Flu season – the fifth season of the year – is upon us. So we hear from the mainstream media, pushing flu shots, anyway. However, I have no use for it – the flu or the flu shot – and choose not to participate. Flu, or influenza, is a virus, a germ, a bug – it is NOT a season! Wouldn’t you like to exempt yourself from the ‘flu season’? You can – by building a flu proof immune system!
The Four Seasons + Flu Season
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall have been around since the beginning of time. They all have different characteristics that I enjoy. I love the crisp, cool air of the Florida Winter. I enjoy the new beauty of Spring. Summer is filled with joyful days of sunshine, baseball and the beach. Fall brings back cool weather and lots of fun, outdoor activities like football, hayrides and corn mazes!
Now this brings us to flu season. What!? When was this invented? Did you know that the viruses that cause the flu are present all year round? People do get the flu in the summer as well, albeit less frequently. So, why is it that we only hear about the flu from about October to May? This period of time has been dubbed ‘flu season’ because that is when more people are diagnosed with the flu. For many reasons, as discussed below, people are simply more susceptible to infection during these months.
Of course, the flu shot is heavily marketed during this time as your number one source to prevent the flu. In fact, you are hard pressed to see anything else in the mainstream media telling you how to prevent the flu. You may see faulty information about using antibacterial hand sanitizers. These kill bacteria not viruses like the flu. They also cause hormone disruption and bacterial resistance - they make bacteria stronger and resistant to antibiotics. Vaccines and antibiotic drugs are not effective because they are based on a flawed medical theory.
The Development of the Germ Theory and Vaccines
From the beginning of time, many outside forces have been blamed as the cause of disease. Man has blamed bad spirits; bad air (miasma theory); bad blood, bile, and phlegm (humorism) for all diseases. You may have learned that George Washington died due to the humorist practice of bloodletting.
These medical practices have all been shown to be ineffective and sometimes deadly. They have all been abandoned - almost. An article published last year in the journal BMC medicine suggested that the previously defunct practice of bloodletting may benefit obese people with metabolic syndrome. However,I don’t think anybody was lining up for this medical procedure!
These theories were replaced by the germ theory of disease in the late 19th century. According to the germ theory, it is not bad spirits, bad air or bad blood – it is germs that cause disease. Germs include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, etc. This idea lead to the development of the first vaccines for smallpox in 1796 and rabies in 1885 and then the development of the first antibiotic, penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928.
However, modern medicine is now admitting that the germ theory is, at the very least, incomplete. Since germs are everywhere, we would all be hopeless against their attacks. Everyone should get the flu every year. Yet, we have all seen that this is not the case. We all know someone who seems to escape the latest ‘bug’ that is ‘going around’. Personally, I have never had the flu myself and very rarely even contract a cold.
Despite this incomplete theory, all modern vaccines - including the flu shot - are still based on the out-dated germ theory. The fact is, germs do not cause disease. What does?
Your Immune System and Flu Season
What we now know is that your immune system is designed to kill all harmful germs – bacteria, viruses and all others. This prevents you from ever getting sick even though you are exposed to germs every day, all day long. In fact, a dysfunctional immune system is first required for a germ infection to even take place. So, it is not the seed (germ) but the soil (your body) that causes you to get sick.
Seeds will only grow in certain types of soil and environments. Likewise, bacteria and viruses will only grow in certain environments. Your lifestyle can cause your body to become fertile soil for germs to grow and cause disease. The typical American lifestyle that includes a diet full of sugar and processed foods, toxins and MSG, vaccines and other drugs, little to no exercise and no sunshine literally turns off your immune system.
This is why so many people are so prone to developing the flu and colds. During the fall and winter months – ‘flu season’ – the typical American lifestyle is amped up to dangerous levels. People stay inside more and get even less sunshine. All while consuming a lot more processed and high-sugar foods typical of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. It’s no wonder so many people ‘catch’ the flu during these months! This unhealthy lifestyle also results in more deaths from heart attacks and depression/suicide during this season.
How to Build a Flu Proof Immune System
Optimizing your immune system with your lifestyle has the ability to make you flu proof! It is not even difficult. However, it does require a radically different lifestyle. Here is what is takes.
Optimize Your Nervous System
Your nervous system controls all health and healing in your body, including your immune system. A stressed nervous system weakens your immune system, making your susceptible to the flu. Stress levels are also higher during this time of year. This is why regular Chiropractic Care for your nervous system is even more important at this time.
Chiropractic physicians are specifically trained to remove stress from your nervous system. Dr. Ronald Pero, the chief of cancer prevention research at New York’s Preventative Medicine Institute found that people who received regular chiropractic care over a five-year period had a 200% greater immune competence than those who had not received chiropractic care. The chiropractic group also showed a 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer and other serious diseases.
Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels
Vitamin D is called the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’. Your body produces it naturally when you skin is exposed to sunshine. However, most people do not get enough sunshine exposure to produce adequate amounts. This is why it is one vitamin supplement that everyone should be taking, especially during the fall and winter.
Vitamin D is vital to a healthy immune system. Research has shown that optimal amounts (blood levels greater than 38 ng/mL) of vitamin D cut your risk of influenza infection by up to 90%! If you take nothing else, take vitamin D daily. The amount required varies from person to person; however, for adults, generally 5,000 IU/day is necessary. See the Vitamin D Council website for more information.
Avoid Sugar like the plague!
Not only does sugar feed cancer cells, it weakens your ability to fight the flu. Sugar creates an acidic environment in the body that allows germs to thrive! Over-consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates causes inflammation throughout your body as well. Inflammation is an underlying cause of many diseases from heart disease and diabetes to the flu and even cancer.
Sugar inhibits the cells of your immune system. It prevents them from killing off bacteria and viruses effectively. Your body is designed to handle natural sugars in whole foods, such as fruits and whole grains. However, refined sugar and carbohydrates flood your bloodstream with excessive amounts of unnatural, unhealthy sugar. This effectively turns off your immune system response, allowing infection and illness to develop.
Eliminate Processed Foods & Processed Meats
Processed foods are filled with many unnatural, toxic chemicals including MSG. These toxins create disease in your body all on their own. Additionally, when your body is over-burdened with toxins, your immune system will not function well.
Processed meats – all beef, pork, poultry and fish sold in typical supermarkets or restaurants – are raised in a manner that causes toxins to build up in the meat and fats. Additionally, they are given a steady supply of antibiotics and steroid hormones. When you consume these animals, you are consuming those toxins, antibiotics, and hormones as well without getting any of the healthy omega-3 fats that should be there. This has a toxic effect and causes havoc with your body’s own hormone production. It weakens your immune system, making you flu ready rather than flu proof.
Optimize Your Nutrition
Eat real, whole foods that are unprocessed. Your body requires many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in order to build your flu proof immune system. You get these from plant-based foods – vegetables, sprouts, low sugar fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
You don’t have to be a vegan but everybody knows that the less red meat you eat and the more broccoli you eat, the healthier you will be! Make an effort to include more plant-based nutrition in your daily diet. Easy tips: everyday (in addition to other foods) consume a green smoothie, an avocado, 2 Tbsp of coconut oil (organic, cold pressed), and a raw vegetable salad with at least 7 different vegetables. This will boost your flu fighting nutrition radically!
Read More: 8 Tips to Beat Inflammation with Your Diet
Supercharge Your Exercise
Research shows moderate amounts of aerobic exercise such as jogging, brisk walking and cycling during the cold and flu season boost the body’s defenses against viruses and bacteria.
However, you don’t have to spend an hour a day on the treadmill. And you don’t have to brave the bitter cold of the winter to go for a jog. You can supercharge the flu fighting effects of exercise without even leaving your home. Even better, you can accomplish this in just 12 minutes per day!
Read More: Busting The Top 4 Exercise Myths
Get Optimal Sleep
Most of us have experienced a feeling of being run down or sick after getting very little sleep. Lack of sleep crashes your immune system. Your immune system requires this time of rest to heal and kill bacteria and viruses. Research has shown that sleeping less than seven hours per night makes you 300% more susceptible to viruses that cause colds and the flu! So be sure to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
Bonus Flu Fighting Immune Boosters
Amazing Grass Green Superfood - An easy way to support your immune system with Superfood nutrition is to include a green superfood supplement like Amazing Grass Green Superfood or Chocolate Green Superfood. This can be added to smoothies or protein shakes to provide flu fighting antioxidants, phytochemicals and probiotics. This is my favorite supplement. Along with my vitamin D, I use this everyday for myself and my family.
Green Tea - Teas, in general, have several phytochemicals that are effective against influenza and other viruses. Green tea has a phytochemical called EGCG that has been shown to have antiviral effects against the seasonal flu that are even more effective than the flu shot!
Colloidal Silver - This is used for immune system support. It is useful for fighting infection and preventing cold and flu symptoms. I use this to boost my immune response when I feel that I am getting run down or when I am around a lot sick people.
Nature’s Flu Shot - This recipe from Dave Sommers brings relief if flu symptoms have set in. Juice of 6 fresh Lemons, 1 bulb of Garlic, 2 tsp. Ginger powder, 2 Tbsp. Honey, 3 cups Pineapple juice, 1/4 tsp. Cayenne powder. Blend all ingredients thoroughly and store in a glass jar. Drink 1 cup, 4 times a day until the symptoms are resolved.
Probiotics and fermented foods - Over 80% of your immune system is in and around your gut (intestinal tract). Much of this is healthy flora (friendly bacteria). These healthy bacteria are destroyed by antibiotics, most vaccines, many other drugs, toxic processed foods and stress. However, they can be replaced by consuming raw, fermented foods or with probiotic supplements.
Medicinal Mushrooms - Reishi mushroom increases natural killer cells in your immune system, helps regulate immune system response and balances inflammatory responses. Cordyceps mushroom also boosts your immune system by enhancing production of T-helper cells by up to 74%.
There are many health promoting activities that support a healthy immune system, helping you prevent the flu naturally. This article has covered the most important ones. There are also many natural foods, drinks, and supplements that you can use to combat the flu. You now have the power to exempt yourself from the flu and the flu shot just as millions of others do every year!
Did you find this article helpful?
Please share this information with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Please also go to the source of this article WellnessAchiever.net and subscribe for regular email updates. You will see a box on the right side to enter your email address. See you there!