As I was grocery shopping in my local Wegmans yesterday, an annoucement came over the loudspeaker saying, “Don’t risk getting sick this flu season!  Get your flu shot right here in our pharmacy today!”

And I cringed because I thought of all of the people who get caught up in the yearly flu season fear mongering and think that a vaccine is their only hope of staying flu-free.

Let me tell it like it is for you:

First of all, the flu shot is frequently a miserable failure, especially in the over 50 age group.  That’s because there are about 200 different viruses that cause flu or flu-like illness, yet the shot only contains 3 or possibly 4.

So do the math and admit you’re not getting much in the way of protection.

Plus many flu shots contain mercury (the most potent neurotoxin in existence), and formaldehyde (a documented carcinogen), they are cultured in chicken eggs (which may be a HUGE issue for people with egg allergies), and you run the risk of getting paralyzed from Guillain-Barre syndrome to boot!

Now, regarding the flu “season”—what most people don’t realize is that influenza is in our environment 12 months a year—not just from fall to spring!

The reason there is an increase in the number of reported cases of flu or flu-like illnesses during this period of time is because our immune systems are getting annihilated and are waving the white flag of defeat!

Here’s what I mean:

Your annihilated immune system

Once fall hits, several factors come together to create a perfect storm that launches its attack on your immune system.

The first of those is a tsunami of sugar and refined carbs. 

This starts with end of summer barbecues, moves on to Halloween candy, then Thanksgiving pies, Christmas cookies and candy, New Year’s Eve parties, Valentine’s Day chocolates, and chocolate Easter bunnies.

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.

Here are the other members of the “perfect storm”:

Stress

The back-to-school and holiday seasons are typically loaded with stress.

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.

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common, especially in the northern hemisphere where we have minimal exposure to sunlight during the cooler months.

Lacking sleep

The holidays are a time of high stress, working long hours, staying up late and drinking more alcohol than usual.

All of which can impact the amount and quality of your sleep!

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!

Public enemies

Shopping malls, grocery stores, airports and airplanes typically have thousands of people passing through every day, so they are perfect places to pick up viruses.   

Take the most important flu prevention measure—Beef up your immune system!

When you support a strong, robust immune system, you are FAR less likely to get sick all year round—not just from October to May!

Here are 7 ways you can help:

1- Limit sugar and refined carbs

Avoid the white breads, pastries, cookies, donuts, cakes, bagels, rolls, white rice, crackers and snack chips as much as possible.

If you entertain, incorporate some healthy options into your appetizer spread, like a crudité platter, hummus or guacamole. 

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

2- Eat real foods

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.

4- De-stress and get some rest

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

5- Get the supplemental support you need

When it comes to strong immune health, the important players here are Super Shield multi-strain probiotic blend, Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B and Optimal Yeast Support Blend:

Super Shield Probiotic Formula:

Since 80 percent of your immune system resides in your gut, it's essential to make sure that you have a healthy population of beneficial gut bacteria to support it! 

Supplementation with a full-spectrum probiotic formula like Super Shield is the single most effective step you can take to support and encourage a strong, properly balanced gut microbiome.

Optimum DK Formula:

A top-notch supplement like Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B can help ensure your body has the vitamin D your immune system so desperately needs all year-long, especially when you can’t get out in the sun as much.

Optimal Yeast Support Blend:

As I mentioned earlier, yeast overgrowth in your gut (caused by too many refined carbs and sugars) can severely impact your immune function.

If you suspect you may have yeast overgrowth going on (and if you get frequent UTIs, vaginal infections or fungal nail infections, or if your tongue has a white coating—trust me, it’s a given), then Optimal Yeast Support Blend can help fight back at those harmful yeasts and further support a healthier microbiome.

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.

7- Stay away from antibacterial products

Exposure to microorganisms actually makes your immune system STRONGER! 

So, avoid the anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizer goop.  Ordinary soap and warm water are all you need to keep yourself clean.

To your health 365 days a year,

Sherry Brescia