HOUSTON - November 9, 2004-- The Longevity Centre of Houston is a leading alternative medical practice and anti-aging facility in Houston, Texas specializing in preventative health care.

Another year and again there are flu vaccine shortages. Contamination issues will prevent half of a major source of flu vaccines from being distributed to the United States. Many companies have stopped their employee vaccination programs and only places that provide vaccines to people whom are most susceptible to the flu will receive the vaccines this year.

In the United States, an estimated 35,000 people a year die from the flu because their bodies could not fight back. What do you do if you are not so healthy, or are a generally healthy person but cannot receive a flu shot to prevent any downtime that is associated with flu infection? There is Flumist, the nasally instilled flu vaccine that contains a live flu virus. However, Flumist actually increases the incidence of headache, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches and cough over doing nothing at all. These are the very symptoms you are trying to avoid by taking the flu vaccine. A significant number of people who receive Flumist will spread the virus to close family members (watch out, pregnant moms, very young children and the elderly, you are at higher risk). There are other options available to protect yourself without the flu shot, and the good news is that it will protect you from other ailments as well, not just a few specific flu strains. Last year’s flu vaccine lacked the strain that quickly spread to 24 states by December 6, 2003. This year, the flu is making an early appearance in Texas.

But there is no reason to panic about not having a flu shot or stress out waiting in long lines to get it. The best advice to prepare for the flu season is to make sure your immune system is strong. One of the ways to protect you from the associated illnesses of seasonal change is with good nutrition, nutritional supplementation and the use of intravenous (IV) Vitamin C infusions.

Vitamin C runs the immune system. It activates your immune system and responses to infection. It helps prevent and fight various viral and bacterial infections including colds and flu. While Vitamin C is helpful during an infection, don’t wait until infection hits. Prevention is the best medicine. Get treatment early to improve your immune system before you become exposed. Getting just one IV Vitamin C treatment per month can greatly boost your immune system.

Quantity, frequency and duration are the key to swift recovery. At the first sign of symptoms, get into the doctor’s office that day to get an infusion. Studies show that an infusion of Vitamin C can boost your immune cells within a few hours. If your symptoms are severe a second infusion should be administered the next day. We will try our best to work in anyone who is sick and in need of a Vitamin C treatment that day.

A Therapeutic Dose of Vitamin C is difficult to obtain orally. “Oral Vitamin C produces plasma concentrations that are tightly controlled. Only intravenous administration of Vitamin C produces high plasma and urine concentrations”1 At the proper levels, Vitamin C has anti-histamine, anti-toxin and anti-biotic properties. By taking Vitamin C intravenously, it bypasses the digestive system and goes directly to the body’s tissues via the blood. This is the best way to ensure you get the maximum amount of Vitamin C that your body needs. Intravenous use of Vitamin C provides a high dose that is not degraded by the digestive system and works directly on your immune system. As little as 3grams of Vitamin C taken orally can cause diarrhea.

Vitamin C infusions along with the use of a high-potency, pharmaceutical grade supplements that include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and powerful immune boosting antioxidants helpget your immune system in shape and provide you with the protection you need. Many don't realize that antioxidants have the capabilities to enhance the immune system, our body's true defense against disease and illness. Some antioxidants actually help Vitamin C enter the cells of your body. This is what will protect you during the flu season. Individuals who receive lipid exchanges to remove cholesterol from the cells have even greater absorption of Vitamin C into the cells.