Don't Roll up Your Sleeve: Why You Shouldn't Get A Flu Shot

Summer is over and winter, aka cold & flu season, is on its way. Even if you're one of those healthy people that never gets sick, there's probably a question going through your mind: "should i get a flu shot?". Find out why most people in my health community, including myself, will say "no".

First and foremost, shots and vaccines are not vegan. They contain animal products like eggs and gelatin, and are usually tested on animals. Some flu shots have ingredients like mercury and detergents.

Secondly, what makes you think that you need the shot anyways? Habit? Marketing? Don't fall pressure to the shot just because it's free at work or school and everyone is getting one. According to CNN, "The truth is, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and most mainstream docs are pushing the flu vaccine, the latest science suggests it just doesn't work very well." If you're still unsure, do your research first and decide whether it's right for you.

Here are some reasons why my Facebook and Twitter friends are against the shot (bare in mind, these are all opinions):

• "My mother in law got GBS about 11 years ago they they attribute the condition to a flu shot reaction."
• "Flulaval and Fluzone vaccines have not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility according to the package inserts on each."
• "Watch the CBS 60 minutes videos about the '70's Swine Flu vaccine on youtube. Vaccines are not safe."
• "I watched an interview of a former cheerleader who got the shot and had severe neurological complications and can now only walk backwards!" (apparently this has been debunked)
• "I do not want to give Donald Rumsfeld my $$ for his FEAR shot. "Let food be thy medicine." Drink yer booch!"
• "I haven't had the flu or the shot in years, the last time I got the flu was right after I got the flu shot!"
• "I am not getting a flu shot because frankly i think it's a scam. I never got a flu shot in my life and I've been teaching for over twenty-five years, and guess what...I never got the flu"
• "I think it only creates superbugs."
• "All vaccines contain known carcinogens--mercury, lead, aluminum & formaldehyde. Plus blood & pus, diseased monley kidney tissues...does this sound like something you want to inject into your blood stream?? Vaccines have been linked to epilepsy, mental retardation, autism, MS, GBS, cancerous tumors & in some cases, death."

So what can you do to prevent yourself from getting sick? Eat healthy! The reason most vegans don't get sick often is because of their diet (assuming they're eating well). But whatever your diet, make sure to eat nutritious food packed with vitamins. In general, there's no need to take supplements if you're eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, especially in their raw form. However, vitamins like B12 are difficult to get if you're a vegan, so in that case a supplement is necessary.

Check out Planet Green's Natural Alternatives to the Flu Shot

Remember, the key to my opinion is health. My friends and I don't get the flu shot because we're all healthy (and mostly between 20-50). However, some believe that vaccines are necessary for children, seniors, and people in poor health, but I can't give my opinion on that.