Preventing the Flu

At this point in the year, it is time for everyone to make an important decision: to get the flu shot, or not to get the flu shot?

Not surprisingly, I am an advocate of the latter. Let me present the evidence and you can decide for yourself.

1. The flu vaccine is an inexact science.
First of all, the flu vaccine only contains three strains of the flu, which means it will only protect you from those three strains, which are sometimes not even going around. In fact, only about 15% of people who think they have the flu actually have it. There are so many colds, germs, and viruses floating around that it's very difficult to choose flu strains that will actually affect the most people. (CNN agrees!)

2. The flu vaccine contains harmful ingredients—seriously harmful.
Here's a rundown of the ingredients in your average flu shot (as researched by the Centre for Research on Globalization in August of 2009):

• Egg proteins: including avian contaminant viruses such as avian leucosis
• Gelatin: known to cause allergic reactions and anaphylaxis - usually associated with sensitivity to egg or gelatin proteins
• Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80): can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
• Formaldehyde: a known carcinogen
• Triton X100: a strong detergent
• Sucrose: table sugar
• Resin: known to cause allergic reactions
• Gentamycin: an antibiotic
• Thimerosal: 49.6 percent ethyl mercury, a known neurotoxin (still in multidose vials)

The Global Vaccine Institute reports: "Every year, just prior to the impending "flu season," the CDC and their acquiescent media pawns terrorize the American public with false claims regarding annual flu deaths. The CDC boldly asserts that 36,000 people die every year from the flu. Such scare tactics are calculated to increase flu vaccine sales. However, according to the CDC's own official records documented in National Vital Statistics Reports, only a few hundred people die from influenza (flu) on an average year. And many of these deaths occur in people with preexisting conditions, weakened immune systems, and the elderly."

As for the elderly, people who have had 5 or more flu shots are 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimers!

3. You can prevent the flu!

If you are getting sick every season, there are ways to boost your immune system naturally and easily without getting the flu shot. The trick is overall wellness, not a magic pill or shot. Try several or all of these preventive measures and see if your immunity and overall health don't skyrocket!

• Try an alternative doctor. Most alternative health practitioners provide preventive services as well as sick care. Acupuncture is a great whole-body approach to not only improving your immune system but healing imbalances in the body. If you're in Charleston, I highly recommend Re-Soul Acupuncture. Amy Jo Gengler has been my acupuncturist for the last year, and her treatments have made so much difference in my physical and mental health and well-being. Similarly, The Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research and the World Chiropractic Alliance report that chiropractic care reduces instances of flu and colds by 15%. If you live in Mt. Pleasant, consider getting regular adjustments from Dr. Brian Class of Life Essentials Health Center.
  

• Improve digestive health. In addition to eating whole foods, reducing processed foods, and eating locally, making sure you take a high-strain probiotic to support your intestinal bacteria is important. It may surprise you to learn that getting plenty of good saturated fat, which has antiviral and antimicrobial properties, is also key to digestive health. Good saturated fat includes organic butter (preferably from grass-fed cows), organic extra virgin coconut oil, and animal fats from grass-fed organic meats or wild fish. Finally, raw or lightly cooked organic greens are wonderful for alkalinizing an acid stomach and cleaning out the digestive tract.
  

• Supplement Vitamin D. Most people are unable to get sufficient levels of vitamin D from the sun. The recommended dosage is 1000–2000 IU daily, but some doctors recommends up to 5000 IU daily if you think you might be deficient. Cod liver oil is by far the best food source of vitamin D.
  

• Avoid antibacterial soap. Using antibacterial soaps and hand rubs can actually make you more susceptible to germs, and they kill the good bacteria on your skin as well as the bad. (Hint: Antibacterial soaps can't kill viruses, only bacteria, so they are useless against the flu.)
  

• Reduce sugar and dairy. Sugar can accurately be called "the enemy of your immune system," and the sugar in dairy can often make colds worse and increase mucus production. In addition, the casein in dairy is an irritant to the immune system.
  

• Support your liver. Your liver filters toxins and viruses and aids in the digestion of fats, so the more you can eliminate food toxins like trans fats, preservatives and additives, as well as caffeine, alcohol, and over-the-counter medications, the better your liver will work for you. Eat foods that support and detox the liver, like cruciferous vegetables, onions, and garlic.
  

• Get some exercise and fresh air. A walk or bike ride around the block is always a great place to start—gyms are unfortunately a great place to catch a virus—and also provides time together as a family. If it's not too cold, consider taking your shoes off; going barefoot releases the electrical charge our bodies accumulate over time, which has been linked to emotional and mental stress and even physical illness.
  

• Get enough rest. When your body and mind aren't properly rested, your immune function dips, sometimes severely. This is the reason the days grow shorter in fall and winter—we need more rest for better immune function. Adults should aim to go to bed between 10 and 11 p.m. and get 8-9 hours of sleep. Elementary school age children should be in bed between 8 and 9 p.m.

If you do get sick: There are alternatives to over-the-counter or prescription medications. Assess each situation based on its seriousness, and try these healing methods which have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years.

• Lemon water. Lemon has been called an "everyday superfood." It's full of vitamins and minerals, and is ideal for balancing acid and alkalinity in the digestive system. Drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice in water is the easiest and quickest way, but you can also squeeze a lemon over your salad or add it to hot tea for an additional throat soother.
  

• Essential oils. These are a great alternative to antibacterial soaps, and they protect and fight against not only viruses but bacteria and fungus. Because each batch of essential oil is unique (the benefit to a natural remedy as opposed to a chemical one), viruses can't become immune to them, so they work time and time again. You can dilute them in butter or olive oil and rub into your skin, dilute in water and drink them, burn in an incense burner, or simply inhale out of the container. Oregano oil is great, or try the Immune Blend at your local health food store.
  

• Garlic: Garlic is also strongly antibacterial and antiviral. The best way to eat garlic is to crush the clove and wait 5 minutes before eating or cooking. You can swallow raw if you have a strong stomach, but garlic does not lose its benefits through cooking.

• Colloidal silver: Colloidal silver has been used as an effective antimicrobial (antiviral and antibiotic) for thousands of years. There are absolutely no harmful side effects. Sovereign Silver is a great brand.
  

• Other homeopathic alternatives. From olive leaf extract to elderberry syrup to marjoram tea to neti pots, there are an abundance of natural herbal and homeopathic symptom remedies and immune strengtheners that can do wonders for your symptoms and help your body heal. (Regular over-the-counter and prescription meds only manage symptoms, and they stress your liver, which is already busy trying to filter out the virus.) The Prescription for Nutritional Healing and Prescription for Natural Cures are great sources of further information