No one wants to catch the flu. It leaves you feeling miserable for weeks, and in some cases, takes even longer to fully recover from it. And while most flu fatalities are noted in lesser developed countries, there is still the occasional case in developed countries that ends in fatality.

The flu shot is one answer. But with the high demand in recent years, the vaccination is not readily available to everyone. Along with that, each season’s flu shot is developed based on the most likely flu strain to develop, leaving you unprotected from other less likely prevalent forms.

If you are unable to get a flu shot, or, if you want the added protection from lesser flu strains, there are other options available to help you keep your family healthy and flu free. You can browse the shelves of your local pharmacy and find countless pills, tonics and syrups which claim to protect you during flu season. Or, you can stroll down the produce aisle and find one of the best protections against influenza - the all natural grapefruit.

The grapefruit is jam packed with qualities that are great in the fight against flu. Like other citrus, grapefruit is high in vitamin C, the powerful antioxidant that boosts your immune system. Grapefruit is also known to boost good bacteria in your digestive system, helping you better digest your food and absorb nutrients. Another big plus is that grapefruit has been shown to fight off a variety of viruses and illnesses.

In order to reap its benefits and get full protection, you will need to add a considerable amount of grapefruit to your diet. This isn’t really hard to do because grapefruit is an all around fruit which can be eaten fresh, squeezed into a juice, added to food dishes as a garnish, or mixed with nuts, seeds and other dried fruits to make a great health snack.

If you choose to juice it, remember that most of the nutrition is in the solid meaty parts. Use a juicer that grinds up the entire fruit rather than just squeezing the juice out. Keep this in mind also, if you purchase grapefruit juice in a can or carton - more than likely the juice has simply been squeezed from the fruit rather than made from the entire fruit.

This is great for those who like the taste of grapefruit, but what about those who just don’t like it, or can’t find grapefruit in their area during certain seasons? And what about those who like the taste, but just can’t get enough in their diet to make a difference? Simply take a supplement. You’ll find plenty of companies offering them.

These supplements are grapefruit seed extract - made from the seeds and pulp of a grapefruit and turned into liquid form. These can offer you a way to get the many health benefits without having to eat so much grapefruit.

Grapefruit seed extract is known as GSE. It is usually found in two forms: Liquid or capsule. Some folks take the capsules because the liquid is quite bitter and difficult for some to take. If you decide to take the liquid form, be sure to dilute it with water or another liquid to lessen the unpleasant taste.

Products from grapefruit are used for a number of wonderful health reasons in addition to treating and preventing the flu. Grapefruit heals skin disorders caused by problems like poison ivy, and it kills other bacteria that carry serious infections like e-coli, staph, and even herpes.

Grapefruit extract in liquid form can be used as a mouthwash, facial cleanser and even as a cleaning product for use throughout your home. The extract can be added to other products and solutions as well.

Eating grapefruit or taking a grapefruit seed extract is a great way to protect your body and improve your general health. Grapefruit Seed Extract, unlike the majority of other medical treatments, has no known side effects. It does not cause allergies and can be safely taken by most everyone. One thing to remember, however, is that GSE and grapefruit can interact with some medications. Just remember to check with your doctor before adding grapefruit or GSE to your diet.