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Public health authorities claim that annual influenza vaccination is a guaranteed way to avoid this disease. But does this claim have a scientific basis?
If you have repeatedly succumbed to this annual promotional campaign, you will probably be surprised to find that for a whole decade medical literature has shown vitamin D to be much more effective.
Doctor John Cannell, founder of the Vitamin D Council, was one of the first to introduce the idea that vitamin D deficiency may be the real CAUSE of the flu.
His hypothesis was originally published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection in 2006. This was followed by another study published in the journal Virology in 2008.
The following year the largest nationwide study of its kind to date found that people with the lowest levels of vitamin D indeed reported significantly more colds and influenza-like illnesses. In conclusion the lead author, Dr. Adit Ginde, stated:
“The findings of our study support a significant role for vitamin D in the prevention of common respiratory infections such as colds and influenza. Individuals with common lung diseases, such as asthma or emphysema, may be particularly susceptible to respiratory infections precisely because of vitamin D deficiency.”
Vitamin D is more effective than the flu vaccine
Since then several studies have reached similar conclusions. Only recently a scientific review of 25 randomized controlled trials confirmed that vitamin D supplementation boosts immunity and reduces the number of colds and influenza-like illnesses.
The studies in total included nearly 11,000 participants from more than 12 countries. According to Time magazine:
“… people who took supplemental forms of vitamin D daily or weekly reported occurrences of acute respiratory infections like influenza and colds much less often than those who did not take vitamin D …
In people with the most pronounced vitamin D deficiency (blood levels lower than 10 ng/mL), taking supplemental vitamin D led to a halving of the risk of respiratory infections.
Even among people with higher vitamin D levels in the blood there was a modest reduction in risk: about 10%, which almost matches the protective effect of the injectable influenza vaccine,” the researchers say.
Like Cannell, researchers believe vitamin D provides protection by increasing antimicrobial peptides in the lungs and that “this may explain why colds and influenza are so common in winter when we are exposed to the least sunlight (and thus have the lowest natural production of vitamin D) …”
According to this international research team, vitamin D could prevent more than 3.25 million cases of colds and influenza per year in the UK alone.
Another statistic that says vitamin D is more effective than the vaccine in fighting flu is the “number needed to treat” (NNT).
Overall one person in 33 who would take vitamin D supplements would avoid the flu (NNT = 33), while with vaccination 40 people must be vaccinated to prevent the flu in a single one of them (NNT = 40).
Among people with a large deficiency of vitamin D at the start of treatment the NNT = 4. In other words, if you start with a low blood level of vitamin D, a vitamin D supplement is 10x more effective for you than the flu vaccine.
Optimizing vitamin D is the best defense against the flu
Optimizing vitamin D is one of the best options for flu prevention and an available strategy to stay healthy. Of course, your diet also plays an important role because it is the foundation of a properly functioning immune system.
A diet high in sugar is a guaranteed way to reduce the body’s natural ability to fight any kind of infection because it drastically worsens immune system function.
However, it cannot be said that fortifying processed foods with vitamin D is the best solution. On the other hand it is likely that it could still have a fairly strong effect for people who still do not appreciate the overall positive effects of sunlight on human health.
Reasonable exposure to sunlight is the best way to optimize your vitamin D level in the body. Taking supplemental vitamin D3 is recommended in cases where it is truly not possible to get vitamin D from sunlight.
The mainstream media ignore “gold standard” studies
The gold standard of scientific analyses, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, published several reports from 2006 to 2012, each of which undermined the claim that vaccination is the most effective defense against influenza.
In 2010 Cochrane published a conclusion that mainstream media completely ignored:
“Influenza vaccines have only a modest effect in reducing influenza symptoms and lost work days. There is no evidence that they prevent complications of the disease such as pneumonia or transmission of the illness.
WARNING: This systematic review includes 15 of 36 studies funded by industry (four did not contain any statement about funding).
A previous systematic review of 274 studies on influenza vaccination, published up to 2007, found that industry-funded studies were usually published in prestigious journals and were more frequently cited, regardless of the quality of their methodology and scope.
Results of studies funded from public sources favored influenza vaccines to a substantially lesser extent …”
So despite the fact that 15 of the 36 included studies were influenced by industry interests, the necessary evidence still did not emerge to support the claim that vaccination is the most effective and efficient form of influenza prevention!
More foods and supplements that will rid you of pathogens
Besides vitamin D there are many other foods and supplements that can be of great benefit to us during a cold or the flu:
1. Garlic
It is a natural antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal and has long been known for its great effects in boosting immunity.
The Cochrane database, which has repeatedly shown that the science supporting influenza vaccination is at best superficial, also examined studies on alternative flu treatments, including garlic.
Unfortunately, such research is hard to find because there is no financial incentive to promote it.
Nevertheless, in the only study Cochrane obtained, those who consumed garlic daily for 3 months caught colds less often than those who took a placebo. If they did get sick, the duration of illness was 4.5 days versus 5.5 days in the placebo group.
It may not seem very impressive, but it is still more than what you can achieve with the flu drug called Tamiflu!
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant. Use natural forms like acerola, which also contain beneficial micronutrients.
You can take several grams every hour (get it in liposomal form to avoid loose stools) until your condition improves. It’s worth taking with you when traveling.
3. Zinc
The Cochrane database, when evaluating medical research on zinc, found that if zinc is taken within 24 hours of noticing the first symptoms, it can reduce the duration of a cold by one whole day.
It was found that zinc reduces the severity of symptoms. Zinc is not recommended for people who have serious health problems such as impaired immune function, asthma, or some chronic disease.
It is not recommended to take more than 50 mg daily, nor to take zinc daily as prevention, because it can lower copper levels in the body.
4. Oregano oil
The higher the concentration of carvacrol, the stronger this oil’s effect. Carvacrol is the most effective antimicrobial component of oregano oil.
5. Medicinal mushrooms
To strengthen immunity, medicinal mushrooms such as shiitake, reishi and oyster mushroom are suitable.
6. Olive leaf extract
Olive leaf extract is generally known as a natural, non-toxic means of building the immune system.
7. Herbal teas
For boosting immunity, teas of elderflower, yarrow, SADC, linden, mint and ginger are suitable.
To beat a cold and the flu, drink it hot and often. It causes sweating, which helps flush the virus from the body.
