherever possible). Include high levels of dark green vegetables and brightly coloured (red/orange/yellow) fruits. These contain the highest level of protective nutrients and antioxidants.
• Get plenty of restful sleep and try to minimise your exposure to stressful situations.
• Drink sufficient water - on average 2 litres per day is ideal. More is needed in hot weather.
• Reduce your intake of coffee and sugary foods, saturated fats, alcohol, whilst increasing your intake of whole grains, pulses, seeds, nuts, essential fatty acids and oily fish.
• Ensure you have a good intake of selenium - ideally 2-3µg/kg/day i.e,. on average 120µg - 160µg per day. There is growing evidence that this mineral has exceptional ability to protect against viral infections. Most people in the Western world have low selenium status (unless they are already supplementing). Selenium-rich foods are brazil nuts, organ and muscle meats and fish - but levels are variable and dependent on soil levels. There is evidence that soil is severely selenium-depleted in most parts of the world.
•Food State Selenium is the safest and most bioeffective form of selenium. It is contained at optimum levels in all our multiformulae and also available alone at levels of 100µg and 200µg.
• Add beta glucan to your daily supplements.

With this information in mind, we have created a page in our website specifically for supplements which studies support as having immune boosting properties (however, it cannot be stressed enough that this information can in no way replace advice or direct guidance given by your Doctor or other Healthcare professional)

Immune Boosting supplements can be found here

Thank you for visiting us online today and we hope that this information has been helpful to you