How To Build Your Bones While Boosting Your Immunity - Save Our Bones

Autumn is just around the corner in the Northern Hemisphere. Evening comes a bit earlier each day, the air is beginning to cool, and there’s the barest hint of color on the leaves. In contrast to the seasonal change, one thing has definitely stayed the same: the scare tactics used by the Medical Establishment around this time every year.

Because cold and flu season is also around the corner, doctors and pharmacies are already promoting the flu shot in some areas.

Not only is the flu shot toxic, but it doesn’t even work, and can actually increase your risk of developing flu.

The Two Most Important Steps to Prevent Colds and the Flu

The key to preventing the flu doesn’t lie in vaccinations; it lies in a healthy and strong immune system. Fortunately, there are safe and natural ways to boost your body’s own defenses.

And the good news is that these immune-boosting tactics are also bone-builders.

As cold and flu season gets underway, the last thing you want is to increase your toxic load so that your immune system can’t fend off viral invaders and germs.

This is the first step toward health in the upcoming season. The second step is to build your immune system so that it’s strong and able to ward off pathogens.

An Important Reminder: Avoid the Flu Shot

When you get the flu shot, you’re adding to your body’s toxic burden. How ironic! So avoiding the flu vaccine altogether is a simple step you can take to keep from burdening your body’s defense system.

Don’t be fooled: the flu shot contains toxic ingredients, like preservatives and stabilizers. When I randomly searched for the ingredients in two popular flu vaccines, here are a few of the frightening substances I discovered:

  • Thimerosal (a mercury derivative)
  • Beta-propiolactone (a human carcinogen that’s used as a disinfectant in hospitals)
  • Formaldehyde
  • Polysorbate 80 (linked to cancer and reproductive disturbance)

And remember, these are just a few of the ingredients in only two flu vaccines.

Prepare Your Immune System

Your immune system fights all the time on your behalf, and your body is the battlefield. Don’t go into battle unarmed – give your immune system the “weapons” it needs to keep the “enemy” from invading.

It Starts in the Gut

This might surprise you: much of our immune system activity takes place in the digestive tract. A complex interplay between pathogens (disease-causing viruses and bacteria) and healthy, good bacteria goes on in your belly all the time, and what you eat can an influence on who will win.

Incredibly, the balance between good bacteria (probiotics) and pathogenic microbes can be altered by diet. For example, nourished by prebiotics, probiotics in the gut work to fend off invaders. I’ll explain.

Prebiotics are micronutrients found in foods like onions, tomatoes, bananas, barley, chicory, and artichokes. They act as “food” for the probiotics, or good bacteria, that are also in your gut. Without the prebiotic substances, the helpful bacteria die, leaving you vulnerable to illnesses like colds and flu.

Nourish and Replenish the Good Bacteria While Building Your Bones

The prebiotic-containing foods mentioned above are bone-healthy, and in fact, many of them are Foundation Foods as described in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program. So “feeding” your good bacteria nourishes your bones, too.

In addition, replenishing the helpful microbes in your gut with bone-healthy foods like plain, unsweetened, preferably organic yogurt (another Foundation Food) helps keep the good bacteria count high and your bones strong. Fermented foods are alkalizing (even if it’s a fermented form of an acidifying food, like milk), and are chock-full of these tiny but mighty immune-building weapons.

Probiotics like those found in yogurt actually stimulate the production of cytokines, special cells that increase the body’s inflammatory immune response.1 In addition, these good bacteria increase the number and effectiveness of white blood cells.2

Benefits of Probiotics Go Beyond the Belly

As we’ve discussed, healthy intestinal flora affect far more than just your digestive system. But researchers are discovering that there’s even more that these amazing microbes do to keep you healthy. In fact, a fascinating new study has recently come to light that links…

Probiotics and Obesity

Actually, it’s a lack of probiotics that apparently comes into play in obesity and its attenuating health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.

The Danish study explored the gut flora of 292 people, 169 of them obese and the other 123 of normal weight. Researchers discovered that those with a large number and rich variety of good bacteria were less likely to be obese than those with fewer, less varied flora. There were a few obese people who did have a high number of good bacteria, and they were less likely to develop obesity-related illnesses (such as heart disease) than the obese people with low numbers of flora.3

Researchers isolated good bacteria that appear to be the “masterminds” behind promoting bacterial diversity in the gut.

It seems that probiotics are more valuable to human health than we’ve ever realized!

“‘The bacteria produce vital vitamins, mature and strengthen our immune system, and communicate with the many nerve cells and hormone-producing cells in the intestinal system,’ says Oluf Pedersen, professor and scientific director at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. ‘And, not least, the bacteria produce a wealth of bioactive substances which penetrate into the bloodstream and affect our biology in countless ways.’”3

Till next time,

References

1 Meyer, AL, et al. “Probiotic, as well as conventional yogurt, can enhance the stimulated production of proinflammatory cytokines.” Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2007 Dec;20(6):590-8.Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18001380
2 Fabian E, Elmadfa I. “Influence of daily consumption of probiotic and conventional yoghurt on the plasma lipid profile in young healthy women.” Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2006;50(4):387-93. Epub 2006 Jun 30 . 2006. PMID:16816529. Web. https://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=124
3 Brown, James, et al. “Translating the human microbiome.” Nature Biotechnology. 31, 304-308. Doi: 10.1038. April 2013. Web. https://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v31/n4/full/nbt.2543.html

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Comments on this article are closed.

  1. betsy

    Have you read “Wheat Belly” by William Davis, MD? It is a very interesting, thought provoking read done in layman’s terms. I recommend it to anyone who is wondering why they have various illnesses or symptoms without apparent cause.

  2. Kathy

    Hi Vivian,
    I started making kombucha in July and it’s supposed to be very alkalizing. Do you know anything about this? You have never mentioned it that I saw.
    Thanks.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      While I have not researched kombucha as it relates to bone health, I do know it’s a fermented beverage that is full of probiotics. So chances are it’s alkalizing and bone-healthy! This looks like a good topic for further research – thanks for writing in, Kathy. 🙂

  3. Nikita

    Hi Vivian,

    Thank you very much for the flu shot info. I have had flu shots for many years. Is it OK for me to skip this year? Or it will get me sicker.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      It’s up to you, Nikita – I hope you were able to find the information you need to make your decision. 🙂

  4. George

    I lent my save our bones to a friend and she liked it so much that she ordered one for herself. Powerful book indeed.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      I am so glad you’re spreading the word and sharing the Save Our Bones information, George! I hope your friend enjoys the Program.

  5. Carolyn

    Thank you for more information on the flu shot. I have experienced lingering problems after receiving one last year. I was given the one that was 3x stronger, and was not given a choice. I don’t plan to get any this year, but appreciate seeing how to improve the immune system. I always look forward to your research based information.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      I’m glad you’re able to avoid the flu shot this year, Carolyn. 🙂

  6. Terry

    Vivian, thank you for the update and reminder. I am one of those who is lactose “sensitive”. I can tolerate a little but to much and I’m in so much pain. However, I do not have any problems with fermented dairy such as the yogurt and sour cream; Which as you know goes so well with a baked potato!!
    The colds have already hit sense school is back in session. Just a reminder to not touch your eyes or nose when shopping. It’s not just the carts, the stockers’ also have colds and sneeze on the merchandise they are handling.( I know…horrible thought but true.) Keep wipes or hand sanitizer with you and wash your hands often at home.

    • Terry

      Sorry I meant “since” not “sense”

  7. Paul

    Dairy is unhealthy…Go Vegan!

  8. Akram Namati

    I learn every day some thing new about my health and are very health wise.Good idea to chat with others about our health knowledge and experiences.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Thank you, Akram – I hope you’ll continue to read, learn, and participate!

  9. Fran

    What do you recommend for someone who is lactose intolerant?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Probiotic supplements might be a good choice for you, Fran…although sometimes people with lactose intolerance can digest fermented dairy products more easily. 🙂

    • Coral Vorster

      Try Almond Milk. It’s nutritious and healthy.

      • Joyce

        My husband & I both are lactose intolerant
        & switched to Soy/ Almond based milk few years ago, and have done well since then without the Pesky symptoms of Lactose Int-
        tolerance. “Press On”

  10. Janet Rathke

    Thank you so much for the continued great information. In order to get the probiotics from yogurt, what is the best yogurt – something like Activia, regular plain yogurt, or greek yogurt? Thank you so much.
    Janet

    • Coral Vorster

      I buy Organic Unsweetened Yogurt in the UK. If it does not have ORGANIC AND UNSWEETENED on the label don’t buy it.

    • Wendy

      The main thing is look for ORGANIC. That will give you a better, healthier base from the start. I have a hard time with plain though (which is what is recommended). So I cross my fingers and just buy organic. You can also get probiotics in capsule form. You want a multi-strain formula. You can take it like a pill or sprinkle it on foods like cereal, oatmeal, ice cream, etc. That works especially good when trying to get kids to take it. No taste so it’s easy to hide. I find the capsule form is easier because then I’m doing any battle with sugars. Definitely take a probiotic if you have been on any antibiotic. Those kill ALL bacteria and you absolutely want to replace the good stuff ASAP. It will stave off UTIs and yeast infections, so common in women.
      My daughter and I have found that taking probiotics has kept our colds down to a minimum compared to when we don’t take them.
      Good luck!!

      • Mary Kay Rudeen

        I wanted so badly to take a probiotic but started them and on the third day, I had terrific pains in my stomach. Tried to take half a pill, same thing happened. They must be hard on the stomach. Was dealing with a holistic doctor and a chiropractor suggesting them and got a good brand but they seem not to work for me. Wanted them also because of a hiatal hernia they discovered so I have a lot phlegm after everything I eat. Have tried everything natural for that also and cannot get rid of this problem. Argh!!

        • Judy

          Hi Mary Kay,
          Do you mind explain the hiatal hernia for me? Why after eating will have more phlegm.
          Thanks, Judy

        • Dee

          You could check your diet for foods containing grains and hidden sugars. Too much of these foods create an abundance of “candida” type bacteria. It will cause quite a fight in your gut when you try to start probiotics!! Pain is from the gas created by the candida that is killed off by the PB. Start with cleaning up your diet and slowly add in some fiber and 8 glasses of water a day. You could get a detox product (homeopathic worked for me)to speed up the process. Strive for at least 2 bowel movements a day. Be patient and in a few weeks try the PB again.It is worth the wait. Also no sugar, add fiber and PB will gradually lessen your mucous problem.

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