I knew the swine flu paranoia was getting out of hand when I found this in my kids room…
Just kidding… someone sent me this picture, but I thought it was worth sharing! Have a healthy day!
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How to Lose Weight while Preventing the Flu this Season
October 15, 2009 By 2 Comments
As we enter the season of holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, etc) and the season of flu, two concerns on many people’s minds are flu prevention and weight loss. Luckily, there are some simple suggestions that can help maintain a healthy weight and help bolster the body’s defenses against the flu and other illness this season.
My first and most important recommendation I can make for weight loss and flu prevention,is to immediately switch to a health diet, though the specifics I recommend may be new to some of you. The old adage “you are what you eat,” has never been more true. As the percentage of the population that is medically classified as overweight or obese rises steadily, it is no surprise that rates of cancer, disease, and other medical issues rise as well. For optimal health, I recommend a diet of high quality proteins, abundant sources of beneficial fats, and adequate amounts of organic or locally grown vegetables, if available.
- Proteins are necessary for virtually every function the body performs. One of the disadvantages of the low-fat diet that has been promoted my the medical community for so long is the lower intake of protein that often accompanies it. Additionally, a low fat diet is often a high carb diet, as foods like whole grains and starchy vegetables are considered “healthy” low-fat foods. This high carbohydrate diet can contribute to insulin resistance, obesity and eventually diabetes if continued over long periods of time. As proteins are vital for every function of the body, they also perform an important role in immune function and weight maintenance. Antibodies are specialized proteins that help defend the body from illness and bacteria. Proteins are necessary for cell division which is vital in healing and growth, and proteins in the form of hormones and enzymes regulate chemical reactions in the body. The adult body needs one gram of usable protein for each 2.2 pounds of body weight. This means that a 180 pound man would need around 80 grams of protein a day and a 145 pound woman would need about 65 grams a day. I recommend organic grass fed beef, free range chickens, free range eggs, organic raw dairy, and certain forms of protein powder. I will post more on this soon.
- Fats-This may sound foreign to you if you have followed a low fat diet
in the past, but more and more studies are proving that eating fat does not make you fat. In fact, recent research is showing that adequate fat intake is vital to weight loss. (A good discussion on fats here) Fats provide concentrated energy and are important building blocks in hormones. Fats carry the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Studies show that fats, including the much feared saturated fats, contribute to immune strength, bone strength, and can protect the liver. For optimal immune function, it is important to get adequate fats from healthy sources including olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, nuts/seeds, krill oil and animal sources. - Vegetables- I hopefully won’t have to do much to convince you that vegetables are healthy and important for optimal health and weight loss. The important thing is to get organic or locally grown vegetables whenever possible as organic varieties can often contain up to three times the nutrients of conventional vegetables. For weight loss and immune function, it is important to avoid eating too many starchy vegetables like potatoes and winter squash and to focus on greens (spinach, lettuce, kale, mustard greens, etc), peppers, tomatoes, hot peppers, garlic, onions, celery, and asparagus. I get mine in by drinking veggie smoothies and eating a salad or two green vegetables at every meal.
Another recommendation I make for both weight loss and flu prevention is to test and maintain adequate levels of vitamin D. More and more research is showing the importance of Vitamin D in maintain weight levels, preventing disease and for optimal mental health. The best source of Vitamin D is that which is naturally produced by your body when it is exposed to sunlight in moderation, though this can be difficult in winter months. If you are unable to get 30 minutes of sunlight a day, supplementation may be necessary. If you choose to supplement, opt for Vitamin D3, a more assimilable and healthy version than other forms. Since Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, it can be dangerous if taken in excess. Consider having your vitamin D levels checked by a doctor before beginning any supplementation, though Vitamin D obtained from sunlight is considered safe. It is important to carefully maintain optimal levels of Vitamin D, as too much or too little can be dangerous. Recent research is also showing that optimizing vitamin D levels can be a major factor in maintaining or reaching a healthy weight.
Find out how to treat the flu at home with stuff you have around the house.
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Are the Seasonal and Swine Flu shots safe?
October 14, 2009 By 1 Comment
There is no question that the existence of the H1N1 virus and the vaccine created as a result have become hotly debated issues in the media, by bloggers and perhaps most fiercely, by moms. There is so much information out there, that it can be overwhelming to sort out. Since I personally fit into high risk category number one: pregnant women, and have two bambini that fit into high risk category number two: young children, this is an issue I have spent many hours researching. In an attempt to save you the hours of reading medical studies and reports so boring they can cure pregnancy insomnia, I have compiled the information I found below. As a Nutritional Consultant, I will also offer some basic recommendations for preventing and treating the flu should you or someone you love contract it. (Part Two to be released on Friday)
It seems there are two safety issues this flu season: the flu itself and the 
vaccine currently being manufactured. The H1N1 influenza virus has thus far proven to be less dangerous than officials originally predicted. It resembles a regular flu with common symptoms of fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, coughing, sore throat and stomach disturbances in some people. Like the seasonal flu, it is a viral infection of the respiratory track. For most people, symptoms are mild and clear up after several days or rest and proper hydration. In most cases, those who experience further complications already suffer from an immune compromising condition or have actually contracted bacterial pneumonia, a much more dangerous illness.
Ironically, while pregnant women, elderly, small children and medical workers are the high risk candidates for contracting the H1N1 virus, the majority of the documented cases so far have been in young adults under 30. Factors like obesity and underlying conditions such as diabetes or heart disease proved to increase risk for complications from the virus.
The vaccine itself is manufactured like the seasonal flu vaccine in an egg substance with certain adjuvents (additives) to elicit an immune response. Thimerosal, a mercury based adjuvent, will be present in multi-dose vials of this vaccine, though some single dose vaccines may be made without it. Thimerosal has long been suspected to be tied to autism, though it has only actually been proven to be related in one case. Other additives that might be present in the seasonal or swine flu vaccines are:
- Aluminum — a neurotoxin that has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease
- Triton X-100 — a detergent
- Phenol (carbolic acid)
- Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
- Betapropiolactone – a disinfectant
- Nonoxynol – used to kill or stop growth of STDs
- Octoxinol 9 – a vaginal spermicide
- Sodium phosphate
(Taken from Mercola.com. Read the full article here)
The H1N1 vaccine will be tested for up to three weeks before being released for public use, according to FDA documents. Additionally, any testing would be on the H1N1 vaccine alone, and not in combination with the seasonal flu vaccine, which could mean as many as four doses of flu vaccine for some. According to the official website about the flu put out by the government, “The CDC is encouraging people to get both vaccinations (swine and seasonal).”
No testing has been done on the effects of these vaccines, alone or in combination, on the unborn children of pregnant women who receive them, though:
A recent study showed exposure flu viruses among women during pregnancy provoke a similar gene expression pattern in the fetus as that seen in autistic children. (Full article)
Another important point to consider when weighing the risks and benefits of the flu vaccine(s) is their effectiveness. There are no controlled studies that demonstrate any decrease in cases of the flu among those who have gotten the vaccine. The insert in the FLUVAL vaccine for the 2009-2010 formula specifically states:
” FLULAVAL is an influenza virus vaccine indicated for active immunization of adults 18 years of age and older against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine. This indication is based on immune response elicited by FLULAVAL, and there have been no controlled trials demonstrating a decrease in influenza disease after vaccination with FLULAVAL.”
From my perspective as a mom and nutritional consultant, and after the limited research I have done, my family and I will not be getting either of the flu vaccines this year. I am yet to see any evidence that the benefits outweigh the risks, especially to small children. Obviously this is a highly controversial issue, but that is my take on it. I have some other links on vaccine safety and effectiveness on my Resources page.
Some of the more informative sources I found while researching were the National Vaccine Information Center, Mercola.com, and Dr. Tenpenny.
More posts on seasonal vaccines and flu prevention to follow.
Here’s to a healthy home!
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