It’s that time of year again. 

The time when we are bombarded by signs EVERYWHERE saying, “Get your flu shot!”  

And this year’s push has an additional twist because now we are hearing about COVID and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) too! 

So get ready to start hearing scary numbers about hospitalizations, cases and the risk of death.   

But before you get caught up in worry and fear, here are some things to think about. 

Flu shot facts 

Although we are told that flu shots are safe and effective, there are several little-known facts that simply shouldn’t be ignored when making an informed health decision. 

Flu shot effectiveness has historically been less-than-stellar, ranging from just under 50 percent and dipping down to 10 percent in the 2004-2005 season.   

That’s largely because there are over 200 different viruses that cause flu or flu-like illness, yet the shot only covers 3 or 4. 

Plus flu shots may contain mercury (a dangerous neurotoxin, especially to your brain), polysorbate-80 (which is toxic and a suspected carcinogen) and formaldehyde (a documented carcinogen).   

The potential side effects on the actual vaccine inserts (versus the brief information sheet you get from your doctor or pharmacy) can include Guillain-Barre syndrome (paralysis), meningitis, anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic response) and encephalitis (brain swelling).   

Scary numbers you DON’T hear about 

Up until recently, flu shots were the vaccine for which the most injuries and deaths have been reported to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), with claims for 6,365 injuries and 189 deaths as of 2020.  

Additionally, a study by Harvard estimated that since the vaccine injury reporting system is voluntary and very few people even know that the injury compensation program exists, only about 1 percent of actual injuries are reported. 

So those numbers I quoted above could potentially be 636,500 injuries and 18,900 deaths. 

But that’s all been upstaged by the COVID jabs—currently more than 1.4 million adverse event reports following COVID shots have been logged in the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), including over 31,600 deaths. 

So applying the same estimate of only 1 percent of adverse events being reported, we may well be looking at 140,000,000 injuries and 3,160,000 deaths. 

As far as RSV goes, the vaccine is still being developed and is not expected to be released until 2023…but you can bet the fear mongering will be ramped up well in advance. 

Important reminders and a question 

Here are some important points to remember: 

Fear sells, my friend.  And at the present time, there is nothing more lucrative to a drug company than a vaccine.   

Drug companies are completely shielded from liability for injuries or deaths caused by vaccines, thanks to the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act.  This act came about because the drug companies were receiving SO many vaccine injury lawsuits, they were in danger of going out of business, so they convinced Congress to grant them liability so they could continue to make vaccines.  So if you get injured (or die) from a shot, you’re on your own.  Good luck. 

Doctors also receive kick backs for having a high percentage of vaccinated patients in certain cases. 

And lastly, the one question EVERYONE should be asking is: Why aren’t any of the “powers that be” talking about how to strengthen your immune system and stay healthy? 

Your best defense against ALL viruses—your humble immune system 

Whether you choose to vaccinate or not is up to you, but the fact that remains is this: 

Your best defense against the flu, COVID, RSV and all other viruses in existence is a STRONG FUNCTIONING IMMUNE SYSTEM! 

So to stack the deck in your favor and help your body’s efforts to fight ALL viruses, it’s crucial to support your awesome immune system! 

Here are 7 ways you can help: 

1- Limit sugar and refined carbs 

Sugar and refined carbs feed harmful yeasts in your gut, which in turn can severely depress your immune system functioning. 

Plus they create imbalance in your gut microbiome, fostering an environment which favors harmful microbes.  Not only does this continue the cycle of poor immune functioning, but it also irritates your gut wall making you a likely candidate for leaky gut and reduced nutrient absorption. 

Once your gut wall starts leaking toxins into your bloodstream and you start lacking essential nutrients, it’s extremely convenient for viruses to take a hold of you. 

So strive to avoid the white breads, sugars, pastries, cookies, donuts, cakes, bagels, rolls, white rice, crackers, snack chips and soda as much as possible. 

2- Eat real foods 

On the other hand, your body MUST have a consistent supply of essential nutrients to support strong immune function and help all of your systems to work like they should. 

Concentrate on nutrient-dense real foods—fresh vegetables, leafy greens, meats, poultry, fish, eggs, real butter, avocado, coconut oil and olive oil.   

These are the foods that will help supply the nutrients you need to stay healthy. 

3- Have a good laugh 

Laughter exerts positive influences on your immune system.  

So watch those comedy shows and funny movies, read silly stories or jokes, or just laugh at everyday life whenever you can.  

4- De-stress and get some rest 

Stress causes the protective mucosal barrier inside your intestines to become less effective at defending your body against dangerous invaders, so you are much more susceptible to catching viruses and infections when under stress.  

And lacking sleep can compromise your immune system functioning, making you more susceptible to sickness.  Just one night of poor sleep can reduce your immune function by up to 30 percent!  

So do what you must to lower stress in your life (regular exercise works wonders—hint, hint!), and make sure you get enough sleep each night. 

5- Get the right supplemental support  

When it comes to strong immune health, the important players here are probiotics and vitamin D. 

Probiotics help support a healthy gut microbiome, which in turn houses 80 percent of your immune system.  And vitamin D is vital to strong immune function and taming inflammatory immune responses (such as those seen with COVID).  

That’s why Super Shield multi-strain probiotic blend and Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B are the “perfect pairing” when it comes to immune support: 

Super Shield Probiotic Formula: 

Super Shield contains 13 well-studied, potent strains of friendly bacteria, each of which has its own specialty on how it enhances your health and helps support your immune system to better fight colds, flu, viruses, infections and many other illnesses. 

Optimum DK Formula: 

Each daily dose of Optimum DK Formula gives you a whopping 5,000 IUs of vitamin D3, as well as its partners vitamins K1 and K2 and the mineral boron.  In addition to immune health, it also supports bone, brain and cardiovascular health too!   

6- Drink at least 8 glasses of filtered water a day 

Water is vital for cell and lymphatic system health—both of which are crucial to proper immune system functioning. 

Just make sure to strive for filtration of some kind to avoid the contaminants typically found in tap water. 

7- Listen to Mom and dress warm 

Mom always said to dress warm or you’ll get sick…and come to find out, she was on the right track. 

While merely stepping outside in cold weather without a jacket doesn't cause you to get sick, hypothermia (the lowering of your body's core temperature) suppresses immunity, which in turn can make you more susceptible to colds, flu and viruses.  

Treat your immune system like the precious gold it is and help it protect you like it was designed to! 

To your health, 

Sherry Brescia 

The information in our articles are NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and are not intended as medical advice.