Avoid the Flu

Last night, we hosted a dinner lecture for our patients.  As the lecture wrapped up, the topic of the Flu and Immunization came up.  I did an impromptu survey and found out of about 20 people in the room, only 4 had had the flu in the last 10 years!!  Many of those who DID NOT, admitted to NOT taking the vaccination.

This leads me to the topic of Natural Health.  What are these people doing that others are not? Even more interestingly, a married couple at last nights' lecture, stated that one of them had had the flu and the other had not.  So clearly it is not just a matter of "Germs".  How could you live with someone who has the flu "Germs" and not get them yourself?

The answer is, you can't.  Those "bugs" were floating around that household, sure as I'm tapping on this keyboard.  It's just that they found "fertile ground" in one spouse and not the other.

So what makes one more susceptible than another?

According to Dr. Russell Blaylock the following conditions affect immunity and are common amoung those who have died from the flu and related illnesses:

• Immune suppressing chronic illness, such as diabetes and direct immune dysfunctions.
• Dietary deficiencies of critical immune-supporting nutrients, chronic pulmonary disease, heart disease or cancer.
• Smokers are much more likely to suffer complications and die than non-smokers.
• Excess dietary omega-6 fats (corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean, peanut and canola oils) also severely weaken immunity. The EPA component of omega-3 oils also powerfully suppresses immunity.

Are we seeing a pattern?  Dietary deficiencies caused by chronic conditions, smoking and immune suppressing conditions.  In children he noted asthma and neurological problems such as seizures and cerebral palsy.

Diet plays a role in many of the conditions listed above and much research as been done on the effects of foods which cause an inflammatory response or state in the body.  My next post will delve more into that research and give an example of an anti-inflammatory diet, but for today, I am going to list several things you can do at home to give your immune system a fighting chance as we move into the winter months.

1. Decrease or eliminate your sugar intake.  Sugar is immune suppressing in all its forms.
2. Exercise regularly
3. Get a good nights sleep. Many people are sleep deprived.  Most adults require 8 hours.
4. Avoid stressful situations, if possible.
5. Wash your hands often and keep unclean hands away from eyes, nose and mouth.
6. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
7. Get adjusted regularly.  Researchers have found that the immune and respiratory systems depend on normal communication from the brain and spinal cord to control and coordinate their functions properly.  Chiropractic adjustments  “tune up”  this communication system
8. Last but NOT LEAST - Take Supplements.  We sell a line of  supplements that are food based and easy for your body to absorb.  They contain items that act as natural decongestants, help with fatigue, boost immune response and in general help give your body the nutrition it needs to stay healthy.  With our hectic lifestyle and fast food diets, we do not get the nutrition we need every day.
   

Review the above list and dedicate yourself to maximizing your God Given ability to survive the winter without a jab or a germ.

Dr. Liz