Flu Shot

Or Not?

This is the time of year when the CDC ramps up for their flu shot campaign causing everyone to worry about the dreaded illnesses that seem synonymous with cooler weather. After years of this routine, we’ve come to refer to this beautiful time of year as “flu season” which should tell us that the CDC’s marketing efforts are a little too effective.

Let’s take a step back from the billboards, commercials, and bribes at every corner store and look at the science behind the flu shot, so we can determine if this injection is really worth it.

Looking at the data

A study published in ScienceDirect in 2004 looked at the data and concluded that during the 19-year period spanning 1980 – 1999, the push to vaccinate our elderly population against the flu “was not accompanied by a decline in influenza-related mortality.”

The lack of effectiveness of the flu shot is not just a problem for our elderly. A study published in Pediatrics International reveals that children ages 6 months to 2 years who were vaccinated against the flu had the same rate of influenza A as those who were not.

Perhaps the most credible source is a review conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent network of researchers, who set the standard for unbiased scientific research. They reviewed the published literature on the efficacy of the flu vaccine in preventing the flu in healthy adults and concluded “vaccination may have little or no appreciable effect on hospitalizations or number of working days lost.” In other words, the shot doesn’t work very well.

We also know, based on data from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), that the flu shot comes with potential side effects and risks. Reports include Guillain-Barre syndrome and other causes of paralysis as well as a long list of short-term symptoms that very closely resemble…well, the flu.

In light of the jab’s poor effectiveness coupled with its risks, it would be wise to ask ourselves if the flu shot is really the best way to protect ourselves this year. Fortunately, there are a growing number of Americans asking this question and turning to nutrition for more natural – and more effective – support.

Health is forever

Supporting Your Immune System

When it comes to guarding yourself from sickness, the best hope any of us have is our immune system. Its strength and ability to respond in time of need is what largely determines how we get through the flu season and face any health challenge that may come our way.

Eating a healthy diet that is low in sugar and rich in fresh, organic produce is one way to support your immune system all year round. During the fall and winter, when rates of acute illnesses tend to rise, it’s smart to protect yourself to an even greater degree with targeted nutrients that have been proven to support a healthy and robust immune response.

The most well researched and powerful immune support nutrients are available in supplement form. It’s ideal to take them each day, but even if you aren’t consistent, you want to have them on hand to kick your immune system into high gear when it’s facing an invader.

healthy lifestyle

Stocking Your Wellness Cabinet

A well-stocked wellness cabinet can go a long way to helping protect our family this time of year. I like to have a range of essential oils on hand including Thieves blend, R.C. blend and Lavender from Young Living as well as Thieves throat lozenges (magic!) in case anyone in my home shows signs of an illness. You can find those products here.

The following nutrients, along with our oils, are the go-to remedies that keep my family bouncing back from acute illnesses in record time!

Vitamin C – this nutrient increases our white blood cells, which help us fight off an infection. Taking vitamin C is highly effective at preventing and shortening the duration of acute illnesses. My family loves the lemon-flavored powder C + Biofizz by Designs for Health.

Vitamin D – a deficiency of the “sunshine vitamin” is often blamed for the increase in illnesses during fall and winter, but you can give your immunity its powerful protection by adding in a supplement. We add the tasteless drop Vitamin D + K2 from Thorne to our water.

Zinc – this mineral helps protect us when a virus tries to enter our cells and multiply. Several studies have shown taking zinc at the first sign of illness helps it be less severe and a shorter duration. I get Zinc in my multi but take Zinc Picolinate 30 mg from Thorne if I’m feeling ill.

Whether you choose to take a flu shot or not is a personal decision, but one I hope will be based on research and not marketing. I love helping people design supplement regimens to help them stay healthy, so feel free to reach out anytime!

You can grab the supplements mentioned in this article through my online Fullscript dispensary.

By supporting your immune system, you will be ready to face any bacterial or viral threat that comes your way and enjoy every moment of this beautiful season!