Things They Don’t Teach You

Lemmings are small rodents, usually near the Arctic.   There is a common misconception that lemmings perform mass suicides, following each other over a cliff.   This is true and its false.   They are driven by powerful biological urges to migrate when their population gets too big.   The Norway lemming in Scandinavia will migrate until they reach a cliff overlooking the ocean.   They will stop, but the urge to migrate is too powerful and they jump off, attempt to swim in the ocean, get exhausted, and drown.   As the lead lemmings jump off, the rear lemmings blindly follow to their deaths.

Oddly enough, people have developed this dependency mindset as well.   We depend on the government to take care of all our needs.   However, it soon becomes apparent that the government is just as incompetent as everyone else; since the government is made up of flawed people.

We depend on the pharmaceutical companies to produce miraculous medicines to fix our every ill.   However, we soon discover that Baycol, Bextra, Fen-Phen, Vioxx, Permax, Posicor, Propulsid, Raplon, Raxar, Redux, Rezulin, Seldane, and Zelnorm (just to name a few) are not the miracle drugs we were told; and in fact are quite harmful (they have all since been recalled).

It is important not to be a healthcare lemming; don’t follow the crowd.   The crowd can get you damaged, even killed.

As you may know, I am not a big fan of most vaccines; there are a few that are worthy and must be taken, but most are not.   The flu vaccine is one of those which I have NOT taken in years.   But am I foolish to risk 4-7 days of misery?   Or smart to avoid the documented cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, as well as the corresponding decrease in longevity of those who routinely take the flu vaccine?   Remember the 1976 Swine Flu Vaccination program?   Horrible!

Lets look at some data.   During the last 20 years, flu vaccinations among seniors has jumped from 15% to 65%.   BUT, there has not been a corresponding decrease in hospital admissions or mortality.   Hmmm..   that seems odd.

A Canadian study used 704 people.   Half got the flu shot; half did not.   85% of these people were over 64 years old.   29% of the group came down with pneumonia, and 12% died.   Only 8% of the vaccinated group died… Oh my God, the flu vaccine saved 50% of them from death!!!   Several other studies have said the same thing.   I have to rush out and get my shot!

But, wait, lets take a closer look.   The researchers in this study adjusted for factors like age, gender, co-existing illness, and also one more thing — the “healthy-user effect.”   This has not been considered in other studies.

Dr. Sumit Majumdar, the lead researcher, describes the healthy-user effect as an already healthy patient that practices a healthy lifestyle — exercises regularly, not overweight, doesn’t smoke, drinks in moderation, takes supplements.

When you take the healthy-user effect into consideration, the flu vaccine didn’t have any effect on mortality.   If someone is already living a healthy lifestyle, they have a better chance of surviving the flu than someone who is obese, smokes, and is already damaged.

So despite data that shows no benefit to the flu vaccine, like lemmings, many of us will risk it anyway.   Oh, by the way, they’re still using mercury preservatives in the multi-dose vials of seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine.

Getting lots of sleep, and adopting a healthy lifestyle will serve you far better in the long run.   Vitamin D3, K2, Vitamin C, 1,3 beta glucan, elderberry extract, and XPC is part of my daily diet.   Unless I do something stupid (no more winter time blood donations for me!), I’ll take my chances.

Note from Dr. David Williams:   Diamond V Mills’ XPC, also known as the poor man’s EpiCor.  The product is a cultured yeast product for animals, but now comes in supplement form for humans (EpiCor).    Workers in the yeast factory where XPC is made  were noticeably healthier and took fewer sick days. The only difference between the EpiCor and XPC is that EpiCor is made in a food-grade facility, while the Diamond V products are made in a feed-grade plant. I’m sure that matters to the FDA, but it doesn’t matter to me. Nevertheless, both products are safe, non-toxic, pesticide-free, and non-mutagenic. The biggest difference I see between the two products, however, is the price. A 30-day supply of EpiCor (consisting of thirty 500 mg capsules) sells for anywhere from about $20 to $50. A 50-pound bag of Diamond V XPC sells at feed stores for anywhere from $1.50 to $1.75 a pound. Take 2 to 3 grams (equivalent to about ¾ tsp.) of XPC a day to help keep your immune system in tip-top shape.