Flu Shot? NOT!!

Well it is that time again... The big year-end bonus program for Big Pharma is in full effect. It is time once again to buy into the fear mongering, bow down at the alter in the church of modern medicine and affirm your powerlessness by placing a bet on the inability of your immune system to keep you healthy during the winter. You have no doubt seen the signs in every pharmacy, grocery store, and even some airports and banks. What is next, "Get a flu shot with your free checking"?

Let me begin by saying that what you do with your health is 100% your own business, 100% your own decision and in no way is the advice in this blog meant to diagnose or treat any medical symptom, syndrome, itch, disease, problem, issue or complex that you might have. What you do with the information is up to YOU. This is simply my own opinion based on observing hundreds of patients in addition to own experience.

When deciding whether or not to get your yearly medical injections, there are many ways to examine this issue. Firstly, one might want to find out exactly what is in these little "miracle stabs" otherwise you are blindly receiving an injection of "God knows what" into your bloodstream.

In addition to flu virus grown in chicken embryos(which many times is not even the correct strain to protect you this year), here are some common ingredients in vaccines:

Ethylene glycol: aka antifreeze

Phenol: also known as carbolic acid (used as a disinfectant, dye)

Formaldehyde: a known cancer-causing agent (also good for preserving cadavers)

Aluminum: can accumulate in the body and is associated with Alzheimer's disease, seizures, and cancer

Thimerosal: a mercury disinfectant/preservative that can result in brain injury and autoimmune disease

To quote Forest Gump, "Thaat's all I have to say about thaaat"

A much better way to approach this is to decide what you want and focus on getting that. What you focus on grows in your experience. If the practitioner's focus is on killing, cutting out or poisoning disease, that practitioner is doing their part to grow disease. If health is what you want to experience, then take actions to bring you in that direction by focusing on experiencing health. There are very specific activities that have been proven to enhance health. Over time healthier people experience less illness including colds and flu.

Starting now, make it a priority to eat well, move well and think well.

Eating Well includes making sure you eat optimally so your immune system can be healthy. This includes eating as many servings of fresh raw fruits and vegetables as possible (at least 9 per day). Consuming organic produce is best! I use a high quality whole food based product in my office to provide more nutrition from fruits and vegetables. More information can be found at http://www.doctorjuiceplus.com/

Eat only when you are hungry, chew your food and drink plenty of filtered water. If you are having trouble picking out a good filter, contact me and I will point you in the right direction. I find it helpful to begin the day by immediately drinking two large glasses of filtered water. This hydrates you and helps your body flush out toxins.

It is also important to avoid processed foods with added sugar, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial colors and flavors, MSG and artificial sweeteners. These additives take away from your health potential.

Another overlooked category of health detracting foods is dairy. If you want to experience better health it is important to immediately eliminate all dairy foods from your diet. Dairy products trigger increased mucous production and disrupt the function of the immune system.

Make sure that 90% of your caloric intake is from plant sources. Animal products should be a very small portion of your diet. When you do consume animals, make sure that they are wild game or certified organic. Factory farming methods greatly decrease the quality of the food, and damage the environment.

Moving well includes getting enough healthy motion per day. At the minimum you should be walking 2 miles per day outdoors at a brisk pace preferably over rough or uneven surfaces. Outdoor activities are essential because your skin makes Vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight. Most Americans are Vitamin D deficient because human beings are meant to spend a lot more time outdoors than what our 2008 western lifestyles allow for. Proper levels of Vitamin D are needed for optimal immune system function. For this reason you must make a serious effort to get as much direct sun exposure as possible to as much of your body as possible without sunscreen. Not only are most sunscreens carcinogenic, they also impair your ability to produce Vitamin D. Contrary to brilliant marketing campaigns sunlight is very beneficial to your health as long as you are not burning. If you start to burn, get out of the sun. Sunscreen will only give you a false sense of security at that point. Motion is what your body uses to dissipate abnormal stress and tension that your body is holding on to. Proper amounts of motion give your brain and immune system what it needs to function optimally. The best exercise is the one that you will do, so find something you like and get out and do it!

Of course the flip side to the moving well coin is to make sure that you get plenty of rest. Sleep deprivation robs your immune system of its ability to keep you healthy. If you are having trouble sleeping, make sure the room is as dark as possible. Even the light of an alarm clock can be enough to affect sleep quality. Remove all video games, computers and television sets from your bedroom. Getting on a routine can also improve sleep quality.

Thinking well includes properly processing the stress you are experiencing in your environment. This begins with not creating any new additional stress than what is already present. The foremost authority on helping you do this is Eckhart Tolle.

Another important step is to clean up the clutter and get organized. This will make you more productive and will empower you to decrease and deal with stress better.

Processing stress better has a profound effect on strengthening your immune system.

Finally, find yourself a good Chiropractor who understands how to properly adjust you. Properly utilized chiropractic care is likely the best kept secret when it comes to overall health and your immune system.

Finding a good chiropractor can be challenging, but it is worth the effort. Generally the less machines, gadgets, remedies, and visits required, the better the doctor. If you are having trouble with this, contact me so I can assist you in finding a doctor in your area.

So this fall when you are worrying about getting sick during the cold and flu season, reclaim responsibility for your life and take action steps to be healthy. In the long run, you will be giving yourself a chance to prevent more than just the flu. When you consider that about 85% of health care expenditures are for chronic diseases that are preventable, this information could reap benefits far beyond the flu.