The Flu Shot: Do You Really Need It?

With flu season just around the corner, it may seem tempting to get a flu shot to prevent sickness and avoid slowing down. Although immunization may seem like a good idea, it is not necessary to take a shot to avoid the flu and it may not always be the right answer for good health.

Potential to Get the Flu

A flu shot is not infallible. When a strain of the virus is not included in the immunization, it may still be possible to get the flu. The flu virus is constantly changing, evolving and taking on new strains. That is the reason that it is possible to get sick every year with the same illness. The body has to create defenses against those new strains.

The problem with a flu shot is that it may not prevent the flu. It only protects against the specific strains that are in the immunization, not others that individuals may be exposed to during the cold and flu season.

Potential Side Effects

The side effects of the shot are another reason to avoid getting a shot. Potential side effects range from mild allergic reactions to severe seizures that develop as a result of the ingredients. Not only is it possible to suffer from severe reactions, the immunization may contain heavy metals that are bad for the human body.

In some cases, flu-like symptoms develop immediately after getting the shot because the immune system is compromised with the strains of the flu virus in the shot. Due to the potential side effects that may develop, it is better to avoid the shot.

Focusing on Wellness

Rather than getting a shot that has potentially harsh side effects and may not be effective against the virus, it is better to use holistic strategies to avoid getting sick. Focusing on personal health and wellness can prevent sicknesses from developing or ensure that the sickness passes very quickly.

The first step of preventing the flu is developing a strong immune system. A strong immune system requires a healthy diet that contains vitamin-rich foods, exercise and alternative measures to keep the lymphatic system in the best possible health. Chiropractic treatments can help improve the strength of the lymphatic system, which ensures that the body has a greater number of white blood cells to fight off infection and avoid sicknesses from developing.

After taking measures to strengthen the immune system, the next step of preventing the flu from developing is limiting exposure to the virus. Carry hand sanitizer and use it after shaking hands or touching public doors. Wash the hands with soap and warm water before eating any meals. Take precautions that prevent sickness from spreading so that it is less likely that the virus can get into the body.

Holistic approaches to staying healthy during the cold and flu season are better than getting a shot. A shot has potential side effects that are unpleasant, but preventative measures to limit exposure to sicknesses do not. Taking measures to strengthen the immune system is a healthier way to avoid the flu or any other sickness that is passed around as the weather changes. It will help prevent more than just the flu and it has fewer potential complications that may arise.

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Back to School: Vaccinations and Your Child's Wellness

It’s that time of year again when our kids fill up their back packs and head back to school. There will always be plenty to worry about when your kids are away at school, but many parents find themselves worrying about their child’s health. Schools are a breeding ground for infection and we all know that most kids and even teenagers are not the best hand washers in the world. Most parents find comfort in the fact that their child is sufficiently vaccinated against all of the icky bugs that can make their child sick. However, there are a growing number of parents that do not find much comfort in the world of vaccines.

More and more studies are showing that the vaccines themselves can introduce a whole new level of risk to our children. Studies like that conducted by Sallie Bernard entitled “Autism, A Unique type of Mercury Poisoning” are revealing a disturbing link between the ingredients found in most vaccinations and varying degrees of Autism in children. Parents may ask, “Well, if vaccines are safe, or at least not safe for some age groups, how do I protect my child from infection?”

Our bodies become sick when our immune system has been weakened or suppressed somehow. Therefore if we want to protect our children from infection we need to strengthen that immune system. Our immune systems work at their most efficient when our entire system is balanced. Balance is the key to the work of a chiropractor. We want to assist you in bringing balance back into your body or into your child’s body.

Parents are finding more and more comfort in the fact that their children can get relief from many childhood ailments through chiropractic care. Some of the most common issues that children face can be corrected or assisted through chiropractic care. Here are a few reasons some people are taking their children to see the chiropractor:

• To build brain and nerve development
• To build up their child’s entire system of health and wellbeing
• To naturally build up their child’s immune system resulting in fewer colds and infections.
• To find relief from asthma and allergies
• To improve their child’s concentration
• To address behavioral disorders
• To address digestive problems

Any parent can read that list and quickly pick at least one problem they have faced recently with their child. Most parents would pick out several that they have dealt with one more than one occasion. Addressing your child’s entire system of health and wellness is a far safer and more efficient way to keep them happy and healthy this school year. Consider chiropractic care as an alternative to finding your child the balance they deserve.

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Easy There, Caffaholics... Put the Cup Down

For some people, especially in an office setting, those one to two cups of coffee a day can be a ritual. It might even be a habit. Caffeine is a part of some people's lives. Co-workers with stashes of “K-Cups” for the machine in the break room… that guy in the next cube with the stash of high-test caffeinated pop.

In a culture in which we see ads on TV for hyper-caffeinated drinks – "five-hour" this, "game fuel" that -- how much is too much?

This guy might have a problem

Caffeine is arguably the most massively-consumed drug in our entire history. No drug is as imposing, or as openly received. Though this certainly makes caffeine accessible, it does not make it free of side effects. Even proper consumption warrants a few more mild issues.

Organically, caffeine blocks a chemical known as adenosine from telling the brain that it needs or wants to relax. Aside from that, caffeine has two other side effects that impede you body from reaching its peak performance: 1) It dehydrates you, drying up water your body needs to process food. 2) It also hinders your body’s ability to absorb magnesium, which supports a healthy gastrointestinal tract, and helps your body metabolize carbs.

Caffeine affects people differently. Some may be able to consume 200 to 300 milligrams a day and face few of the side effects. This is not necessarily a recommended amount, but it is an amount which correlates with wellness, and lessened caffeine dependency.

Unfortunately, many people consume closer to 500 to 600 milligrams a day. The major issues with this intake amount are muscle tremors, restlessness, insomnia, and consistent nervousness including a faster steady heartbeat. Many chiropractic offices find these issues arising more and more in patients as the caffeine standard daily intake increases in our culture.

The most sinister side effect to caffeine consumption is cardiac arrhythmia, where the heart undergoes sporadic palpitations. This is essentially a caffeine overdose. Though it is not quite common considering the amount of people addicted to caffeine, it is still a major issue and intensely lessens your overall wellness.

Caffeine is sneaky, and available in much more than coffee – a list we found on Prevention’s website showed you can find it in Excedrin pain reliever (130 mg in a two-tablet dose), Ben and Jerry’s No Fat Fudge Frozen Yogurt (85 mg in one cup) and even a Hershey bar (12 mg). Now if you keep in mind that a chiropractor might recommend keeping your caffeine intake down to 100-200 milligrams a day (which equates to about 1 cup of coffee)… are you surprised?

Keep in mind that caffeine can affect different people in different ways, and building a tolerance to it may lessen the severity some of the side effects. However, if you consider the dehydration and nutritional consequences we’ve discussed here, it can’t hurt to consider looking at your caffeine intake more closely.

Maybe try it out for a couple weeks. See if you feel a difference. And feel free to let us know in the comments.

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