Former associate   professor of ecology at Universiti Malaya has authored several books on complementary   therapy called, 'Ecological Healing System'.
 
  Dr Palaniappan said his 33 years of research had shown that high acidity in   the body resulted in loss of immunity, thus making people more susceptible to   viral diseases like Influenza A (H1N1).
 
  Hence, to prevent acidity, it was essential to consume alkaline food and   drinks that could neutralise excess acid in the body.
 
  Dr Palaniappan recommends coconut water, which is   alkaline, and therefore could be used as a herbal medicine for the prevention   of H1N1. 
  For example, he said, those who felt feverish and developed a burning   sensation while attending to a call of nature because of extreme acidity,   could neutralise it by 
drinking coconut water, twice a day, for   three days. 
  He also recommended orange, lemon and pomelo which, despite containing citric   acid, were very rich in potassium and therefore, would not disturb the body's   immunity. 
  According to Dr Palaniappan, excessive physical activity like running a   marathon should be avoided as it produced acid due to excessive metabolic   activity. 
  Similarly, he said, keeping late nights without adequate sleep and working   without proper rest could also increase the body's acidity which in turn,   lowered immunity and made the body vulnerable to viral attacks.