Flu vaccination yes or no?
From the fall onwards, you will see a poster in almost every general practitioner's surgery encouraging people to get the flu vaccine. Children, the elderly and immunocompromised people in particular are advised to do so and many follow this recommendation. Ultimately, everyone has to decide for themselves, but I have to be honest and say that I'm not a fan. There are several reasons why.
Firstly, I don't like the fact that the active ingredient is actually "outdated". A vaccine can only be developed against a disease that is already known. In this case, that is usually last year's virus. The biggest problem with the influenza virus, however, is that it mutates rapidly. The active ingredient that helped against the last virus will therefore very likely only have a weakened effect, if any, againstthe new virus. Accordingly, there is no "up-to-date" vaccination.
Secondly, the flu vaccination is only for the "real" flu. It is ineffective against all other viruses that are buzzing around and trigger flu-like infections.
Vaccination exposes the body to the killed virus. It has to fight it with its defense mechanisms and form antibodies. Depending on the immune system, this keeps it quite busy. For some, this is even enough to completely knock you out! So did the vaccination help? In addition, the body may then be so distracted that the other viruses have free rein again.
The third reason why I don't like flu vaccinations is the additives: aluminum, mercury, formaldehyde, to name just a few. I could write a whole article about what these substances trigger in the body... You shouldn't be surprised about the side effects. A sore arm after the injection is the least serious. Unfortunately, some side effects can hardly be linked to the vaccinations, as they only appear years later.
How can I protect myself against flu?
A much more sensible way to protect yourself against flu is to build up your body in such a way that the viruses don't bother you at all. Stabilize the immune system so that it laughs at the viruses. Of course, you can make a few general recommendations in this regard. However, it is more effective to analyze the deficits preciselyand then correct them individually.
The role of the gut
The first approach, how could it be otherwise, is the gut. If I have a non-functioning gut, I have a non-functioning immune system. In addition, everything I put in at the top in terms of vitamins, minerals, phytotherapeutics and other active ingredients cannot be absorbed or can only be absorbed to a limited extent and almost as much. comes out at the bottom again.
So you first have to make sure that everything works properly.
To build up the intestinal flora, it makes sense to determine the current status. This can be determined using an "old-fashioned" flora analysis, in which the intestinal bacteria are cultivated on culture plates (unfortunately, only a few germs can be cultivated here) or using a modern microbiome analysis, in which the genetic "fingerprints" of the various germs are shown.
It should also be checked whether there is inflammation in the intestine, what the mucosal immunity looks like and whether there is a leaky gut syndrome. leaky gut syndrome is present. This is the minimum package, so to speak.
Once the findings are available, you can get started. The best way to start is with a fasting cure. Then comes the build-up. Depending on the intestinal findings, our Arktibiotic Select or Arktibiotic Acute is recommended first. These contain bacteria that strengthen the acid flora and expel "bad" bacteria from the gut.
I also recommend taking our GROW acacia fiber powder. This is the favorite food of some important bacteria, which in turn make it cuddly for the others, so that they settle in the intestine again and form an important symbiosis. Depending on what else has emerged, the intestinal structure must then be supplemented with other things such as anti-inflammatory, immunostabilizing or enzymatic agents.
Diet is also very important here. "You are what you eat". This sentence actually says it all! And ideally, your diet should also contain everything: lots of important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and so on...
You should take a serious look at it! And then always stay on the ball. The easiest thing to do is to find a very good gut therapist who knows all about these things and can help you.
The effects of stress
Of course, there are many other mechanisms in the body that are important for our immune system besides the gut. Our stress regulators should not be underestimated. To take a closer look at these, it would be useful to examinethe catecholamines in your urine and cortisol in your saliva - ideally during the course of the day.
You can take a sample at home, send it to the lab and see how "stress-resistant" you (still) are. As long as everything is still working reasonably well, exercise is an important measure to reduce the excess catecholamines and have a regulating effect.
Breathe consciously
Another free way to control stress and absolutely essential for our body is conscious breathing. You can't even imagine how many positive factors you can just by doing this! Twice a day 15 minutes or three times a day 10 minutes of deep breathing and you will be amazed at how much fitter you feel within a short time! There are special breathing apps to help you find and stick to the right technique.
Vitamins, minerals and trace elements
Vitamin D has another important influence on our immune system. But you've probably already heard about this. Fortunately, this has become increasingly relevant in recent years, because it is incredible where vitamin D is needed in our body!
Among other things, it has been proven that low vitamin D levels are partly responsible for flu. And when do we have low vitamin D levels in particular? That's right. In winter, when flu viruses are everywhere.
Other vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, ß-carotene, B vitamins and coenzyme Q10, as well as minerals and trace elements such as zinc and selenium, are also absolutely essential for our immune system. A great preparation that combines the powers of acerola and various herbs is the Herbal Ferment Drink. On the one hand, it supports the intestinal flora and has a detoxifying effect, while on the other hand it optimizes the metabolism and also strengthens the immune system.
Depending on how severely your immune system is impaired, it is of course also advisable to take a closer look at it. There are various tests for this, but they should be carried out by experienced hands.
Further measures to protect against flu
Sufficient sleep, walking for at least half an hour a day, alternating showers and perhaps a visit to the sauna from time to time help to boost our immune system.
Frequent hand washing, but also sensible (not excessive!) hygiene help to eliminate viruses. Remember, for example, that your cell phone is a real bacteria/virus catapult! So clean it more often ;-)
But please don't use sprays. Researchers have found that cleaning with chemical sprays puts as much strain on the lungs as about 20 cigarettes a day due to the fine mist! That's intense, isn't it? So it's better to use a bowl of water to pour the cleaning agent into.
And last but not least: be in a good mood! Positive emotional experiences of any kind are real immune boosters and absolutely free of charge! Because laughter is the best medicine.
On that note, stay healthy :-)
