How to be a Flu Fighter: Don’t Just Put a Band-Aid On It
by Rosie Steele, Patient Coordinator
I recently saw a television commercial advertising free flu shots at a national pharmacy retail chain. The commercial was so well done! As upbeat music played in the background, images of beautiful, vibrant people were displayed… young and old dancing together under starry skies; a pair of BFFs piggy back riding in the family room; a husband and wife keeping romance alive; a mother and young child cuddling up together on the couch, her pregnant belly exposed….all of these actors proudly displaying their “flu fighter” band aid at the top of their arm, a demonstration of their choice to “protect” themselves and those they love by taking the flu vaccine each and every year. When I saw this ad, I immediately felt sorry for the millions of people that would watch it and heed its advice by going out and getting their annual flu shot right away, without taking the time to understand the risks associated with the vaccine and the alternatives to it.
The CDC recommends that all people, ages 6 months and older, take an annual flu vaccine. The CDC also conducts studies to measure the benefits of seasonal flu vaccination each flu season to help determine how well the flu vaccines are working. In 2018-2019, its effectiveness was determined to be 29%. That means that more than 70% of those that received the flu shot were later diagnosed with the flu at some point in the season! Well, 29% of the people who got the flu shot may not have gotten the flu last year, but 100% of them did get the following ingredients injected into their bodies: Influenza Viruses, Formaldehyde, Aluminum Salts, Thimerosal (Mercury), Chicken Egg Proteins, Gelatin (usually pork-based) and Antibiotics.
So, if the flu shot isn’t all that effective anyways, and it’s obviously quite toxic, what can we do instead? How can we protect ourselves? At Longevity Health Center, we believe that proactively strengthening your immune system is the best way to avoid the flu! How do we do this? It’s all about lifestyle!
Eating Right
Cut out the junk food! Have you ever noticed that flu season always starts right after Halloween? We put kids out in the cold to walk around from house to house, load them up with refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats and food coloring, and them put them to bed too late. Its no wonder they get sick the next day! This year, consider getting proactive about your family’s health but taking a no-candy pledge in the month of October! Commit to making whole food nutrition-packed meal choices each day, cutting out the sweets and limiting dairy.
Get Plenty of Rest
Did you know that the average elementary school child needs 10-11 hours of sleep each night to stay healthy and thrive? An adult should be getting 7-9 hours. Study after study confirms that Americans are not getting enough sleep at night. At Longevity, we teach our patients about healthy sleep hygiene. Shut off the television, turn off those devices, and get to bed this winter!
Supplementation
There are also some supplements that you can take proactively, to strengthen your immune system, so that if/when you do encounter the flu, your own body is better equipped to fight it! I chose to give my family Vitamin D3, Elderberry Syrup and Probiotic each and every day to keep our systems strong and ready to fight!
What if I do come down with the flu?
Despite our best efforts to protect ourselves and our loved ones, unfortunately, we are just going to get sick every once in a while. At Longevity, we love teaching our patients about ways that they can be prepared, with an arsenal of natural remedies at the ready! I love to use a combination of Homeopathic remedies (such as Oscillococcinum), herbal combinations (such as Pelargonium), nutritional support (such as Vitamin C and Vitamin A), and even essential oils (such as cinnamon, clove and lemon). Don’t wait until you are symptomatic to invest in these kinds of products. Come by our shop today to get a customized protocol of high quality remedies stocked up for the upcoming season now!
2020 Update:
I wrote this article in the fall of 2019, as we were gearing up for the upcoming cold and flu season. Little did I know that we were about to face the global pandemic that is COVID-19. Through the lock down, the first and second “waves” and even to this day, as we approach another cold and flu season, my position has not changed. I still believe that God has gifted us with the most amazing thing – an immune system. Taking care of that is the most important thing. Since the pharmaceutical companies do not yet have a Coronavirus vaccine to sell, they are pushing the flu shot hard right now. Although the CDC recognizes that the flu shot will not protect you against COVID-19, they claim that you should make sure that you get it anyway, so that you don’t get sick with the flu and end up in the hospital, taking away resources from potential COVID victims. Again they use the argument that we have to make personal health sacrifices for the good of others. And though I believe that there is no greater love than laying one’s life down for friends and neighbors, in this case, I just don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze. And, spoiler alert, I’m pretty sure I will feel the same way about the COVID vaccine once it is released. Please don’t let the highly politicized and fear-based messages that are being constantly hurled in your direction sink in. Do your own research, and trust in the Lord, not in the media (owned by the pharmaceutical companies) or the politicians. Believe it or not, there is nothing “novel” under the sun, and He’s got this under control!
