Before I get into today’s topic, I would like to wish my daughter Danielle a very happy birthday!  She is the light of my life and I couldn’t be more proud of her.  So if any of you call our office today and Danielle answers your call, be sure to wish her happy birthday! 

Now onto today’s discussion:

It’s THAT time of year again.

The time when we are bombarded by signs EVERYWHERE saying, “Get your flu shot!  It’s your best protection against the flu.”

And this year’s push has a unique twist because many health sources are claiming that it’s increasingly important to get a flu shot because of COVID. 

Well, let me enlighten you a bit on that and we’ll start with the flu shot.

Little-known facts about flu shots

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 for you or your family.

Flu shot effectiveness has historically been wildly inconsistent.  That’s largely because there are about 200 different viruses that cause flu or flu-like illness, yet the shot only contains 3 or possibly 4.

That’s a whole of lot viruses you’re NOT being covered for.

Plus, many flu shots contain mercury (a dangerous neurotoxin, especially to your brain), polysorbate-80 (which is toxic and a suspected carcinogen) and formaldehyde (a documented carcinogen).  They also may include canine (dog) cell proteins, and are cultured in chicken eggs (which may be a serious issue for people with egg allergies).

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

Flu shots remain 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 today.

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.

Flu shots + COVID

Many health sources are advising that it’s important to get your flu shot because of COVID.

Well, first I must point out that a vaccine can only “protect” you against the virus(es) in the vaccine…so flu shots don’t lend any magical protection against COVID.

Also, several studies have shown that getting a flu shot increases your risk by up to 4 times of contracting other respiratory illnesses.

In addition, a study published in a January 2020 issue of the journal Vaccine showed people were more likely to get some form of coronavirus infection if they had been vaccinated against influenza.

So, the advice we’re hearing everywhere about flu shots and COVID just doesn’t add up.

Your best defense against the flu, COVID and all viruses

Regardless of whether you choose to vaccinate or not, the fact that remains is this:

Your best defense against the flu, COVID 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 pamper and 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 and snack chips as much as possible.

And stay far away from the #1 health wrecker in existence—SODA! 

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 70-80 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.