Wellness... with a Dash of Humor & a Pinch of Faith!!!: What if We've Been Wrong About the Flu

What if we've been wrong about the flu?

Consider the following statement from
Dr. Robert O. Young:

There is no such thing as a flu virus and therefore there is no need for a poisonous acidic flu vaccine made with chicken embryos, formaldehyde, mercury, detergent, and alcohol. The flu is the body in preservation mode increasing body temperature to activate the lymphatic system to remove excess dietary and/or metabolic acids in the tissues via respiration, perspiration, defecation and urination. The key to reversing the symptoms of the Flu is hydration with alkaline fluids and sweating with infrared sauna or exercise.

We do everything in our power to keep it at bay. It's the dreaded flu, and the season is once again upon us! Oh joy! So, if this is not a virus as we've all been led to believe, then it follows that the best defense against it would be through a proper alkaline lifestyle. Some added measures may be:

Eat Garlic. It helps the body fight off any unwanted bacteria. If you can stand to eat it raw, it's most effective. It may impact your love life for a while, but you might avoid the flu.
Leave Sugar Alone. The only sugar you should consume is through healthy fruits and vegetables. Leave the simple carbohydrates alone and if you need cough drops, make sure you buy the sugar-free variety.
Use Ginger. It is a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. It also has an anti-viral agent which helps boost your immune system.
Take Extra Vitamin C. Not only a powerful antioxidant, it is known for decreasing the severity of colds. Eat dark leafy greens as well as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and add lemon to your water.
Don't skimp on sleep. Suffering from sleep deprivation adds undo stress to your body and breaks down your immune system. We need a minimum of 8 hours a night so that our bodies can re-charge and renew to face the day ahead. Practice deep breathing as well in order to deal with stressful events during the day.

In spite of all these common sense rules we live by, the flu happens. Flu symptoms can appear quite suddenly and include:

Onset of fever and aching/pain in joints
Warm, flushed skin
Headache
Sore throat
Dry cough (which will continue for several weeks)
Runny nose
Muscle aches
Tiredness
Weakness

If you do contract the flu, there are some common sense steps to take, which include:

Hydrate. Drink lots of fluids. You don't have to gulp down gallons of water at a time, but small sips can help you stay hydrated even in you are vomiting frequently.
Snack. You won't feel like eating, but you should try to eat regularly if you possibly can. Snack on clear fluids such as chicken broth. Sometimes I like to have dry toast or just a bit of applesauce.
Rest. I am a self-proclaimed workaholic! I love to stay busy with research, learning and writing. I'm the person who lies in bed sick and thinks about all the things I'd rather be doing! It's difficult for me to take my own advice here, but rest really is important in the recovery process.
Keep a positive attitude through the illness. Know that this is a setback and will not last forever. The flu has to run its course and the best thing to do is just give in, go to bed, get some rest and take the very best care of yourself you can. Don't fight it - just take care of it.
Weigh yourself daily. I know, I'm not a fan of this one either, but you need to know if you're losing weight without effort.

Diabetics need to check the label on any over-the-counter medications! Particularly the cough medicines, cough drops and any sinus medications. There are a few sugar-free cough medicines sold OTC and they should be the ones you choose. Most sinus medications will raise your blood pressure. Try to find one that will not have that side effect. The goal is to keep your blood sugar as controlled as possible during your recovery. Monitor your blood pressure as well if you have the means to do so.

While you're recovering from the flu, continue taking your diabetes meds and all others you normally take. Check your blood sugar as you normally do and record any abnormalities so you can discuss them with your doctor.

Finally, contact your doctor or go to an emergency room if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Unable to eat normally
Go six hours without being able to keep food down
Have severe diarrhea
Lose five pounds or more
Have a temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
Get a blood glucose reading lower than 60 mg/dL or more than 300 mg/dL
Have trouble breathing
Feel sleepy or can't think clearly

It's my hope that you have a happy and healthy flu season! It's certainly no fun to get the flu - and as we get older it becomes more difficult to battle.

I hope what I've posted today will help you get through this Winter with wellness intact. Take care of yourself!

Here's an immune-boosting smoothie recipe: