In today’s newsletter we thought we would dive into the Coronavirus and share with you some of our thoughts and strategies.
Whether you think the Coronavirus is an overhyped misrepresentation or something we should very much be concerned about, the fact of the matter is that it is now in NZ.
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It is Winter in China at the moment and most infections typically occur when people’s immune systems are at their lowest. This is why you see most colds and flu occur in the colder months. One of the big reasons for this is less sunshine and lower vitamin D levels. Low levels of vitamin D are linked to a suppressed immune system (1)
The Immune System
Innate immunity refers to nonspecific defense mechanisms that come into play immediately or within hours of an antigen’s appearance in the body.
These cells protect you from unknown infectious bacteria and viruses. The innate immunity quickly weeds out foreign invaders and goes to work destroying them all while protecting the good bacteria
The adaptive immune system, also known as the acquired immune system or, more rarely, as the specific immune system, is a subsystem of the overall immune system that is composed of highly specialised, systemic cells and processes that eliminate pathogens or prevent their growth. Essentially it is the adaptive immune systems job to develop antibodies against each invader. This quickly stops infection and future proofs you from infection
Gut Microbiota
Our gut is home to a very large number of microbes collectively known as the gut microbiota. They’re around 38 trillion microbes
Our immune system has co-evolved along with a diverse gut flora, not only to create defenses against pathogens, but also to develop tolerance for beneficial microbes
The importance of this interaction between the immune system and gut is clearly highlighted by the fact that 70–80% of the body’s immune cells are found in the gut.
The intestinal barrier is a wall that’s the primary interface between the gut microbiota and our body. It acts as a dynamic barrier that isolates our body from gut microbes but allows desirable interactions to take place.
A strong immune system is what keeps colds, influenza and other bacteria and virus pathogens at bay. Factors such as stress, poor diet, poor digestive system, toxic build up, chemical burden, poor sleep, medications, (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, steroids, chemotherapy, radiation etc) can all have major effects on reducing the immune systems ability to function.
A compromised weakened immune system will leave you open to frequent infections. To prevent and survive coronavirus it is worth investigating anything that may be compromising your immune system and working to give your immune health its best chance
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Here is what we are doing….
Nutrition with an emphasis on gut health.
- Gelatin in the form of bone broths
- Plenty of fermented foods such as sauerkraut
- Foods with high polyphenols such as berries and coffee
- Huge seasonal variation. A diverse mix of fruits and vegetables for a fuller spectrum of nutrients
- Liver. Cooked liver has six times the iron of kale. Liver is also one of the best food sources of vitamin B12, containing almost 30 times the amount in cooked ground beef. High in vitamin A – and a good source of folic acid, zinc, copper, and selenium – liver has the potential to be a powerful booster of the immune system.
- Avoiding processed crap (a given)
Exercise
Regular exercise is one of the pillars to good health. It improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, helps control body weight, and protects against a variety of diseases.
- Exercise may help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways. This may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu, or other illness.
- Exercise causes change in antibodies and white blood cells (WBC). WBCs are the body’s immune system cells that fight disease. These WBCs circulate more rapidly, so they could detect illnesses earlier than they might have before.
- The brief rise in body temperature during and right after physical exercise may prevent bacteria from growing. This temperature rise may help the body fight infection better. (This is similar to what happens when you have a fever.)
- Exercise slows down the release of stress hormones. Some stress increases the chance of illness. Lower stress hormones may protect against illness.
Just make sure your choice in exercise is smart. Don’t over push yourself. As I always say. More is not better, better is better
Supplements
- Colloidal silver
- Vitamin D
- Elderberry extract
- Probiotics
Other stuff
Clean your hands but don’t go crazy
Stroke your dog or cat
Go barefoot
Garden and get your hands dirty
So there you have it. Here are some simple things you can do to help increase your immune system to aid in the prevention of the Coronovirus.
Have a great day,
Paul “barefoot” and Krystie “play in the dirt” Miller
1 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190417111440.htm
Vitamin D common cold study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5949172/
Vitamin D the flu
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