Some interesting facts are emerging as I keep my finger on the pulse of the latest findings of this pandemic.
On the bright side, NZ flu cases dropped dramatically during our lock down – by 90% according to one official report. And deaths from all flu infections during our 2020 winter dropped by an estimated 1500 according to Professor Michael Baker. Economic and mental health damage has of course been considerable for many.
How the virus is most likely to be caught
According to extensive Chinese research, 80% of Covid cases are spread within home conditions. It apparently takes some time for most people to receive a sufficient dose of the virus to overwhelm their basic immunity – usually several minutes of breathing somebody else’s virus-laden air in poor ventilated indoor locations. Socialising while drinking appears to be particularly risky.
There’s little evidence of the virus being spread in outdoor conditions, where there’s good air movement. Nor from contaminated surfaces, or human touch. So social distancing would appear to be important in poorly ventilated indoor conditions, or tightly packed outdoor crowds.
Following are some of the nutrients that play an important role in the prevention and cure of Covid-19.
Vitamin D is strongly associated with Covid death rates
It is now apparent that vitamin D has an enormous influence on Covid-19 death rates.
Ensuring that populations have high vitamin D levels would appear to be very effective and have numerous other benefits as well. The second wave of the virus afflicting the northern hemisphere countries during their current winter would appear to confirm that lack of vitamin D plays a significant role.
Ideally our optimum vitamin D blood level should be as high as 120 nmol/L (48 ng/mL). Most New Zealanders and other developed nations have blood levels far below this.
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Protection, in the USA 87% of adults and 95% of children are deficient in vitamin D
There is little reason to think we’re much better here in NZ. A vitamin D blood test costs about $50 if you pay for it privately, or can be free if your doctor requests it.
Intravenous vitamin C
Japanese intravenous therapy expert Dr Atsuo Yanagisawa recommends that Covid-19 be treated with high amounts of intravenous vitamin C (usually the ascorbic acid type). Dosage, according to severity of illness, is from 50 to 200 mg per kg body weight per day (typically about 7 grams in total). This can be very effective in the latter stages when infection sets into the lungs.
Our body requires enormous amounts of vitamin C to fight severe infections and results can be spectacular when vitamin C is administered in sufficiently large amounts. Ascorbic acid is highly acidic with a pH of about 2.5 and needs to be alkalined to a neutral pH of about 7.0 using sodium bicarbonate before injection.
Boosting our glutathione levels
Glutathione is an immune protein compound made by our liver. It’s our body’s main defence against bacteria and viral infections. Youthful supply is high, which is why children show high resistance to Covid-19, but as we age past 30, our liver makes less and less.
Supplementing with glutathione does not work, as the proteins are broken down by our digestive system. However, our body’s natural production can be boosted by sulphur-rich foods such as broccoli, onions, cabbage, whey protein, eggs, fish, unprocessed meat and also vigorous exercise.
Sufficient vitamin C is also needed to keep glutathione levels high. In one study of adults with low levels of vitamin C, taking 500 mg of vitamin C daily for 13 weeks increased the glutathione in their blood cells by an average 47%.
Other studies show that lack of sleep lowers glutathione levels, and heavy alcohol use lowers it as much as 80%.
Exercise raises glutathione
A study of 80 healthy but sedentary volunteers, produced significant increases in glutathione levels compared to controls by combining both aerobic and weight training in a gym setting. They trained for 40 minutes, three days a week for six weeks.
Selenium also raises glutathione
Selenium is another critical nutrient – one study showed significant increases in glutathione in 45 adults after supplementing with 200 mcg of selenium for 12 weeks.
Zinc critical to our immune system
Chinese health authorities now recommend zinc in the treatment and prevention of Covid-19 infections. This is not new – in a 1998 study of 609 children, using a 10 mg daily zinc supplement dropped recurring lung infections from 44% down to 12%.
If our sense of smell or taste ever begins to drop off, it can be a sign we’re lacking zinc. Loss of smell is a recognised symptom among Covid 19 patients.
How David maintains his immunity
“Most days I spray my throat and under my tongue with liquid colloidal silver. I ensure my zinc and selenium intake is high by taking a CAA-multi-mineral-vitamin every day. I sun bathe during summer to maintain good vitamin D levels and eat at least an apple and other fruit every day.”
“Should I sense a whiff of illness beginning, I immediately take two capsules of an immune support containing echinacea, garlic, olive leaf, astragalus, vitamin C and zinc. I carry on taking two of these every few hours, for a day, or perhaps two days, until all symptoms vanish.”
David Coory.