Vitamin D3 Replaces Flu Shot
by, S. Steve Dounis
Every fall season the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) starts pushing for the public to get a flu shot. However, is this the best defense against the flu?
Each year the CDC’s 15-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations on who should be vaccinated for the flu; while, at the same time, being financially tied to the vaccine industry. Consequently, the CDC must grant a “conflict of interest” waiver for each member of the ACIP. What’s going on here?
On top of that, the World Health Organization (WHO) has to guess as to the most likely strains of the flu virus to attack for the next year, since in most cases, the vaccine they coordinated the previous year for the present year, does not work. So why take it? The mounting evidence is that the flu vaccine is not only ineffective but hazardous to your health.
The flu vaccine is usually grown in fertilized chicken eggs for up to 8 months. Formaldehyde, a known cancer causing agent, is used to inactivate the virus. Aluminum, a neurotoxin, is added to promote an antibody reaction to the virus. Also included is Triton X-100 (a detergent), Polysorbate 80 (an emulsifier), gelatin, ethylene glycol (antifreeze), carbolic acid (a caustic poisonous crystalline acidic compound, present in coal-tar and wood, that in dilute solution is used as a disinfectant), antibiotics such as: gentamicin, neomysin, streptomisine; known to cause allergic reactions in some people. The 2008-2009 flu vaccine also contains Thimerosal, which is 49% mercury by weight, and used as a disinfectant. Mercury has been removed from all vaccines except the flu vaccine. Is this why 70% of medical doctors do not get a flu shot?
There is evidence to the case that flu shots may cause Alzheimer’s Disease because of the combining of mercury with aluminum and formaldehyde. Mercury alone has been implicated as a cause of autism.
The most sever reaction to the flu vaccine is Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), an autoimmune disease causing paralysis that strikes some people several weeks after having taken the flu shot. Other life threatening allergic reactions have been recorded.
Scientific research has found that because most of us do not get enough sunshine during the months between October and April, our bodies lack the vitamin D needed to ward off the flu. The majority of Americans have been found to be deficient in vitamin D.
Vitamin D3
Several studies in U.S. and Canada, have found that using higher doses of vitamin D lowers the incidence and severity of influenza. Vitamin D protects the body by releasing antibiotics (antimicrobial peptides) affecting the immune system by: promoting phagocytosis (the consumption and destruction of particulate matter; such as, viruses), anti-tumor activity, and immunomodulatory functions. In other words, fine-tuning the immune system. The best vitamin D for humans is found to be vitamin D3, cholecalciferol (from animal source).
Vitamin D is the only vitamin that is also a hormone. It is also the only vitamin that does not need to be consumed in food or supplements. Exposure of our bodies to direct sunlight (not through a window or sunscreen), converts the cholesterol in our bodies to vitamin D3. (Lower your cholesterol with the sun).
Twenty minutes in midday ultraviolet B (UVB) sun (during the warm seasons) with 40% exposure (without any sunblockers) will give you about 5,000 to 10,000 IU of vitamin D3. If no sun, take 2,000 - 5,000 IU vitamin D3 supplements daily. Take up to 10,000 if fighting the flu or cold. Fatty fish species, such as Salmon, Mackerel, Sardines, and Tuna, are natural sources of vitamin D. Also eggs, if vitamin D is added to feed.
Most added vitamin D in products, such as milk, only have 200-400 IU. Look for added vitamin D3 and not vitamin D2 (from plant source). Scientists now endorse the use of 2,000 IU as the new minimum. Scientific studies have shown that to achieve blood levels of vitamin D to protect against chronic diseases, at least 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 should be taken daily.
The Vitamin D Council has reported that 5,000 IU should be taken daily. One rule-of-thumb states that 1,000 IU per 25 pounds of your weight should be taken daily. For example, take a man weighing 150 pounds. Divide the 150 by 25 which would equal 6. So six times 1,000 IU is 6,000 IU for a 150 pound man’s daily intake.
Even in Canada, the Canadian Pediatric Society has issued guidelines increasing the recommendations for pregnant women to 2,000 IU daily as a result of deficiencies found in pregnant and lactating women. They may be considering increasing their recommendations to 4,000-6,000 IU daily.
Can there be too much vitamin D? Both in this country and abroad, there has been a lot of misinformation. Hypocalcemia (low levels of calcium) is probalby the only problem with excessive use of vitamin D to worry about. However, to get to that point, in healthy adults, it would take 40,000 IU a day. The upper limit for the intake of vitamin D is roughly equal to what an adult lifeguard’s body will naturally produce in the middle of summer and that is 10,000 IU daily. So, 2,000-5,000 IU on a daily basis is well within the limits of safety for adults as well as for infants.
Our own American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children from newborn to teen should double the amount of vitamin D (from 200 IU to 400 IU) because of evidence that it may help prevent serious diseases. However, as noted, the latest research indicates that children should be taking at least 10 times the old daily recommendation of 200 IU; at least 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily.
Protect Yourself and Your Family
The first line of defense is to WASH YOUR HANDS & FACE. Shaking hands, using public doors and door knobs, using office telephones and computer keyboards, public restrooms, etc. allows for the opportunity for picking up germs and viruses. Always wash your hands and face when you come home from being out and about. Why your face, too? You may have inadvertantly touched your face after picking up a virus.
Eat at least two heaping tablespoons of organic plain yogurt a day. The probiotics in the yogurt protect 80% of your immune system, which lies in your digestive tract. Or, take a probiotic supplement. Eat onions daily and especially garlic, a natural antibiotic. Eat something RAW at every meal; fruits, nuts, seed, veggies. Drink plenty of water. Do not become dehydrated. Use natural sea salt, which has 80 essential minerals, including magnesium and potassium. Salt and water together stimulate metabolism. Stay away from sugar, as much as possible. Why? Because sugar shuts down your immune system up to two hours. Use Stevia, a natural sweetener instead. Take a good multivitamin (from a health food store and not from grocery or drug store). Take a good essential fatty acid complex supplement (Omega 3, 6, & 9 combined). Take vitamin C. And most of all take 2,000-5,000 IU of Vitamin D3 supplements. If you have the flu, take liquid vitamin D3 up to 10,000 IU daily. Stay healthy.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I started taking D3 last year during the H1N1 vaccine season. I work with college-age students, and at least two students in my classroom came down with H1N1. There was also a bad cold going around, with peopel hacking and coughing. I took my vitamin D3 throughout this season and recommended it to many others, for people to increase their D3 intake if they were taking it, and to take it for those people who weren’t. I got a tweet from a student who told me D3 saved her from a really bad virus recently, and I was able to fend off my son’s cold with D3 supplements. I recently increased my intake because the cold virus wanted to take over, and I feel like the D3 is having an impact on the severity and duration of the infection.
Go Vitamin D3!
July 7th, 2010 at 10:30 am
It’s the old “curse of knowledge” dilemma isn’t it? It’s easy to assume visitors know how to comment or even that commenting is encouraged. Excellent post.
July 7th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Thank you for the information I kind of knew some of that but you enlightened me on a little more.
August 10th, 2010 at 10:55 am
I saw this article from Facebook (my friend posted it). After reading, I clicked Like and also reshared it myseld. More power.