It’s that time of year again.

No, I’m not referring to the fact that stores are displaying Christmas merchandise and the radio stations are playing nonstop holiday tunes—I’m talking about “flu season.”

And you know what that means.

Signs all over God’s green earth telling everyone to “Get their flu shot!”

I also have noticed that there is a special maketing twist this year with respect to COVID.  Now we’re hearing, “Protect yourself and others with a flu shot” and “Getting a flu shot is more important than ever because of COVID.”

My friend, please don’t be fooled because this has everything to do with fear mongering, money and pitting people against each other, and very little to do with your health.

Let me tell it like it is for you:

Flu shot facts—without the hype

The flu shot is frequently a 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.

Moreover, all vaccines depress your immune function for up to several days or weeks after injection—making you MORE susceptible to viruses of all kinds.  How’s that for a kicker?

Plus flu shots contain poisons like mercury (the most deadly 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!

In addition, a vaccine can only “protect” against the virus(es) in the vaccine.  So this garbage about flu shots being important because of COVID makes no sense.  A flu shot cannot protect against COVID. 

And here’s the best part—live virus flu shot recipients can actually “shed” the flu virus in the vaccine to others via their saliva, other bodily fluids or skin lesions!

That sure doesn’t sound like a way to “protect yourself and others” to me.

Lastly, the flu shot is the vaccine for which the highest number of injuries and deaths have been reported under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.  “Safe and effective” my foot. 

Forget flu season—sugar season is upon us!

Now, regarding “flu season”—what most people don’t realize is that viruses (including influenza) are 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:

The perfect storm to destroy your immune function

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 candies and red velvet cakes, 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 easy 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!

Beef up your immune system!

When you work with your body to 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.  So get a daily dose of funny memes, jokes or comedy movies.

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- Wash your hands

Be sure to wash your hands frequently, especially after going out in public. 

To your health all year long,

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.