Well, the fear machine was in full swing in 2009. The H1N1 flu virus [swine flu] it was a killer pandemic strain that was going to decimate the earth’s population in no time. Pharmaceutical companies couldn’t make their injectable potions fast enough. It was a real crisis. No.
The latest research in the Journal of the American Medical Association states that the swine flu virus actually had a slightly lower risk of severe symptoms compared to seasonal flu. And yes, that includes children.
Hospitalizations, pneumonia, and extended symptoms were similar between the swine flu and regular or seasonal flu groups.
The study was conducted by the Epidemiology Research Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin and included 6,874 adults and children. The study data included 30 days of follow-up of flu cases in a designated area of Wisconsin. Study participants were examined for evidence of Influenza A and swine flu. 545 had contracted swine flu and 853 had been infected with seasonal and other strains of influenza A. This seems to be a very robust study.
The verdict is in. The swine flu was less dangerous than the media marathon that covered the pandemic. The next question that needs to be answered is what is the best way to avoid contracting any type of flu. For that answer, we need to travel to the other side of the world.
The Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo conducted research on the effect of vitamin D supplementation and influenza in school-age children. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Children who received vitamin D supplements during the height of the 2009 flu season had a 42% lower risk of contracting the flu than those who did not.
Back at home, the CDC now recommends that everyone age 6 and older get the new flu vaccine that combines H1N1 and a couple of other flu strains. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of the flu vaccine in a good year is around 30%. According to research, vitamin D supplements reduce the risk of flu by 42%. Why doesn’t the CDC recommend vitamin D? You would have to ask them.
Vitamin D is vital for the health and well-being of our body. It is a real immune booster. Your body makes its own vitamin D when you go outside and don’t smear sunscreen on your skin. The advent of sunscreen has created a vitamin D-deficient culture. And when it comes to keeping the flu at bay, that spells trouble. So take your vitamin D [D3] supplements and get some sun. Turn off the TV, game consoles, and computers, and send the kids outside to play. What a concept! And when flu season returns, you’ll have a natural layer of protection.