Avoid the Flu!

Smiling DOES enable your body to avoid the flu!

It is cold outside.  I woke this morning before 7 am to snow covering our lawn.  Flu season is upon us.

Did you know that smiling enables you to avoid the flu?

In June of this year, the CDC announced that there was no evidence that the flu vaccine helped those over age 65 avoid getting flu.  Their immune systems are simply weaker than the immune systems of their younger counterparts.

But a recent study revealed a very simple way to ensure that flu vaccines benefit you.  Get your shot when you feel happy.

The medical community has known since 1996 that negative moods and stress affect how well vaccines work.  Recently the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom studied the impact of mood on vaccines.  The research team studied 138 people age 65 before, during, and after their flu vaccine.  Their finding was very interesting.  While a positive mood, healthy diet, and exercise all lead to an improved immune response to both diseases and vaccines, one factor made all the difference in the impact of a flu vaccine.  That factor is simply the patient’s mood on the day of the vaccination.

Those who reported having a positive outlook on the day of the vaccine had more antibodies and greater immunity to their sadder counterparts.  Being in a good mood revs up your immune system in two ways. It reduces your level of the stress hormone cortisol, which reduces your immune system.  And it affects other aspects of your lifestyle that that have been linked to better immunity:  sleep, diet, and exercise.

I do not care for flu shots.  I have not had a flu or a cold in over 20 years.  But if you are not as blessed as I am health-wise, please schedule your flu shot on a day when you feel happy.  Watch a funny movie just before you get your flu shot, or spend time with your favorite positive people.  Your vaccine will have a much bigger impact on your health!

So smile and have a much better immune system!

Parents, do something fun with your kids before you take them to get their flu shots!  Your time will definitely pay off!

Avoid the flu and soar like an eagle over life’s storms.

Let the encouraging words in these near a river posts help you

soar like an eagle above life’s storms.

Feel better soon!

Do you feel sad today?

Positive parenting is possible.

Have a good day every day of your life!

If you enjoyed this post, remember that BJ writes children’s books.

Her encouraging children’s eagle

near a river common core reading book

is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Buy BJ’s near a river encouraging eagle reading book

for a child you care about today!