The big push for this year’s flu vaccine is on – to get one or not? My choice is not! Alan Ingles, M.D. in his Health Revelations newsletter has this to say: “I can’t promise it’ll prevent the flu in everybody, because there’s no good proof it does, in spite of the official recommendations. Furthermore, we know that in over half of everyone over 65 the immune system is unable to generate the desired response. And since it’s actually exposing your body to dead strains of virus, it may even make some of you sick.” On top of that, last years vaccine contained:
- Timerosal – a mercury compound used as a preservative
- Formaldehyde – to kill viruses
- Aluminum – to promote antibody response
- Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) – used as a disinfectant
Personnaly, I already have too much mercury in my body (amalgam fillings are the suspected source, I rank in the 99 percentile for mercury content), and similarly with aluminum. I get my fill of formaldehyde from metabolizing brandy and wine. The better way in my mind is to tune up the immune system to ward off the flu and any other infections hanging around.
I loaded one of my recent articles in the Immune Power category that describes a new discovery that vitamin D cranks up production of one of the immune systems most powerful chemical weapons – cathelicidin – used by macrophages to destroy viruses, fungi and bacteria. Cod Liver Oil (it’s loaded with vitamin D) may be the best single supplement that keeps you healthy this season. In addition to that, try the following:
- Beta-Glucan: 500mg 3x a day
- Cordyceps: 250 mg 3x a day
- NAC: 250 mg 3x a day
- Quercetin: 250 mg 3x a day
- Selenium: 400 mcg daily
- Spirulina: 1,500 mg daily
- Vitamin A: 20,000 IU daily (lots in cod liver oil)
- Vitamin C: 1000mg 3x daily
- Zinc: 30 mg daily
(Taken from Energy Times magazine, October 2006, page 33)
Beyond that, our Immune Power category has several products featured that pump up or modulate the Immune System, and one of my favorites is ImmPower from American BioSciences, with a mushroom extract known as AHCC. There are many such mushroom-based formulas on the market; recently I saw one wherein the mushrooms were raised on soil ammended with an herbal formula that by itself boosts immune function; the result was ‘super mushrooms’ that grant ‘super immunity’ – well, you get the idea.
One of the most important needs for proper immune function is 8 to 9 hours of sound sleep. The immune system recharges (as does every bodily function) during sleep – get too little, and you tank your immunity. Avoid the hazard: stay away from sick people, wash your hands often, keep them away from eyes, nose and mouth. Your best defense, really your only defense, is to empower your immune system to keep you from getting sick and allow you to survive it once infected.
Good Living – Frank
Frank Wilhelmi - Retired/consultant electronic engineer researches and reports practical strategies for optimizing health and fitness into advanced age. “I have a passion for living life to the fullest, and helping others to do the same.” A rapidly growing body of knowledge now enables us to extend our health and fitness decades beyond popular expectations.