Fighting the flu – Without a flu shot!

Instead of waiting to get sick AGAIN this year, here are some proactive things you can do that have been shown to increase your immune system. We are all exposed to bad bacteria and viruses all the time, and it is our immune system’s job to constantly fight these off. The reason many people get sick in the wintertime is because their immune system is more depressed.Here are some things that you can do to change that:Vitamin C:The effects for Vitamin C were first discovered by Dr. Linus Pauling, for which he won the Nobel Prize in 1962. Vitamin C is essential for the function of our white blood cells, and is an essential part of allowing our immune system to work correctly.Vitamin D:This is a HUGE one for those of us in New England. During the summertime, our body creates vitamin D when cholesterol molecules in our skin are exposed to special types of UV rays. Unfortunately, we are not exposed to these rays in New England during the fall and winter months. This means, that even if you are outside in the sun, you won’t be getting enough.Everyone should be supplementing with a MINIMUM of 1,000 IU’s of vitamin D per day during the fall and winter months.Zinc:Zinc is a mineral that is a mineral that has powerful, immune-enhancing effects (this is why you now see zinc lozenges everywhere you go.) Zinc is also a key mineral in ensuring proper hormonal health. A great place to get zinc is from seafood, as well as nuts and seeds.Avoid Caffeine/Sugar:Caffeine and sugar can both put our bodies into stress physiology. When our body is in stress mode, energy and resources are diverted away from our immune system.Sugar molecules also interfere with our body’s ability to receive the full benefits from vitamin C consumption. If you are SICK, skip the ginger-ale and instead have some chicken broth. The sugar from the ginger-ale can actually keep you sick for a longer period of time.Get Adjusted!People under long-term chiropractic care have been shown to have a 200% great immune competence than those who were not under care, and had a 400% greater immune competence than those with cancer or serious diseases as demonstrated by Dr. Ronald Pero (chief of cancer prevention research at the New York Institute for Preventative Medicine). Pero concluded, ‘Chiropractic may optimize whatever genetic abilities you have so that you can fully resist serious disease…I have never seen a group other than this show a 200% increase over normal patients.’This is one of MANY reasons why you and your family should be getting adjusted on a wellness basis.Regarding Vitamins:Many people are under the false assumption that they are getting all of the nutrients that they need, because they take a multivitamin, or consume milk/cereal that is fortified with different vitamins.The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamins and minerals, is based on the MINIMUM amount you need to not come down with deficiency diseases, not the optimum amount you need to be as healthy as possible. In other words, the RDA levels for Vitamin C are based on the amount of vitamin C you need to NOT get scurvy. The RDA levels for Vitamin D are based on the amount of vitamin D you need to NOT get rickets.It sounds crazy, but this is the world we live in.Yours in Health,Dr. Sean CareyP.S- Do you know someone who could benefit from our health articles? To join our Email list and get these articles delivered straight to your inbox, simply send an email with ‘Email Me!’ in the subject line to support@precisionchiroma.com