Turn on any news show and you'll hear about the swine flu pandemic. On April 29, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert to a five--the second highest level on its alert scale. While initial outbreaks spread quickly from Mexico to the United States and then to Europe and Canada, the media went into a frenzy predicting high death tolls and the possibility of mandatory vaccinations. Some nations have set travel bans. Some areas closed schools. But what can we really expect?

As they throw around the term "pandemic" it is important to know that this word actually refers to an epidemic that is widespread across the world. The media is quick to compare the swine flu to the Spanish flu of 1918 that killed 20 million people across the globe. As the pharmaceutical companies scramble to create a vaccine for the swine flu, we must think back to the vaccine that was promoted for the swine flu back in 1976. Time magazine published an article on April 27, 2009, that described how dozens of people died and hundreds were harmed by the vaccine for the 1976 swine flu. At the same time, the article brings up the idea that public officials "may soon have to consider whether to institute draconian measures to combat the disease."

Dr. Mercola of mercola.com was just about to begin medical school when the last swine flu was going around. He remembers, "It resulted in the massive swine flu vaccine campaign. Within a few months, claims totaling $1.3 billion had been filed by victims who had suffered paralysis from the vaccine. The vaccine was also blamed for 25 deaths. However, several hundred people developed crippling Guillain-Barre Syndrome after they were injected with the swine flu vaccine… And the swine flu pandemic itself? It never materialized."

Tamiflu has been touted as the only medication that the swine flu will respond to. This medication has been banned in Japan due to neuropsychiatric problems and deaths due to the drug. Roche, the manufacturer of Tamiflu, has had its stock rise in value after the news of the new swine flu surfaced. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld owns about $18 million worth of stock in this company. Would the fact that he and many other people stand to benefit from outbreaks have anything to do with the ban on liability suits that former President Bush put into place for vaccine companies?

Luckily, there are plenty of healthy ways to improve your immune system and prevent catching the flu.

* Get enough vitamin D. Many people do not get enough vitamin D. This can lower your immune response. Spend some time in the sun every day if you can. Your body will synthesize vitamin D from the sunlight. If you suspect you are low on vitamin D, get your level checked. You can take a vitamin D supplement if you need to. Healthy levels of vitamin D are about 60 mg/ml.

* Be sure to eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables, organic if possible.
* Take a multivitamin. Most people fail to consume beneficial levels of crucial vitamins and minerals otherwise.

* Avoid processed foods and sugar. Sugar lowers your immunity very quickly. Watch what you purchase at the grocery store--you may not realize how many foods have added sugar. Ketchup, fruit juice and many other foods have sugar added. Read the label.

* Get a full night's sleep. If you are well rested, your body can better fight off the flu. If you are tired, your immune system is too.

* Find a way to deal with stress. If you are overwhelmed with stress, your body is more likely to get sick. Try meditation, exercise or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to help deal with stress.

* Exercise increases your circulation. This helps the components of your immune system to be vigilantly circulating also.
* Wash your hands regularly. Use regular soap. Antibacterial soap is not necessary. A simple chemical free soap will do the job.
* Eat lots of garlic. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and antiviral food. Unlike chemical drugs, bacteria and viruses cannot build up immunity to garlic. Of course if you can't tolerate garlic, don't eat any.

* Stay away from hospitals. Don't go to a hospital unless you have a medical emergency. This is a prime place to come into contact with new viruses like the swine flu.

* Avoid vaccines. Vaccines at best may be ineffective and at worst may cause crippling side effects like the swine flu vaccine did in the 1970s.