flu shot

The Flu Shot is a DUD! Here’s What To Do

The flu is coming this year, and it looks bad.

We know this because the flu season in Australia (whose flu season occurs before ours) has been the worst in recent years.

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the flu vaccine is only 10 percent effective this year.  

Last year the flu shot was only 30 percent effective (but that was a banner year). The year before it was about 12 percent effective.

As you can see, counting on the flu shot to keep you from getting the flu is a dangerous gamble.

Let me show you how to avoid the flu if you can (and fight it if you can’t).

Sit in any airport and watch how many people pass through the terminal in a day and you get an appreciation of how quickly an infectious disease can travel around the world.

Your airport may be busy, but there are thousands of airports just like it all over the world. Never has there been such a chance of an infection spreading so rapidly to every reach of the world.

The flu is nothing to sneeze at. It is a very serious disease.

The 1918 flu infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide and killed about 10 percent of the people who got it (that’s 50 million people!).

As with almost any illness, prevention is your best strategy. The number one prevention tool for the flu is within your reach.

Despite all the high-tech wizardry we have, the best protection is still the simplest: wash your hands.

The problem isn’t with what you get on your hands; the problem is when you move your hands to your face. Estimates are that most people touch their face somewhere between 5 and 20 times every hour.

That means whatever is on that doorknob, sink, desk (or the person’s hand you just shook) will make it to your nose, mouth, or eye.

Once there, it is a short trip and you have the flu.   

And, yes, when you cough and sneeze, make sure you cover your nose and mouth and throw away tissues after you use them.

That’s prevention, lets talk treatment.

Dr. Scott’s Anti-Flu Program:

  • Eat Well: I like to include lots of garlic and onions in my food during flu season. Onions and garlic have long been used for their healing properties and they are a tasty addition to any meal (especially soups). There are many herbs and vitamins that can help your immune system; make sure you get enough of them.
  • Vitamin D: Take 3,000-5,000 IUs of vitamin D every day.
  • Berberine, Turmeric, and Olive Leaf: These herbs help to give your immune system the boost it needs to help kick the flu out the door.
  • Probiotic/Polyphenols: There is a ton of research on probiotics and immunity. I take my probiotic in a super-food blend so I get both gut health and the added antioxidant power of plant foods.

Most people get 2-3 colds or flus a year. I find that when I take care of myself, I may have a day or two of symptoms, but rarely get a full-blown sickness – this is a sign of a strong immune system.

You too can have a strong immune system by following the above advice. 

Health and Happiness,

Scott Olson

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More Free Articles

FDA Finally Admits “BANNED” Soda Ingredient is Unsafe

I’m not a soda fan for MANY reasons. I wrote an entire book on the dangers of sugar, for example. And research links soda drinking to fatty liver disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s. And the diet stuff is no better. Fake-sugar-filled diet sodas cause “metabolic confusion,” and artificial sweeteners are...

Read This

Discover WHY We Accidentally Overeat (and How to Stop)

Picture this… You finish eating a nice meal feeling just fine. But then, 20 minutes later, you’re groaning and clutching your belly because you feel uncomfortably stuffed. If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Most of us have had this happen. Science reveals why accidental overeating occurs… and what we can do to avoid...

Read This

Find Exercise Exhausting and Painful? Try THIS Natural Fix

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: “You need to exercise.” And sure, you know how vital it is to healthy aging. But let’s be honest, sometimes it feels nearly impossible to get moving—especially when you know you’ll be sore for DAYS after. However, hold on to your seat because I’ve...

Read This

Mailbag: Unsteady on Your Feet? Now What?

“I’ve been having trouble with my balance lately and have fallen a couple of times. Could this be related to osteoporosis or another underlying cause?” – John Hi John, It’s always concerning when someone experiences balance issues or falls. While osteoporosis can contribute to an increased risk of falling, several other underlying causes should also...

Read This

Is There Really a Hidden Benefit to BROCCOLI?

Just when we thought broccoli’s resume couldn’t get any more impressive, new research proves us wrong. The phytonutrients in this tasty veggie can lower inflammation… balance blood sugar… and even boost your memory. And you likely already know of broccoli’s legendary prowess in preventing cancer. Now, a new study reveals that sulforaphane, the potent compound...

Read This

Belly Trick BOOSTS Brain Function

Boy do I love a cheap and easy solution. And if you can’t resist a good bargain either, keep reading. Because I have a brain-boosting one to share that fits the bill. If you’re like most folks, you intend to stay as sharp as a tack well into your golden years. So, you’re always on...

Read This

The Hidden Heart Danger LURKING in Your Gut?

Dear Living Well Daily Reader, Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is no walk in the park. The cramping, the urgency, the endless trips to the bathroom—it’s a daily struggle that can leave you exhausted and frustrated. And here’s the kicker: sometimes, IBD’s vague symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis or even NO diagnosis at all....

Read This

Has the Key to Unlocking Better MS Treatments Been Found?

Dear Living Well Daily Reader, Imagine waking up one morning and feeling a strange tingling in your fingers. You brush it off, thinking it’s just a pinched nerve. But then, your vision starts to blur, and your balance is thrown off. Suddenly, you’re faced with a terrifying reality: you have multiple sclerosis (MS). For the...

Read This

6 Secret Ways to Spot HIDDEN Processed Foods

“Avoid eating processed foods,”—If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. The reason why is simple. These Frankenfoods are designed to satisfy your taste buds. But they leave your body full of foreign chemicals that can cause harm and in need of more nutrients. But a patient asked me the other day,...

Read This

8 Red Flags There’s a Heart Attack in YOUR Future

Humor me and count to 40. Done? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United States just had a heart attack. That adds up to around 805,000 people a year. Many of those were a “silent” heart attack, with the victim having no clue it even happened—and they go...

Read This