The flu season runs from October through May, with the peak times being from December through February. Right now, we are smack dab in the middle of it.
And this year we are seeing some pretty widespread and debilitating cases across the country, causing a lot of fear and panic. It’s no wonder we are getting tons of questions about preventing the flu.
Here is my first tip. Controversial as it may be, I will share with you the information that will help you most – even if it isn’t popular…
Are you ready for it?
No matter what you do for flu prevention – avoid getting a flu shot! There are many reasons to avoid the flu shot – from weakening your immune system to its toxic load – but the most basic of all reasons is… It doesn’t work!
This year, even the CDC is reporting that the flu shot is only 10% effective. 10%!
Remember high school. If you got a 59 on a test, you got an F – you failed. The flu shot would get a K.
But don’t take my word for it, here are just a few studies backing this up:
- The Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine has reported that giving young children flu shots appeared to have no impact on flu-related doctor visits or hospitalizations during two recent flu seasons.
- A large-scale, systematic review of 51 studies published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that the flu vaccine was no more effective for children than a placebo.
- And research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine similarly reports that there has been no decrease in deaths from influenza and pneumonia, despite the fact that vaccination coverage among the elderly has increased from 15 percent in 1980 to 65 percent today.
Besides the fact that the flu shot doesn’t work, it can actually harm you.
For one, vaccines deliver either live or dead viruses directly into your body tissue. This short-circuits your body’s normal front-line immune defense system in your respiratory passageways and mucous membrane linings. In the real world, if we were to come in contact with the flu virus – it would enter the body throughout your nose or mouth, and not get injected into your bloodstream… Our body simply isn’t designed to fight infections in this way.
If your immune system is weak or out of balance when the virus is introduced this way, you could have serious health consequences.
Plus, the vaccine itself is toxic… The most well-known toxin that it contains is thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that has been associated with brain and immune system dysfunction. Most flu shots contain 25 mcg of this toxin, each.
At Glow Natural Medicine, we see women struggling with anxiety, depression, brain fog, weight gain, and a host of other symptoms – all due to mercury toxicity. It takes several months, and some cases longer, to detox from this neurotoxic substance. The last thing you want to do is voluntarily inject more mercury into your body.
THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THE FLU
Now I am not suggested that you go into the winter season unprotected. In fact, there are many lifestyle and nutritional practices that you can and should be implementing to protect yourself and your family from the flu and any other illnesses.
Your immune system does a remarkable job in defending the body against and fighting disease-causing microorganisms. After all, our bodies are designed to fight off infections and remain balanced.
Having a strong, healthy immune system is the absolute best way to prevent the flu (and all other diseases as well). However, our modern lifestyle and environment can throw our immune system off its A-game.
HOW TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
The best way to have a strong, healthy immune system is to adopt healthy living strategies.
Here’s what I recommend:
Eat only organic foods
Simply stated: Certified organic foods are your assurance that your food is not covered in poison.
Most conventional crops are covered with pesticides, herbicides and toxic chemicals, because these poisons allow for increased crop yields and lower costs of food production. Sure, that sounds great for the producer, but not so much for the unaware consumer.
And even though pesticides have been proven to cause disease and weaken your immune system, the US Government allows their use due to the impact on the economy and no doubt powerful lobbyist (I won’t get too political, so I will leave it at that).
It isn’t just the veggies, either. Most meat and poultry are raised using antibiotics, steroids, GMO feed, and live in inhumane conditions. When you eat these conventionally raised proteins, you are ingesting all that as well. Always eat certified organic, grass-fed, free range meat and poultry.
Farm raised fish are fed genetically modified (GMO) non-native foods. They are given antibiotics to fight disease. They are raised on farms in ponds in their own filth. Wild seafood is what you’ll want to eat for a strong immune system.
Eat only real whole foods, mostly veggies, some meat, little fruit, plus nuts and seeds.
No processed foods. No hybrid grains. No GMO foods. No added sugars.
You might think that eating this way is expensive, but people eating in this way are not overweight, and they are able to maintain their ideal body weight. As well, they avoid obesity and the negative health effects associated with excess body weight, to say nothing of mitigating future health problems and costs.
Stick to real whole foods. They keep your immune system strong.
Get 7-9 hours of sleep each day.
Lack of sleep is a prime contributor to immune system deficiencies. It’s been proven time and time again that lack of sleep leads to disease.
While you are sleeping your body refreshes and rejuvenates itself. Most adults need 7-9 hours of good quality sleep each day, and what you do today impacts your body tomorrow. Not to mention that poor sleep patterns can impact your health years down the road.
Even if you think you can “get by” on less. You are wrong. Everyone needs sleep.
Get 7-9 hours of sleep each day for a strong immune system
Get sunshine
Your body, like most other things in nature, requires sunlight to live and thrive. Yet most people spend all day indoors in artificial light.
That’s not good for your health.
And because some people spend too much time in the sun and burn their skin, the media and public health officials now warn against sun exposure. That’s bad advice, which has resulted in nearly every person we see in our practice being deficient in vitamin D. Adequate levels of vitamin D are essential to immune system function.
Charge up your immune system by spending time each day in the sun. Preferably, thirty minutes or more. The more skin exposed to the sun the better (just don’t break any laws).
If you live in an area without a lot of sun light, especially in the winter, you will want to supplement with 2000 iu of Vitamin D, maybe more depending on your levels.
Drink quality water
All your body’s cells, organs and tissues use water to maintain bodily functions. Your body loses water through breathing, sweating and digestion. That’s why it’s important to rehydrate by drinking a proper amount of quality water each day.
Your body was designed to hydrate with water. Certain types of teas work as well.
At a minimum, drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. That means a 160-pound person should drink 80 ounces of water. I like to aim for 3/4 of your body weight.
Remove toxins from personal care and household cleaning products
Toxins are poisons to your body’s immune system, and there are a ton of toxins in food, personal care, and household cleaning products.
Eliminating as many toxins are possible will boost the health of your immune system.
We’ve already eliminated toxins that come from pesticides in food by eating only organic and following the dietary guidelines we covered earlier. Now, we need to get rid of toxins in our everyday lives. That means we use only natural organic personal care and household cleaning products. It’s easy to do, it costs less and it results in products that work better than those you are presently using.
You can even make your own with essential oils and other household staples or you can purchase organic options online or at your local market, every major market now carries toxin free options.
Get outdoors and Get Active
Walk, run, bike or hike outside every day for at least a few minutes. Play sports like tennis or basketball. Grab a mat and practice yoga in your backyard. Or just get outside and stretch, sigh and gaze at the scenery.
Depending on the season and where you live, you can try this: while outside, take your shoes and socks off and walk barefoot on the earth. This practice is called “grounding.” It will strengthen your immune system and bring numerous other health benefits.
Medical study after study confirms that the immune system benefits, as well as the overall health benefits to being out in nature and moving your body.
Plus, most gyms are filled with toxic chemical cleaners used on their equipment. Those chemicals enter your body though your lungs and skin. Avoid them while enjoying the benefits of being outside. If it’s too icy out, find a gym that uses eco-friendly, toxin-free cleaners – or work out at home.
Exercise in moderation. Thirty minutes of cardiovascular exercise each day. Body weight strength exercises three times a week. You can break your 30 minutes up into three 10-minute quickie workouts and still get the same immune boosting benefit.
One last point about being active. Stress is a leading contributor to a weak immune system. Physical activities reduce stress.
Want to grab my personal flu fighting prescription? Click here to create an account in my online dispensary and I will share my top flu fighting supplements, herbs and homeopathic remedies – so you and your family can stay well this winter.
