It’s that time of year again. The dreaded flu season is upon us. First of all, I’ve always found the term “flu season” to be kind of weird. It is like this flu virus migrates to cold areas in an attempt to make people sick. In reality, the flu is here all year around. In fact, “flu season” is really nothing more than a marketing gimmick used by the pharmaceutical companies to push their flu shots. Here is a very informative and objective article from PBS.org about the Flu vaccine, which says - "The more common claim is that the vaccine lowers one’s risk by an average of about 50 percent to 60 percent".The real reason people get sick more often in the winter months actually has to do with lifestyle choices. People are less active, eat food that is worse for them, and get outside less often. There isn’t a shot, food, or potion that will prevent you 100% from getting sick. Although many people turn to the flu shot as a first defense, the flu shot is under a lot of scrutiny for its lack of efficacy and safety. There are however, many things you can do to stay healthy during the winter months naturally.
- Stay active – staying active should be a foundation for everyone’s lifestyle. Activity and exercise has been shown by many studies to improve immunity, promote digestion which can help eliminate toxins, and increase secretion of “feel good” hormones such as dopamine and endorphins.
- Vit D – Vitamin D is a great immune booster and immune support. Vitamin D triggers the body to produce its own antibodies called antimicrobial peptides which have been shown to inactivate the flu virus. A research study out of Japan concluded that children taking 1200 IU of Vitamin D helped protect against the flu when compared to placebo. Check out this Harvard Medical School's article on Vitamin D.
- Chiropractic adjustments – chiropractic adjustments have an outstanding effect on the body. Chiropractic is most commonly known to treat joint and muscle pain, but did you know that chiropractic care can have a huge impact on the immune system?? Research done by Ronald Pero PhD, showed that subjects utilizing chiropractic care on a regular basis had 200% greater immune competence than subjects that did not utilize chiropractic care.
- Wuji Chlorella & Spirulina – These are two super foods that should be supplemented in anyone’s diet. Chlorella and Spirulina contain the daily essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs. On top of that, it promotes digestive health and is immune booster which will help you stay healthy throughout the entire year, not just “flu season”.
- Drink water – staying hydrated is essential all year round. Hydration will help systems run efficiently and will help flush unwanted toxins from the body. The general rule of thumb is to drink a minimum of eight, 8 ounce glasses of water every day or approximately half a gallon a day.