Don't Be a Victim of the Cold and Flu Season

By Paul Fassa | January 5, 2012

(Health Secrets Newsletter) Drugstores and Walmart are promoting walk-in flu shots for the "flu season." The late and early months of each year seem to be when more people catch colds and come down with the flu. So what measures can you take to ensure you are not sidelined with nagging colds or a debilitating flu episode?

Boosting your immunity is important for coping with the cold and flu season, but getting a flu shot is not the way to do it. Flu shots have recently proven non-effective at preventing flu and strengthening the immune system. In fact, all vaccines depress the immune system and can cause lifelong neurological damage and autoimmune diseases.

Let's also debunk the concept of "flu season." Influenza viruses don't approach in the winter then leave like migrating birds every spring. Influenza microbes aren't seasonal. They're probably hanging around most of the time waiting for your immune system to get a little weaker.

Most of us know by now that vitamin D3 is necessary to fight off pathogens and protect against inflammation and even cancer. D3 has become the natural health movement's immunity staple, and it's confirmed by many MDs, holistic practitioners, and researchers. The natural source of D3 is the interaction of the UVB rays of the sun and your skin.

The northern hemisphere of the earth tilts away from the sun in late fall and winter. Add the shorter days' decreased sunshine energy to remaining indoors and dressing to stay warm, and you've cut yourself off from the sun. Immune systems are weakened during the winter periods because of vitamin D3 deficiencies. Voila! That's the flu season!

If you live in a year round warm sunny area you'll need to make sure you get plenty of direct sunlight on exposed skin. Direct sunlight means no glass between you and the sun. Glass filters out beneficial UVB rays for vitamin D3 and lets potentially harmful UVA rays come through.

If your regional climate inhibits sun exposure, take Vitamin D Drops. You can check your vitamin D3 blood levels, but many experts recommend five to ten thousand international units (iu) daily in lieu of adequate sunshine exposure.

The other 8 measures for preventing and treating flu

* Elderberry for Flu Treatment: Elderberry extracts or syrups have been clinically proven to help us get over colds and flu better than Tamiflu. Elderberry is not a drug, so it's cheaper and without the serious side effects that have been reported for Tamiflu. It may be too late now to make your own elderberry tincture for this year's "season". So buy some off the shelf and make a tincture for later to save money. It takes a month for tinctures to be ready for use.

* Protective Supplements: Elderberry is curative. The herb echinacea is protective. It's usually sold in tinctures or extracts. Vitamin C is protective too. Zinc is a helpful mineral for protecting against colds. Increase these compounds by eating the right foods or taking supplements.

* Minimize Sugar: Ease up on sodas, pastries with bleached white flour and such. You've probably had enough ice cream during the summer. A few grams of sugar can destroy your white blood cells ability to resist infections for several hours. If you need to sweeten tea or coffee, use raw honey or Stevia.

* Eat more Garlic and Onion: Besides being rich in antioxidants and selenium, garlic is antibacterial and antiviral. Both garlic and onions are part of the Allium family, which is rich in sulfur-containing compounds responsible for many of their health-promoting effects.

* Exercise: Moderate exercise, even walking a mile or two at least three times a week helps your lymph system cleanse impurities and promote healthful mood hormones to boost your immune system.

* Stress Less: This should be an all year round practice. Many consider stress or anxiety as the leading cause for decreased immunity. Lighten up. Try meditation or yoga. Laugh more. Be less critical. Worry less and accept what comes your way, even if it's not so good. It's easier to overcome obstacles when you have equanimity.

* Sleep: Not necessarily more, but better sleep is the ticket. Make sure where you sleep is totally dark so your melatonin production will be optimal. Take a melatonin supplement if you feel the need. The five different phases of sleep contain two cycles that are deep enough to refurbish your immune system. Melatonin helps you reach those cycles.

* Probiotics: Your body contains ten times more bacteria then cells. Yes, that’s true! Most of them, optimally 85%, should be friendly flora. Friendly bacteria not only attack pathogenic bacteria and fungi, they also trigger appropriate white cell reactions to invaders and they influence your mental/emotional state. It's estimated that eighty percent of your 100 trillion bacteria are located in the gut's flora.

Friendly bacteria are often depleted, especially by GMOs and antibiotics, so we all need probiotic foods and supplements. Commercial yogurt is insufficient. Raw milk and raw cheese, fermented foods, and water kefir or milk kefir should be dietary staples along with the probiotic supplements. The best are Ultrabiotic for adults and Pedia-Biotic for kids. If you're forced into taking antibiotics, double up on probiotics!

For more information:

/articles/digestivehealth/How_to_Make_a_Grumpy_Gut_Happy.html

/articles/immunity/Sleep_Flu_Colds.html

/articles/digestivehealth/probiotics_boost_immunity.html

/articles/immunity/importance_sleep_cycles.html

About The Author:

Paul Fassa sees the struggle for health freedom and the need for improving and preserving our food supply as key issues in today's crazy world. His blog is http://www.healthmaven.blogspot.com/