As many of you might have guessed, I dread Trick-or-Treating. Don’t get me wrong, no one has more fun carving pumpkins, prepping costumes or scaring children in my driveway than I do. I can’t wait to walk my kids from house to house around Surf Side Park with the thirty or so friends that have gathered together for this tradition since the first offspring sprouted from our group five about years ago.

It’s the candy. Big surprise.

Last week I had my hands on about 700 patients. That’s a lot of germs. That’s a lot of H1N1 conversations. And that’s a fairly strong sampling of our community and its collective perspective on “getting sick”. I am a one man Nielson Rating.

I can summarize the consensus in three words: People are panicked.

Health has pushed the Economy out of the spot light for the moment. The Swine Flu story is a compelling one and its promotion has been unmatched. I am thankful that the opportunity has been created to discuss health, sickness and, more importantly, strategy. So let’s discuss a truth that no one seems to be covering: the strength of your immune system is the distinguishing factor that determines whether you are subject to getting sick or not.

Sugar depresses your immune system.

“Glucose (sugar) and Vitamin C are almost identical molecular structures In fact, Vitamin C is manufactured in most mammals from glucose. (Tigers don’t eat oranges.)”1

Molecules must enter cells to be used. Because these molecules are so similar in make-up and use, they utilize the exact same receptor sites (like doorways) on cell membranes. Because the brain runs on glucose for energy, the cells have a higher affinity for sugar than Vitamin C. Vitamin C is critical for immune function. But, your brain is the boss and your immune system is the subordinate.

High levels of sugar in the blood stream (from your food) mean that the Vitamin C receptors will be occupied by Glucose. Therefore Vitamin C cannot get into the cells to fuel your immune functions - problem. Worse yet, as Insulin resistance increases, the cell receptors become resistant to both glucose and Vitamin C. This produces a chronic immunocompromise - big problem.

“The phagocytic cells of the immune system require high amounts of Vitamin C to work properly. (They eat for proteins like bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.) A blood sugar level of 120 reduces the phagocytic index to 75%. (One saltine cracker will take the blood sugar over 100 and in some people to 150).”2

Imagine what 2 Twizlers, 1 Mars bar, 8 Gum Drops, a huge Tootsie Roll and a bag of Candy Corn does?

So the Swine Flu feeds on Candy Corn? Technically, yes. I predict a surge of H1N1 and seasonal flu cases appearing in or around the second week of November. Not because the germs are aggressively marching across the country – but because our children (and their escorts) have been choking down sugary sweets like they were getting paid by the pound.

Now I know the question you’re asking. Okay, Doc, don’t your kids get to enjoy some of their candy from the spoils of their efforts. The answer is, of course, yes.

But, we seize this opportunity to teach the kids a few valuable lessons: constraint, choice and personal responsibility top the list. I’ll have to admit, the “One Piece a Day” rule does create some incredible leverage around Kale Smoothie consumption as well.

Now go hide that candy,

Doc

1,2 Chestnut, James (The Innate Diet & Natural Hygiene p. 78)