Wellness Info

Preventing the Flu
 

Did you know?

Outbreaks of the flu still occur despite widespread use of the recommended flu vaccine. The vaccine was initially created to help protect the elderly and other individuals who were immune “compromised” or susceptible to serious infection. Of recent years it has become a mass inoculation of people of all ages each fall, and most people go into the procedure blind, without realizing exactly what they are injecting into their bodies.

The following important information is taken directly from the publication called “Natural Alternatives to Vaccination” by Zoltan Rona, MD:

”The flu vaccine, consumed faithfully by the public without question each year, is not without problems. The vaccine contains formaldehyde, a known cancer causing agent. It also contains the preservative thimerosal, a derivative of mercury, a known neurotoxin linked to brain damage and autoimmnune diseases. Aluminum is yet another flu vaccine ingredient. Mercury and aluminum are two toxic heavy metals that have been associated with an increased incidence of Alzheimer's disease.

Side effects reported as a result of the flu vaccine include fever, general malaise, muscle pain, hives, allergic asthma, respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal problems, eye problems, abnormal blood pressure and other circulatory abnormalities. Moreover, those with a severe allergy to eggs are advised against the flu shot because the flu vaccine is propagated on chicken embryo cells.

The influenza epidemic that hit North America so strongly in January 2000 was the worst in 5 years. Of interest is the fact that a large percentage of the elderly who contracted the flu did so despite having had their flu shots. One nursing home in Toronto recorded thirty-two cases of the flu; of those individuals who became ill, thirty-one had been vaccinated for the flu the previous month!

The actual composition of the flu vaccine is based on an educated guess made by a consensus of about thirty public health experts. These “experts” meet annuallly with the FDA in the U.S. to predict which specific strains of influenza will invade the country in the coming year. If this sounds unscientific to you, it's because it is. As a result the flu vaccine's effectiveness rate is only about 20 percent.

A healthy immune system is a strong defense against disease. There are no magic bullets, conventional or otherwise that will guarantee freedom from infectious illness.”

Here are some tips to strengthen your immune system.

• Consume a diet of primarily fresh (raw) fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, and other high fiber items. Also include fresh garlic, pearl barley and kelp in your diet. Eat organic food whenever possible as pesticides can deplete food of nutrients.
• Supply your immune system with adequate amounts of nutrients that promote proper immune function. The best immune boosters are: Vit. A, C, E and zinc (often available in supplement form as a single unit, "ACE")
• Take several drops of alcohol-free Echinacea tincure at the first sign of a cold or flu.
• Consume "green drinks" daily.
• Be sure to get sufficient sleep (8-9 hours per night for adults, more for kids).
• Get regular moderate exercise. But don't overdo it!! Excessively heavy or extreme activity can sometimes depress the immune system for a short time following the activity.
• Avoid overeating. It is best to eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day. Don't skip breakfast!!
• Stay within your healthy weight range.
• Do not smoke, and keep consumption of beverages containing caffeine and alcohol to a minimum.
• Avoid animal products, processed foods, and pop. Particularly avoid processed white sugar as it can suppress immunity and promote yeast and fungal overgrowth.
• Avoid "fast-food", most contain very little nutritional value.
• Keep a positive attitude! A person's mental state can suppress his or her immune system.
• Get adjusted regularly by your chiropractor. An optimally functioning spine and nervous system means an optimally functioning immune system. Pain does not always need to be present for dysfunction to develop in the spine. Spinal adjustments can have a positive effect on immune function. Through research we know that chiropractic has beneficial effects on immunoglobulins, B-lymphocytes (white blood cells), pulmonary function and other immune system processes. One such study, conducted by Patricia Brennan Ph.D and her team, found that when a chiropractic care was applied to the middle back, the response of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (white blood cells) taken from blood collected 15 minutes after the manipulation was significantly higher than blood collected 15 minutes before and 30 and 45 minutes after the chiropractic procedure. This research demonstrated an “enhanced respiratory burst” following the chiropractic adjustment. This “burst” is needed for our immune cells to destroy invading viruses and bacteria.