Posts Tagged ‘flu’

                                       
As we move head long into the fall/winter season you may be considering if you, your children, or possibly a loved one should have an annual flu shot. After all, the signs and recommendations are relentless.  News broadcasts admonish us and signs in every pharmacy shout out the reminder “Flu shots given here.”

 

But before you rush out and expose yourself to these vaccines please consider the following: In children aged 6 – 24 months who were vaccinated with a flu shot, it was found to be no more effective than giving normal saline (a placebo). In children over two years it was effective only 33% of the time. Meaning that two-thirds of the time these children remained at risk even after the vaccine was given. This included 51 studies involving 290,000 children.

Studies show results even less effective in regards to adults/elderly. Flu vaccines were found to actually be ineffective in both preventing the flu or the possible complications that could result from the flu. In fact, in a review of 75 studies by researchers they found that the evidence to support the use of flu vaccines in adults/elderly was so poor that it “provided no guidance on the safety of the flu vaccine.”

Next, let’s take a look at exactly what the flu vaccine is made up of. You may be shocked:

1.) A mixture of egg proteins including bird contaminant viruses

2.) Polysorbate 80 – associated with infertility in animals

3.) Formaldhyde – a known carcinogen

4.) Triton X100 – a detergent

5.) Sucrose – sugar

6.) Thimerisol – typically seen in multi-dose flu vaccine bottles and is 50% mercury by weight, a known neurotoxin and the third most toxic item known to mankind. You should never ingest or inject any type of products containing mercury.

 

The commonly prescribed flu vaccine Flulaval contains 25 ug of mercury, in the form of thimerisol, as well as formaldehyde, as stated above, a known carcinogen. This dose of thimerosol exceeds the EPA’s safety limit of mercury exposure by over 250 times!  After seeing this line up I’d sooner sprinkle myself with “pixie dust” or rub a rabbits foot!

 So, how can a person protect themselves from entering a state where a flu virus can take hold? Here are a few of my favorite suggestions and ones I use myself.

 

1.) Maintain adequate vitamin A and D levels. This helps the immune system fight viral infections. Examples of some great foods loaded with Vit A: Liver (turkey liver is the highest), carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and dark leafy greens. Great food sources of Vit D are: fish (herring, salmon, and sardines are highest), eggs, mushrooms, and dairy (here in Calif. we can purchase good raw dairy at Lassen’s). But one of our best sources is still the sun, sans sunscreen. So, if you live anywhere sunny as I do, then get out there and enjoy it responsibly, exposing as much skin as possible.

 

2.) Getting plenty of Vit C is another excellent preventative. I prefer to obtain my Vit. C from foods and one of the best sources of neutral Vit C are onions, any type, green, yellow, purple ect. Cooked is best and the most digestible, so add plenty them to all your cooking where appropriate.

 

3.) Wash your hands frequently and remember, the real benefit is not the soap but the friction applied with your hands.

 

4.) Finally, drinking adequate amounts of water systematically, meaning 3-4 oz  every 30 min., to maintain hydration and assist with cleansing the body helps the immune system ward off infection. The kidneys can only handle 8 oz of fluid per hour, so guzzling large amounts of water at one time is unproductive. Distilled water is best and if you are into storing water for emergencies, as I am, distilled water will keep the longest.

 

Here’s to your healthiest winter season ever!

“Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Common Cold
Plus A Few Things You Didn’t!”

Have you ever had an experience that goes something like this?

You have just awakened to a great new day. But before you can even muster the fortitude to crawl out of your cave of blankets, a relay of sneezes somehow escapes from your mouth with the force of a Florida hurricane. Ah… ah… ah… choooooooo!

You notice a slight shiver go through your body. Then, when you attempt that first big breath you are suddenly incapable. Why? Because your sinuses are packed tighter than cotton in a pill jar!!

Dragging your body to the bathroom, you take a quick glance in the mirror and notice the pair of eyes staring back. They give you the appearance of someone who has stayed up too late drinking rubbing alcohol and watching Ronco infomercials.

Oh, and could that really be your head on those shoulders, and when did it start feeling like the Goodyear blimp?

My dear, it’s time for Cold Care 101!!

Did you know that the cold and its ‘cousin’ flu are the most common infectious diseases in the entire world? It is also the leading cause of absence from both work and school, and the #1 reason for doctor visits.

If you were to ask what causes a cold, most people would probably guess (incorrectly) that colds and flu are caused by bacteria, cold weather, being improperly dressed or walking around with wet hair or clothing.

The real story is that colds and flu are caused by viruses (microscopic clusters of genetic material surrounded by a protein covering). There are four recognized distinct categories of cold viruses: rhinovirus, which is the most common, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and coronavirus (and, no that does not come from beer!).

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