Dr. Bryan Skinner, ND

As with any robust virus, it is survival of the fittest.  We are beginning to see our first signs of mutations occurring in the H1N1 virus.  Even though the H1N1 vaccine has shown quite dismal results (Effectiveness = 76% of 10 -- 17 year olds; 36% of 3 -- 9 year olds; 25% of babies aged 6 months -- 35 months) against the virus it was intended (the July 2009 California H1N1 strain), the newest strain will most likely lead to complete ineffectiveness of the vaccine.  Patients who have been diagnosed with this mutated strain are hence called “low reactors” to the current H1N1 vaccine.

What are we learning from this information?  The H1N1 vaccine is not the magic bullet?

The initial vaccine was far from being any magic bullet as seen above in the HIH report.  On top of that information, it also contains squalene, aluminum, and mercury, which have been correlated with everything from autoimmune conditions to autism to paralysis.

What other choices do we have?  Is there another magic bullet?

No, there is no magic bullet when it comes to building and maintaining a healthy immune system.  This is a perfect example of naturopathic principles at work.  Eat well, get enough sleep, manage stress levels, and add a little supplementation for good measure.  I am really a minimalist when it comes to supplementation, so I strongly recommend Juice Plus+ as the foundation for prevention of the flu and other infectious agents.  I have taken Juice Plus+ for 13 years now and have recommended it to my patients as a great foundational product for 6 years.  I view it as an insurance policy for the days in which I am not able to eat as I should.  It is really the only supplement I take consistently because the third party research is so persuasive.  Both the University of Florida and University of Arizona have done studies on Juice Plus+ in relation to immune function.  Both studies showed significant immune enhancement when supplementing with Juice Plus+.  These results equate to more resistance against common infections.

The following steps will typically be all you need to stay healthy, even in the midst of a pandemic.  Your immune system is your best asset!

1. Test your vitamin D levels during the fall and winter.
   This is probably the single most important and least expensive action you can take. I would STRONGLY urge you to have your vitamin D level monitored to confirm your levels are therapeutic at 50-70 ng/ml.  If you are coming down with flu-like symptoms and have not been on vitamin D, you can take doses of 50,000 units a day for three days to treat the acute infection. Please talk with us at Cypress Natural Medicine if you would like to have this tested.
2. Avoid sugar, high simple carbohydrate and processed foods
   Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately and the immune suppression lasts for 7 hours after the sugar intake.   A strong immune system is the biggest factor in protecting your body from viruses and other illness, even cancer.  If your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu. So get plenty of good quality sleep
3. Use Effective Tools to Address Stress Levels.
   We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness.
   a. Deep breathing exercises help to relieve stress: Spend 10 min twice a day deep breathing.  You should see your abdomen move when you breathe in this manner.  Focus on bringing the breath into your belly instead of filling your chest.
   b. Exercise at least 5 days a week for 30 min. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads.
4. Take a high quality probiotic  or eat fermented foods. Eighty percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, so enhancing your gut health with probiotics is a very effective method to ward off cold and flu viruses.
5. Eat 9-12 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Whole food nutrition is very immune balancing.  I take a supplement called Juice Plus to increase my nutrient density and support my immune system.  You can see the research on Juice Plus and the immune system at www.FruitVeggieHealth.com.   The doctors at Cypress Natural Medicine use Juice plus as our immune balancing first line of defense and you can even double dose at the first signs of the flu.
6. Herbs and Homeopathy can help with good immune balance.   Avoid taking herbs such as Echinacea and elderberry for long periods of time.  I recommend taking an herbal formula only one week monthly as prevention.  We have some great immune formulas at Cypress Natural Medicine.   Please talk with your practitioner to see which one they would recommend for you.

If you do experience flu symptoms, do not panic, call us at Cypress Natural Medicine and we can give you specific treatments to lessen and support your body through the illness.