Do you know what's in a flu shot?

reprinted from Dr. Ben Kim.com

"Each year, just as multiple reminders on the need for and efficacy of getting a flu shot hit the news wires, I start receiving a steady stream of e-mails from readers, all asking the same basic question:
'Should I get a flu shot?'

My answer is an unequivocal no. I never recommend getting a flu shot. Based on everything that I know about flu shots, I think it's pretty clear that their main effect is to tax and possibly weaken one's immune system.

Before I highlight my main reasons for saying no to flu shots, please have a look at the following skit by the Royal Canadian Air Farce - it's quite the humorous look at the main ingredients that go into flu shots, and how little the general public knows about what's being injected into their bloodstreams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWfCnjnShnM

There are a number of reasons why I feel that flu shots should be avoided, and almost all of them are related to the ingredients mentioned in this video.
But here's the most glaring reason: One in a million people who get the flu shot develops a neurological disease called Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome tends to develop without notice, and is marked by extreme muscle weakness and other symptoms related to nerve dysfunction. I once provided ongoing chiropractic treatments to a professional athlete who had to retire early because he developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome, so I know firsthand how debilitating this condition can be.
And let's not miss an obvious point: if one in a million people who get the flu shot can develop a devastating neurological condition, how many others who get the flu shot suffer from a number of uncomfortable symptoms that are never properly or accurately diagnosed? It's just not realistic to think that the ingredients in a flu shot can cause severe neurological damage in a small percentage of the population while leaving everyone else completely uninjured.
The truth is, even if the odds were one in 300 million, I would still say no to getting a flu shot - why take any risk of creating serious damage to my body?

The best defense against the flu and the common cold is to live healthfully every day. And if we do develop the flu or a cold, if we give our bodies time to rest and heal, we can cleanse ourselves of our weakest cells. For more information on this topic, please feel free to view the following articles:

What Most Doctors Won't Tell You About Colds and Flus

Why I Never Get Flu Shots or Snorts, by Chet Day

If you have any family members or friends who continue to believe in and get flu shots, please share this article with them.

Addendum - October 2009
My approach to avoiding the H1N1 flu is no different than my approach to avoiding illness in general.
I wash my hands with regular soap and water whenever I use a public restroom and every time I return home.
I try to get enough sleep so that I'm not tired during the day.
I try to avoid highly processed foods, especially those that are rich in sugar and deep-fried components.
I eat mainly nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains.
I eat cultured foods like kim chi for natural probiotics. I take probiotics, sometimes a stand-alone, and every day in our green food powder.
I take a handful of other whole food supplements that ensure optimal ongoing nourishment of all of my organ systems.
I play tennis or some other sport that makes me sweat and have fun a few times a week.
I have never received a flu shot and don't plan on getting one. Ever.
And that's all I have to say about the H1N1 flu and vaccine. Hope these thoughts are helpful in some way." -Dr. Ben Kim