Health & Fitness

A study supported by the National Institute on Aging and published in the journal Neurology demonstrates that people who have higher levels of specific antioxidants in their blood could reduce their potential risk of developing dementia.^1,2

Antioxidants are substances that help protect the body against cell damage from free radicals. The body produces free radicals as a part of normal metabolism, after exposure to some environmental pollutants and exercise.³ At high levels they can damage cells and genetic material.

Free radicals have one less electron, which makes them unstable. The free radical seeks to steal the necessary electron from any nearby substance, thus turning that substance into a free radical. Free radical damage can also change how a cell functions, which leads to oxidative stress and chronic diseases.⁴

The body uses antioxidants to fight against free radicals because they donate an extra electron to the free radical without turning into a free radical themselves. Some of the antioxidants you are likely familiar with include carotenoids, manganese, selenium, vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene.

While antioxidants all have similar functions, they are not all interchangeable, which means they have unique properties and no one single substance can do all the work. In the past decade, researchers have discovered that many of the chronic diseases and disorders in modern day society are linked to an increase in inflammation.

An imbalance of natural antioxidants to free radical production can increase the inflammatory response that's associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and arthritis.⁵

Researchers have long known that antioxidants play a role in the prevention of dementia.^6,7,8 The featured study has identified three specific antioxidants that may play a role in reducing the risk of dementia.⁹

Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Beta-Cryptoxanthin Lower Dementia Risk

Researchers were interested in how antioxidants may affect the development of dementia. One study author, May A. Beydoun, Ph.D., MPH, of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, Maryland, commented on the need to address cognitive functioning in an aging population:¹⁰

“Extending people’s cognitive functioning is an important public health challenge. Antioxidants may help protect the brain from oxidative stress, which can cause cell damage. Further studies are needed to test whether adding these antioxidants can help protect the brain from dementia.”

According to the Alzheimer's Association,¹¹ by 2050, there will be nearly 13 million people living with Alzheimer's disease. Currently, it kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined and, in 2020, COVID contributed to a 17% rise in the deaths of people with dementia and Alzheimer's.

In 2022, the Alzheimer's Association estimated that dementia costs $321 billion, which could rise to nearly $1 trillion by 2050. An estimate published in 2022 in the Lancet¹² and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, estimated the global number of people with all forms of dementia would rise from 57.4 million to 152.8 million in 2050.

The writers of the study then noted that the “growth and number underscores the need for public health planning efforts and policy to address the needs of this group.”¹³ The study supports the Foundation’s investment in dementia,¹⁴ including interest in vaccines¹⁵ with a partnership with the pharmaceutical industry.¹⁶

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2020¹⁷ found that the number of people with dementia nearly doubles every five years and the prevalence is greater in women than in men. These numbers underscore the importance of finding strategies that can help reduce the potential risk of Alzheimer's and other dementias.

The study¹⁸ engaged 7,283 people who were given blood tests and a physical exam and then followed for an average of 16 years. All participants were at least 45 years old at the start. The researchers measured levels of three antioxidants — lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin.

The researchers¹⁹ split the participants into three groups and found those whose blood levels were highest for lutein and zeaxanthin had a lower risk of developing dementia than those who had the lowest levels. For every standard deviation of increase in these two antioxidants, the participants had a 7% reduction in risk.

They also found that for every standard deviation increase in beta-cryptoxanthin, the participants had a 14% reduced risk of dementia. Beydoun pointed out there were several limitations to the study, including that when other factors were considered in the analysis, such as education and physical activity, the risk of dementia was lowered.

The writers also noted that antioxidants were measured at the start and end of the study. However, this may not reflect the level of antioxidants that a person had throughout their lifetime. Foods high in lutein and zeaxanthin²⁰ include dark leafy greens like spinach, peas, summer squash, pumpkin and broccoli. Foods high in beta-cryptoxanthin include peppers, pumpkin, squash, oranges and persimmons.²¹

Lutein and Zeaxanthin Important for Eye Health

Lutein and zeaxanthin have long been prized for their vision enhancing properties as they are the only two antioxidants that reach the retina.²² Researchers write they are "uniquely concentrated in the retina and lens, indicating that each has a possible specific function in these two vital ocular tissues."²³

Animal studies have shown that diets that are less than optimal in primates trigger pathological problems in the macula. Researchers believe these antioxidants are "conditionally essential nutrients."²⁴

Both are carotenoids that are major contributors to the yellow and red pigments found in vegetables. There is mounting evidence that lutein can improve or prevent age-related macular disease and has a positive effect on other health conditions, such as cognitive function, cancer and heart health.²⁵

High levels of these carotenoids help stave off age-related eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Diet influences your risk for healthy vision. According to Loren Cordain, an evolutionary biologist at the Colorado State University in Fort Collins, elevated insulin levels affect the development of your eyeball, making it abnormally long, thereby causing near-sightedness.²⁶

High insulin levels from excess carbohydrates can increase insulin resistance and disturb the delicate choreography that normally coordinates eyeball lengthening and lens growth. When your eyeball elongates, the lens can no longer flatten itself enough to focus a sharp image on your retina.

This theory is consistent with observations that you're more likely to develop myopia if you are overweight²⁷ or have Type 2 diabetes,²⁸ both of which raise insulin levels. Lutein has also been found to promote health in other ways, including:

• Diets rich in the carotenoids beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene confer greater resistance against oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol,²⁹ which plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Higher plasma concentration of carotenoids was also associated with lower DNA damage.³⁰
• Lutein and zeaxanthin in combination with vitamin E appear to improve lung function.³¹
• Plasma levels of antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and alpha- and beta-carotene are inversely correlated with congestive heart failure severity.³²
• Plasma carotenoid levels are also inversely correlated with prostate cancer.³³

Astaxanthin Slows Brain Aging

Astaxanthin is another carotenoid, which is responsible for the pink or red color of wild-caught Alaskan salmon. According to Science Direct,³⁴ “when compared to other antioxidants such as lycopene, vitamin E and vitamin A,” astaxanthin comes out on top and is often referred to as the “king of antioxidants.”

It is derived from Haematococcus microalgae, which produce astaxanthin as a protective mechanism to shield from harsh ultraviolet (UV) light.³⁵ Data demonstrates how astaxanthin helps protect your skin from the inside out.³⁶

Your body uses astaxanthin to protect against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidation, which plays a role in protection against dementia, heart disease, aging and Parkinson's disease.³⁷ Antioxidant supplementation helps when you don’t get enough from your diet, which helps alleviate oxidative damage.

Researchers writing in the journal Marine Drugs,³⁸ recognized the challenge of maintaining brain function while human life expectancy lengthens. In their review of the literature, they identified several pathways astaxanthin could take in slowing brain aging. They found several studies where astaxanthin modulated biological mechanisms, one of the main factors which was the forkhead box 03 gene (FOXO3).

This is one of only two genes with a significant impact on human longevity. They also found that astaxanthin increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain and attenuates oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and protein. After reviewing the literature, they concluded it was possible astaxanthin could promote longevity and slow the rate of aging due to its neuroprotective properties.³⁹

Slowing brain aging is significant since the neurological aging process is directly linked to cognitive function. Some cognitive changes that can occur with aging, but are not necessarily normal,⁴⁰ include finding it difficult to remember words, having difficulty with multitasking, recalling names, or having more difficulty paying attention.

Although astaxanthin is a carotenoid, the molecular structure is unique, and it is more potent than other carotenoids. One of the key differences is that it has a surplus of electrons to donate as it neutralizes free radicals.^41,42 Another unique factor is that it can protect both water- and fat-soluble parts of the cell.⁴³ This makes astaxanthin a powerful antioxidant, which data showed is greater than alpha lipoic acid, green tea catechins, CoQ10 and vitamin C.⁴⁴

Most antioxidant carotenoids are either water-soluble or fat-soluble, but astaxanthin’s effectiveness is due to the capability to interface between water and fat. It can also cross the blood-brain barrier, where it exerts a strong protective effect on neurological health.⁴⁵ While it is found in wild-caught salmon, you can purchase high-quality astaxanthin supplements or consider krill oil supplements, which have the added benefit of omega-3 fatty acids.⁴⁶

Sulforaphane Activates Antioxidant Responses

Sulforaphane is an organosulfur compound that researchers believe may prove useful to fight Alzheimer's Disease by altering the production of amyloid-beta and tau. These are two main factors known to contribute to the development of the disease.⁴⁷ Levels of amyloid-beta proteins may become abnormally high, clumping together to form plaques that disrupt neuron function.

Abnormal accumulation of the protein tau may also collect inside neurons, forming neurofibrillary tangles that disrupt communication. One animal study⁴⁸ of Alzheimer's disease showed that sulforaphane ameliorated amyloid-beta deposits and cognitive function. This hinted at a potential treatment that might also be useful in humans.

Sulforaphane is an Nrf2 activator that works in a dose-dependent fashion to halt dysregulation. An animal study⁴⁹ suggested that the dysregulation of Nrf2 may be attenuated through sulforaphane. Lab data⁵⁰ also show that sulforaphane “activates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses by inducing Nrf2 pathways” and has relevance to preventing neurodegeneration and signs of aging.

Eating more cruciferous vegetables high in sulforaphane or taking a high-quality supplement, is useful for far more than brain health. For instance, sulforaphane may be helpful in the treatment of diabetes as well as lowering blood glucose levels⁵¹ and improving gene expression in your liver.⁵²

Sulforaphane can also improve apoptosis in colon⁵³ and lung cancer cells.⁵⁴ It also can reduce damaging ROS by as much as 73%, which lowers your risk of inflammation.⁵⁵

Sulforaphane plays a role in the augmentation of glutathione. Glutathione is commonly referred to as the master antioxidant,⁵⁶ since it is the most powerful antioxidant and is found inside every cell in the body. Glutathione is different from other antioxidants since it works intracellularly⁵⁷ and has the unique ability to maximize the activity of other antioxidants.⁵⁸

Excessive oxidative stress has a significant impact on the pathophysiology of brain disorders. One study⁵⁹ found a correlation between peripheral levels of glutathione and levels of glutathione found in the brain. They also discovered that sulforaphane raised blood levels of glutathione in humans after only seven days of oral supplementation.

The results of the pilot study have suggested there is a significant relationship between glutathione and sulforaphane that is worth exploring as it appeared to have an impact on neuropsychological measures that are altered in neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Nutrient deficiencies are very common, even among people who believe they’re eating a balanced diet. In the U.S., 31% of the U.S. population was found to be at risk of at least one vitamin deficiency or anemia,¹ increasing the risk of health problems over a lifetime.

Your body depends on essential nutrients for growth, development and health maintenance, and deficiencies in certain vitamins can impact your immunity, vision, wound healing, bone health and much more. Neurological damage is possible from lack of vitamin B12, for instance, while vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness.

It’s also estimated that 1 in 3 Americans is deficient in at least 10 minerals, putting them at risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.² Even at a subclinical level, being deficient in vitamins and minerals can cause a range of symptoms, including:³

• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Aches and pains
• Decreased immune function
• Heart palpitations

Being aware of which nutrient deficiencies are most widespread is the first step to ensuring that your levels are optimized.

Avoid These 10 Common Nutrient Deficiencies

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This article was previously published August 3, 2019, and has been updated with new information.

According to the most recent statistics, loneliness is at "epidemic" levels in the U.S. In a 2018 Cigna insurance health survey^1,2,3 of 20,000 individuals aged 18 and over:

• 46% report sometimes or always feeling lonely
• 47% say they feel left out
• 47% say they do not have meaningful in-person social interactions or extended conversations on daily basis
• 43% sometimes or always feel the relationships they have aren't meaningful
• 43% report feeling isolated

The loneliest are young adults between the ages of 18 and 22. This age group also rated their health the lowest, which correlates with science linking loneliness with a greater risk for obesity,⁴ heart disease,⁵ anxiety,⁶ dementia⁷ and reduced life span.⁸ In fact, maintaining strong and healthy social connections has been linked to a 50% reduced risk of early death.^9,10 Similarly, emotional loneliness is linked with an increased risk of all-cause mortality.¹¹

Studies have also shown that people who are lonely are more likely to experience higher levels of perceived stress,¹² increased inflammation,¹³ reduced immune function¹⁴ and poor sleep.^15,16

A 2011 study¹⁷ found that for each 1-point increase on the UCLA loneliness scale,¹⁸ an individual is 8% more likely to experience some sort of sleep disruption. Research¹⁹ has also shown that lack of sleep has the effect of triggering feelings of loneliness, so the two problems tend to feed on each other.

Somewhat surprisingly, seniors over the age of 77 — an age group well-known for loneliness — had the lowest loneliness score in Cigna's survey;²⁰ 77% also rated their physical health as good, very good or excellent, compared to just 65% of younger Gen X'ers.

Loneliness Translates Into Higher Health Care Costs

Even the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) acknowledges²¹ there's an "epidemic" of loneliness in the U.S., and that it's taking a mounting toll on public health.

According to HRSA,²² a panel presentation by the National Institute for Health Care Management — a nonprofit research firm for the health insurance industry — revealed social isolation among seniors is costing the federal government $6.7 billion each year in added health care spending, as "poor social relationships" are associated with a 29% higher risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.

Research by the AARP Foundation — an organization dedicated to empowering American seniors — presents a similar picture. In its 2018 survey,²³ "Loneliness and Social Connections," the AARP reports that 35% of adults over 45 struggle with loneliness. Among those making less than $25,000 a year, the loneliness ratio is 1 in 2.

Aside from financial woes, a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, living in an urban community and the increased use of technology for communication are identified as factors that increase feelings of loneliness.²⁴

Investigating Loneliness

Why is loneliness becoming an increasingly prevalent experience? Through interviews with leading experts around the world, author and investigative journalist Johann Hari has tried to sort out why so many of us struggle with loneliness, depression and anxiety, and what we can do to turn the tide.

In the featured video, "The Loneliness Epidemic," filmmaker Matt D'Avella interviews Hari about his findings. In his book, "Lost Connections," Hari investigated the causes behind rising anxiety and depression rates.

Through his travels and interviews, he identified nine scientifically verified causes of depression — only two of which are biological. The remaining seven are all related to how we live.

Once we understand these root causes, it opens up a broader range of possible solutions, Hari notes, pointing out that all around the world, the most effective strategies are the ones that address the real reasons behind people's distress.

Loss of Tribal Communities Have Taken a Toll

In his book, Hari cites research looking at reported loneliness scales. One question in this study was, "How many close friends do you have that you can turn to in a crisis?"

The most common answer in the past used to be five. Today, the most common answer is "none." Half of Americans also say that nobody really knows them well. Historically, mankind survived because we banded together and worked as a group. Our very survival often depended on being part of a tribe.

Without a tribe, "we're depressed and anxious for a reason," Hari says. "You're in terrible danger; you're about to die … We are the first humans ever, in the long … history of our species to try to disband our tribes, and it is making us feel awful."

Recreating Holistic Communities

Understanding this, how can we fix it? In "Lost Connections," Hari details how Sir Sam Everington,²⁵ a British doctor in East London, tackled the problem by inviting patients struggling with depression and anxiety to gather and do things together as a group.

As city slickers, none knew much about gardening, so they decided to turn an abandoned plot of land behind Everington's practice into a group garden. In learning about gardening, and meeting to share and implement their newfound knowledge, they formed a "tribe."

And with that, "they did what people do when they are part of a tribe," Hari says, "they began to care about each other … they began to solve each other's problems." As one of the participants told Hari, "As the garden began to bloom, we began to bloom."

Hari cites a similar program in Norway, which showed group gardening to be twice as effective as antidepressants. In his view, there are obvious reasons for this. Forming relationships addresses the reasons people feel bad in the first place.

The Paradoxical Role of Technological Hyperconnectedness

Paradoxically, while loneliness and anxiety are at an all-time high, modern humans are also the most interconnected technologically. Video calls are readily available and social media platforms abound. We're sharing more of our lives with more people than ever before — or so it seems. Yet it's not making us feel more connected.

Hari admits it's a complex issue. To understand this paradox better, he visited the world's first internet rehab center in Spokane, Washington. A vast majority of patients are young men addicted to multiplayer games. To address their addiction, a key question that needs to be answered is, "What are these young men getting out of playing these games?" Hari says:

"I think what they're getting is a kind of hollow version of the thing they used to get from society long ago — They get sense of tribe, they get a sense of status, they get the sense they're good at something, they get the sense they're moving around. Young people barely leave their homes now. It's incredible how rarely children play outdoors."

The problem is, "we didn't evolve to talk through screens," Hari says, likening the problem with internet game addiction to that of pornography versus real sex. If all you know about sex is from viewing pornography, dissatisfaction is bound to arise because it doesn't fulfill the biological need of actual sex.

Hari points out that even when people can see each other on a screen, the feeling of being fully "seen," as when you are physically face to face, remains absent.

"Human beings have a need to be seen," he says, adding "the leading expert on loneliness in the world, [the late] professor John Cacioppo,²⁶ said … if social media is a waystation for meeting people offline … it's a good thing. [But] if it's the last stop of the line, generally something's gone wrong."

Hari points out that when the internet, and social media in particular, arrived on the scene, the sense of community was already waning, and social media gave the appearance of giving back to us something of what we'd lost — friends and status being two examples.

But it's not a proper replacement. Hari refers to social media as a "parody" of the social connectedness we used to have in the past. "So, what we need to do, in very practical ways, is to restore what we've lost," Hari says.

Is There a Connection Between Materialism and Happiness?

As noted by D'Avella, modern humans are living exceptionally safe and materially comfortable lives. However, materialism and consumerism also serves as a distraction from personal interrelationships. Is there a correlation between material wealth and happiness? he wonders.

Hari cites research by professor Tim Kasser,²⁷ who has studied materialistic values and goals. Like junk food has led to a mass deterioration of health, Kasser believes "junk values" have infiltrated and deteriorated our mental space as well. Kasser's research conclusively showed that the more you're driven by money and status, the more likely you are to succumb to depression. Hari says:

"I believe this is because everyone knows they have natural physical needs, right? You need food, you need water, you need shelter, you need clean air — if I took these things away from you, you'd be in real trouble real fast. But there's equally strong evidence that all human beings have natural psychological needs.

You need to feel you belong … that your life has meaning and purpose, you need to feel that people see you and value you, you need to feel you've got a future that makes sense. Our culture is good at lots of things … but we're getting less and less good at meeting these deep underlying psychological needs."

Kasser also did research to identify ways to undo some of these effects. The answer turned out to be simple. When people would meet on a regular basis to discuss their materialistic values — such as the feeling they "needed" a certain brand sneaker — it didn't take long before they began shifting their values, realizing these material acquisitions would not make a difference in their life.

They would also discuss moments in which they felt most satisfied with life, and once the participants had identified activities that made them feel good, they were asked to figure out ways of incorporating more of that into their day-to-day lives.

"Just that process of meeting every couple of weeks and checking in with each other … led to a measurable shift in people's values," Hari says. "They became less materialistic, which we know relates to less depression and anxiety."

According to Hari, research clearly shows that poverty is linked to unhappiness. We all need some basics. But once the basics are covered, additional money does not translate into greater happiness. What's more, it's the constant seeking of more money that ultimately corrupts your values and lead to unhappiness.

On the Minimalism Movement

D'Avella brings up the minimalism movement with its focus on simpler living with fewer material belongings, favoring "simple pleasures" and human interactions instead. Is this movement part of the answer? The answer is likely yes.

Hari cites a simple study from the late 1970s in which children were divided into two groups. One group was shown two advertisements for a popular toy while the other group was not shown any advertisements. The two groups were then told to choose between two options: Play with a friendly boy who did not have the toy in question, or play with an unfriendly boy who had the toy.

Children who'd just seen the advertisements overwhelmingly chose to play with the unfriendly boy with the toy, whereas children who'd not been exposed to the advertisements overwhelmingly chose to play with the friendly boy. "Just two ads were enough to prime those kids to choose an inanimate lump of plastic over the possibility of fun and connection," Hari says.

This, in essence, proves advertising works. Its very purpose is to first make you feel dissatisfied or inadequate, and then present the solution to that dissatisfaction — buy this thing and you won't be dissatisfied or inadequate anymore. Advertising sells solutions to manufactured wants.

"The idea that we might want to step off that treadmill — I've got a limited amount of time in which to be alive; maybe I'll spend my time on things that are more meaningful — seems to me to be a really positive step," Hari says.

Overcoming Loneliness

If you struggle with loneliness, you're certainly not alone. A number of remedies are addressed in the featured interview with Hari. Following are several other strategies, pulled from a variety of sources, that can help address loneliness:^28,29

Join a club — Proactive approaches to meeting others include joining a club and planning get-togethers with family, friends or neighbors, Meetup.com is an online source where you can locate a vast array of local clubs and get-togethers. Many communities also have community gardens where you can benefit from the outdoors while mingling with your neighbors.

Learn a new skill — Consider enrolling in a class or taking an educational course.

Create rituals of connection — Rituals are a powerful means for reducing loneliness. Examples include having weekly talk sessions with your girlfriends and/or making meal time a special time to connect with your family without rushing.

Consider a digital cleanse — If your digital life has overtaken face-to-face interactions, consider taking a break from social media while taking proactive steps to meet people in person. Research shows Facebook may be more harmful than helpful to your emotional well-being, raising your risk of depression — especially if your contacts' posts elicit envy. In one study,30 Facebook users who took a one-week break from the site reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and a significantly improved emotional life.

Make good use of digital media — For others, a phone call or text message can be a much-needed lifeline. Examples of this include sending encouraging text messages to people who are struggling with loneliness, offering support and help to live healthier lives and follow through on healthy lifestyle changes.

Exercise with others — Joining a gym or signing up with a fitness-directed club or team sport will create opportunities to meet people while improving your physical fitness at the same time.

Shop local — Routinely frequenting local shops, coffee shops or farmers markets will help you develop a sense of community and encourage the formation of relationships.

Talk to strangers — Talking to strangers in the store, in your neighborhood or on your daily commute is often a challenge, but can have many valuable benefits, including alleviating loneliness (your own and others'). Talking to strangers builds bridges between ordinary people who may not otherwise forge a connection. People of the opposite gender, different walks of life or different cultures hold a key to opening up to new ideas or making connections with old ones. In this short video, reporter for The Atlantic, Dr. James Hamblin, demonstrates techniques for learning how to talk with strangers.

Volunteer — Volunteering is another way to increase your social interactions and pave the way for new relationships.

Adopt a companion pet — A dog or cat can provide unconditional love and comfort, and studies show that owning a pet can help protect against loneliness, depression and anxiety. The bond that forms between a person and a companion pet can be incredibly fulfilling and serves, in many ways, as an important and rewarding relationship. The research on this is really quite profound. For instance, having a dog as a companion could add years to your life,31 as studies have shown that owning a dog played a significant role on survival rates in heart attack victims. Studies have also revealed that people on Medicaid or Medicare who own a pet make fewer visits to the doctor.32 The unconditional acceptance and love a dog gives to their owner positively impacts their owner's emotional health in ways such as: Boosting self-confidence and self-esteem Helping to meet new friends and promoting communication between elderly residents and neighbors Helping you cope with illness, loss and depression Reducing stress levels Providing a source of touch and affiliation If you're looking for a furry friend, check out your local animal shelter. Most are filled with cats and dogs looking for someone to love. Petfinder.com33 is another excellent resource for finding a pet companion.

Move and/or change jobs — While the most drastic of all options, it may be part of the answer for some. To make it worthwhile, be sure to identify the environment or culture that would fit your personality best and consider proximity to longtime friends and family.

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The research shows that over 85 per cent of the total prescriptions written over the years, have been given since January 2020.

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That's one small step for women, one giant leap for womenkind. 

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Disrupting the traditional narrative around women’s bodies one step at a time.

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This article was previously published July 23, 2009, and has been updated with new information.

In 2009 Austrian investigative journalist Jane Burgermeister¹ filed criminal charges against the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and several of the highest ranking government and corporate officials, including Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, charging them with bioterrorism and attempts to commit genocide.²

She also filed charges against Baxter AG and Avir Green Hills Biotechnology of Austria for producing and releasing live bird flu virus,³ alleging it was a deliberate act to cause and profit from a pandemic.

When a Czech scientist tested their seasonal flu vaccine, he found that they contained live H5N1 and live H3N2 viruses. Burgermeister’s charges include evidence that Baxter deliberately sent out 72 kilos of live bird flu virus, supplied by the WHO in the winter of 2009.

In the 134-page document⁴ listing the alleged charges, Burgermeister claims to have decisive proof that drug companies and government agencies are actively engaged in distributing deadly biological agents in order to trigger a pandemic. She also prepared an injunction against forced vaccination, alleging mandatory vaccines will be purposely contaminated with diseases.

The Burgermeister case against the World Health Organization and other government agencies and high ranking officials spread across the internet, but despite the fact that it could easily have been one of the hottest news headlines of 2009, not a word could be found about it in the mainstream media.

Instead, independent journalists and news agencies, and online blogs like InfoWars — many of which are now defunct or banned from social media — carried the information, leading many to dismiss it as either a hoax or an attempt to raise the stakes by a demented conspiracy theorist.

However, based on Burgermeister’s own blog interviews and the documentation she lists in her court filing, as well as in websites such as truther.org,⁵ the suit appeared quite real, and that Burgermeister was quite serious about her allegations.

As for the conventional media blackout, well, that shouldn’t come as a major surprise, all things considered, and it can’t be used as proof to dismiss the validity of the story. After all, I’ve written enough articles discussing how the media is in large part bought and paid for by the pharmaceutical industry.

And, even though this was in 2009, it’s still true today. In fact, while Burgermeister’s internet presence has been all but erased from social media and the internet, she renewed her fight against the same organizations in 2020, when COVID-19 took over, and came forward, calling this pandemic a Trojan Horse for forced vaccination.⁶

“My particular concern,” she said in the video above, “is that WHO has declared two of these global epidemic emergencies simultaneously — coronavirus and Ebola, and both … [have] vaccines being rushed through.” One point she makes in the video is that in the Ebola vaccine trials, at least 55 people came down with Ebola after getting the vaccine, and she warns people to look at those studies so they can see for themselves what is happening with fast-tracked vaccines.

Now, 13 years after Burgermeister warned the world that “an international corporate criminal syndicate has developed, produced, stockpiled and employed biological weapons to eliminate the population of the U.S. and other countries for financial and political gain,”⁷ and two years after she urged people to do their research on the pandemic, what do we make of these fantastic allegations?

And, what can we do with the knowledge we gain from studying what Burgermeister is trying to tell us?

Forced Vaccinations — The Threat Against Your Health and Freedom

A review of the documentation Burgermeister provided makes at least one thing crystal clear, and that is this: There are enough legal provisions already in place to make a mandated, forced vaccination program a reality, giving certain agencies the authority to go as far as using deadly force to ensure compliance.

As I’ve noted several times during the COVID pandemic, in return for your submitting to the jab under duress, there are no actual guarantees of the safety of the vaccine, and if things do go wrong, you have no legal recourse whatsoever to sue anyone, anywhere, for damages. Indeed, this is an absolute nightmare and nothing short of a crime, no matter how “legal” and “in the best interest of the people” it has been set up to appear.

So, no matter how you feel about Burgermeister or her allegations in totality, the real and urgent problem we face right now is the possibility of forced vaccinations against a host of myriad diseases — and not just COVID.

For example, the WHO’s push for a swine flu vaccine in 2009 was unreasonably hyped by WHO and health agencies around the world, despite the fact that your chances of contracting and dying from swine flu were nowhere near justification for a mandatory vaccine.

Likewise, in 2022, with hundreds of COVID vaccine clinical trials in the pipeline,⁸ including many mRNA gene therapies and all the other diseases researchers are working on, such as dengue, malaria and Marburg, the possibility of more forced vaccinations will only grow more intense.

Even former presidential candidate and Congressman Ron Paul (who is also a doctor) has gone on the record⁹ stating that the 2009 swine flu uproar was little more than hysterical hype for financial gain. In a now-deleted video address he also reminded people about the outcome of the 1976 swine flu vaccination program, which took place in 1976.¹⁰

At that time, one person died from the actual flu, while 25 people died by adverse reactions from the supposed life-saving vaccine, and several hundred people developed crippling Guillain-Barré Syndrome. In his opinion — and I agree — when the swine flu was put into perspective of regular flu deaths, tuberculosis and other contagious diseases, it was a total non-event.

All these years later it’s obvious that these massive, international, multiagency and military countermeasures not only were absolutely out of proportion to the actual threat of swine flu, but with COVID, as well. When you really consider all the facts and risks, the crisis response to the 2009 swine flu does raise questions about motive.

Why did they promote the overkill “precaution” of a mass vaccination program against a disease that causes MAINLY mild symptoms and has an extremely low risk of death? And that was swine flu — the same can be said of COVID, which was a serious risk mostly only to senior citizens.

Jane Burgermeister believes she has the answer, and that she can prove it. According to her 2009 findings with the swine flu shot, which were part of her package of criminal charges, the vaccine itself could have posed a far greater danger than the virus itself. And now, fast-forwarding to the COVID gene-therapy shots, the same can be said.

Whether or not to believe it is up to you, but I recommend you review the evidence she provides for yourself, such as the criminal charges document linked earlier in this article and her bioterrorism evidence documentation. Whatever the truth is, avoiding the implementation of a forced vaccination program is of high importance if you value your life and health and that of your children, friends, and family.

Baxter Investigated, yet Still Got a Vaccine Contract

Much of what happened back in 2009 made little sense, such as hiring Baxter International to develop a swine flu vaccine despite the fact they were under investigation for the mass release of the bird flu virus earlier that year.¹¹

In February 2009, Baxter sent a mix of flu vaccine and unlabeled H5N1 virus (the human form of bird flu) to an Austrian research company. Expecting the shipment to contain only flu vaccine, the Austrian company then sent portions of the contaminated product to the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Germany.

It was only when researchers at a Czech Republic laboratory injected ferrets with the vaccine and they unexpectedly died, that the contamination mistake was discovered. But should “mistakes” like this really be accepted without repercussions?

If this batch of live bird flu and seasonal flu viruses had reached the public, it could have resulted in dire consequences. Even though H5N1 doesn’t easily infect people, the flu virus does. So if people were exposed to both of these viruses, they would have become hosts for the combined viruses, and would have become highly contagious and able to transmit the deadly bird flu virus to others.

Burgermeister, who filed charges related to this incident against Baxter and another biotechnology company, believes it “was a deliberate act to cause and profit from a pandemic.” But that’s not Baxter’s only blemish.

In the 1990s, Baxter entered into a four-way, $640 million settlement with hemophiliacs in relation to blood clotting concentrates that were infected with HIV.¹² In 2008 at least 81 people died and hundreds were injured from contaminated heparin (a blood thinning drug),¹³ and in 2001 more than 50 dialysis patients died due to faulty Baxter equipment.¹⁴ Then in 2017 Baxter paid $18.2 million in a settlement over mold at a manufacturing facility.¹⁵

If for no other reason than the fact that Baxter may be unbelievably sloppy when dealing with potentially dangerous or deadly material and drugs — as opposed to being part of a genocidal plot — it would have been prudent to leave them out of the development of a swine flu vaccine. But this is just one example.

In fact, Pfizer, which was quickly given emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 mRNA gene therapy shot, entered into the pandemic vaccine circle after being ordered to pay the largest penalty ever for health care fraud.¹⁶

When announcing the record penalty of $2.3 billion against the drug giant, the U.S. Department of Justice said one of the charges was a felony. The other charges stemmed from false actions and claims submitted to federal health care programs. But that’s not all Pfizer has paid out: In 2018, they also agreed to pay $23.8 million to resolve claims that it used a foundation as a conduit to pay the copays of Medicare patients taking three Pfizer drugs.¹⁷

When you look at the history of just these two companies, it should be clear to anyone that they are not companies to be implicitly trusted with your health and money. Yet, here we are in 2022, and you are supposed to trust that Pfizer isn’t doing likewise its COVID shot.

In a worst case scenario, Burgermeister is correct in her claim that there is clear evidence that pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and Baxter included, and international government agencies, including WHO, are actively engaged in developing, manufacturing, distributing and quite possibly purposely releasing viruses classified as the most deadly bioweapons on earth, in order to then be able to declare a pandemic and swiftly offer up a vaccine solution for worldwide use.

Was Swine Flu Being Used for Political and Financial Gain?

As for Burgermeister’s criminal charges with the FBI against the WHO, the United Nations (UN), and several of the highest ranking government and corporate officials, evidence was presented to show that:

“… an international corporate criminal syndicate, which has annexed high government office at Federal and State level, is intent on carrying out a mass genocide against the people of the United States by using an artificial (genetic) flu pandemic virus and forced vaccine program to cause mass death and injury and depopulate America in order to transfer control of the United States to the United Nations and affiliated security forces (UN troops from countries such as China, Canada, the UK and Mexico).

There is proof many organizations — World Health Organization, UN as well as vaccine companies such as Baxter and Novartis - are part of a single system under the control of a core criminal group, who give the strategic leadership, and who have also funded the development, manufacturing and release of artificial viruses in order to justify mass vaccinations with a bioweapon substance in order to eliminate the people of the USA, and so gain control of the assets, resources etc of North America.”

Again, whether or not the real reason behind the frantic push for mass vaccinations is to reduce population, there’s no doubt that the swine flu vaccine lined the pockets of pharmaceutical companies and other involved parties — just as the COVID-19 shots have today.

Pandemic-related drugs have cashed in too. Looking back at 2009, one financial analyst estimated that Tamiflu sales would amount to hundreds of millions in sales in the near future, and sales of the swine flu vaccines being prepped as we speak will likely run in the billions of dollars, as WHO declared the swine flu “unstoppable” and instructed all 194 member countries to stock up.

According to a CNN report,¹⁸ the U.S. demand alone was anticipated to be as high as 600 million doses of swine flu vaccine. That would have been two doses each for 300 million Americans, on top of the 115 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine. When you consider that remdesivir — COVID’s equivalent to Tamiflu — is expected to go from a paltry $2.87 billion in sales in 2021 to $377 billion in 2022,¹⁹ you can see that the financial round-robin appears perpetual.

Was the Swine Flu a Test for Future Pandemics?

In 2009, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE), the highest level of advisory in WHO on immunization matters, recommended the swine flu vaccine be administered to the following primary target groups first:²⁰

Health care workers	Pregnant women
Children over the age of 6 months with chronic health conditions	Adults with chronic health conditions such as chronic respiratory disease, asthma, or obesity
Healthy adults between the ages of 15 to 49	Healthy children
The elderly

This is exactly what happened with the COVID vaccines: The same demographics targeted for the vaccines in 2009 were same ones targeted for COVID. My question is: Who’s left other than the deceased when it comes to mandated vaccines?

In 2009, Burgermeister immediately felt the heat from her actions, which shed light on, and endangered this golden vaccine goose egg, beginning with being fired from her job as European Correspondent of the Renewable Energy World website. In a blog, she stated:

“Because there is reason to believe this decision was related to my filing charges alleging bioterrorism against the people of the USA and the rest of the world, and because I am entitled as a citizen to report a crime if there is credible evidence, I intend to file a lawsuit against Pennwell, a magazine company that covers the oil and defense industries and which took over REW in 2007 after I began working there, for unfair dismissal.”

What Can You Do Now?

These are challenging times, but fear, panic and emotional over-reactions are not the answer, although government and corporate interests are pushing for just that. Just remember that a little common sense and some level-headed thinking will serve you and your family far better.

Educate yourself on these issues rather than simply believing the press releases that are re-read a hundred times on every channel. Spend a little time reviewing the vast supply of information available on the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) Web site, and join Barbara Loe Fisher in taking action against the potential threat of mandatory swine flu vaccinations.

You also can contact your legislators. And last but not least, let me reiterate that you can protect your health from ANY kind of flu, without a potentially dangerous vaccine, by making positive lifestyle changes, and I strongly urge you to start incorporating these changes into your life today.

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