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Your Best Defense Against the Flu? Stay Healthy

http://blog.drdavidwilliams.com/blog/digestive-health-guidance/your-best-defense-against-the-flu-stay-healthy

Fall is here, and winter is just around the corner…again. Football, frost, and, more recently, flu shots are just a few of the things associated with this time of year. The first two are inevitable. The third is a matter of choice, which has been popularized more by marketing and propaganda than by effectiveness.

During the last two decades the flu vaccination rate among the elderly has increased from 15 to 65 percent, but there hasn’t been a corresponding decrease in hospital admissions or mortality.

Most of the public, and health professionals alike, have been brainwashed into believing its saving lives. Personally, I would suggest spending your money and efforts on making sure you’re keeping your immune system in shape so you don’t get sick in the first place.

Here are 5 ways to help keep the flu at bay:

1. Fortify your immune system with vitamins D. Vitamin D is generally thought of as a vitamin, but strictly speaking it’s a hormone, based on the fact that it is manufactured in one tissue in the body and then circulates throughout the body and influences other tissues. Research has found vitamin D response elements (VDREs) in every major organ system, as well as our immune system.

In a Scientific American article on vitamin D Canadian researchers reportedly discovered that VDREs are involved in the formation of natural antibiotics within the body. This latest discovery helps explain how in the early 20th century, sunshine was able to cure tuberculosis, when no other treatments were available. Few people are manufacturing enough vitamin D from sunshine exposure during this time of year, so everyone should be supplementing their diet with 2,000 to 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily.

2. Don’t wait until you’re ill to take vitamin C. Without a doubt, vitamin C is critical for your immune system. I routinely take 2000 mg of vitamin C a day, year round. But when you need extra immune system help, I recommend taking 500 to 1,000 milligrams every 2 hours.

3. Don’t forget the zinc. You’ve probably heard of zinc lozenges—and with good reason. This critical mineral helps to fight free radicals in your body and promotes immune function. I recommend taking 10 mg of zinc when your body needs it.

4. Eat yogurt. As you know, yogurt helps promote healthy digestion, but that’s not all. There are some promising studies that show that eating 2 cups of yogurt a day may help boost your immune system. Just remember that you need to look for yogurt that hasnt been heat-treated.

5. Tap into the healing power of garlic. Garlic is not just good for your cholesterol, it also helps to fortify your immune system. For overall health, I recommend eating at least a clove of garlic each day.

Now it’s your turn: What do you do to stay healthy?

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