Flu Vaccines not Your Best Shot at Staying Well.

A couple of years ago,some nurses asked me what I thought about taking the swine flu vaccine. I said I didn't think it was a good idea for the general public as it had been rushed out and that strain of influenza virus,as with the majority of influenza viruses,was a weak strain that would only affect those with a weak immune system. I also told them that it was a good idea for health care professionals like themselves to take the vaccine as they came in contact with this high risk population. That was bad advice.

I'm ashamed to say that as a physician for over 24 years,I had never read the package insert that comes in the flu vaccine. This was even though I supervised the administration of the yearly flu shots at D&S pharmacy for many years. This has been a failure in general for physicians,trusting the health of Americans to corporations whose primary goal is profit-not health.

When I finally did read the insert,I was astonished to read that right on the package insert it stated that the FLU VACCINE DOES NOT PREVENT THE FLU! This is because there are many viruses that can cause flu like symptoms and it is impossible to include them all in a vaccine. Also,the predominant type of virus that causes the flu-Influenza A-can rapidly become resistant to the vaccine. If you have a weak immune system,you're still going to get the flu, regardless of the vaccine. If you have a strong immune system,you don't need the vaccine in the first place. The flu shot is bad medicne and it has not reduced the incidence of deaths from the flu. We continue to have the same amount of deaths each year. This an example of being"Stuck on Stupid". So,how can you protect yourself and your family from the flu and other types of viruses? The intelligent thing to do is adopt immune boosting strategies.

Immune boosting strategies are not new or relegated to some "Alternative Medicine" practice. "There is no alternative to practicing good medicine"-Dr Fitt. What you do works or it doesn't work. If what you recommend is causing the deaths of 200,000 people each year,you should rethink your career choices.

The internet has become "Toto" for the common man. It allows you to pull back the curtain and expose fraud. You don't need to depend on some one in a white coat anymore to tell you what to do. We were trained by the drug companies. Answers are at your finger tips. I'm going to give you what I would recommend. But don't even trust me. Get a second and even third opinion.

1) Optimize thyroid function-The common denominator for "the very young,pregnant women,and the elderly" is low thyroid function. The very young have immature thyroid function. The high levels of estrogens during pregnancy inhibit thyroid function. The elderly have declining levels of thyroid function. The only way to accurately establish if some one is hypothyroid is to evaluate their symptoms. Lab tests are almost always inaccurate. Even if you are taking thyroid replacement,evaluate yourself to see if you still have symptoms. The commonly prescribed form of thyroid-Synthroid(levothyroxin) is usually a poor choice.

2) Supplement with Iodoral or something comparable- Iodine is the natural blood purifier. How do you think ocean animals survive living in a huge toilet that never flushes? Iodine in the ocean works like chlorine in a swimming pool. Living far from the ocean,we don't get enough iodine. Iodine kills viruses,bacteria,and yeast/fungus.

3) Vitamin D3-D3,it turns out is not a vitamin but a hormone. Vitamins are building blocks-like bricks. Hormones are regulators-like the carpenter. D3 regulates many processes in the body including the production of natural antibiotics. Your Dr can measure your level of D3. It should be between 70-100. You can Google much more info about the effect of D3 on the immune system.

4) Vitamin A- Vitamin A is another hormone that is critical to keeping viruses at bay. Your doctor can do a test to see if your vitamin A is low.

5) Selenium-Selenium is a mineral that boosts immune system function. It also reduces your risk for several types of cancer and assists in thyroid function.

6) Hydrochloric Acid-Normally,when you eat a meal your stomach produces hydrochloric acid to sterilize it for the 2 hours required to digest your food. If your production of hydrochloric acid is low,as happens with age,bacteria an yeast that normally live inside you come to eat/ferment your food. This causes heart burn,bloating and other symptoms. The overgrowth of these organisms weakens your immune system.

7) BALi Eating plan- Fungal/yeast overgrowth is a fundamental "first domino" for getting sick in the Fall/Winter. The flu is not the worst in the coldest part of Winter. Cold is not what causes the flu. The flu is worse during the time when the temperature is just right for yeast/fungus to overgrow-Nov-Dec. When these germs overgrow,they produce chemicals(mycotoxins) that weaken your immune system. Once the immune system is weak,its easier for viruses and germs to attack. Foods high in sugar or foods that quickly turn to sugar will fuel yeast over growth.

These are basic,powerful strategies that will keep most people well this year and would save 1,000's of lives if implemented on a wide scale. But that would deplete the drug cartels and make you responsible for your own health. Nobody wants that.