How to protect yourself from COVID...
other than being jabbed
Sometimes memes make a statement better than words.
The debate continues to rage over the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA treatments for COVID that have been given Emergency Use Authorization - (EUA) in the US.
Whether to get this treatment is a medical decision that only you can make and is dependent upon your own health risks. You should make this decision after careful thought and discussion with your own health care professionals and those you trust.
Regardless of what you see and hear in the media, the science behind COVID is not settled.
But there are ways to protect yourself from COVID other than mRNA jabs. Do you find it surprising that other preventive strategies rarely get mentioned in the media or by our government officials??
We have all heard about social distancing and mask wearing. While many seem to believe these work, there is an abundance of data and research that shows the opposite, if you look for it and if it has not been censored.
If you feel better with a mask then wear a mask. If you are sick, stay home and away from others. Science by definition is never settled. Claims otherwise are incorrect, unless the science is captured or corrupted by the system.
Let’s now focus on other preventive measures against COVID.
1- Stay young- find the Fountain of Youth - last I heard it was somewhere in Florida. Perhaps that is why Florida is such a retirement destination. In all seriousness COVID hits the aged more than the young as it is a multi system inflammatory disorder. Those with excess inflammatory burden which increases as we age appear to be at highest risk of COVID complications.
Protection: Work with a healthcare professional who can help determine your inflammatory burden and advise how to reduce it. Or take a long vacation to Florida and see if you can find what Ponce De Leon could not. BTW- no matter what you hear, the fountain of youth is not located at The Villages in Florida.
But when in Florida, I would NOT suggest the following:
2- Maintain a healthy metabolism
By now we should all know that if you are Obese, Diabetic or have Hypertension that you are at greater risk from COVID. What you may not know is these diagnosis are all inflammatory metabolic imbalances. Your own metabolism can not safely keep up with what food/nutrition you are putting into your body. This overload causes inflammation that directly stresses other systems of your body including your immune system. An overwhelmed immune system can not fight off COVID as well as a well functioning system.
Protection: Work with a healthcare professional who can help determine if your metabolism is well balanced. If it is overloaded, and dysfunctional, they can advise how to improve it.
3- Maintain a healthy immune system
Your immune system is your main protector from foreign invaders into your body. There are many different parts/systems within the immune system that need to be well balanced. As already mentioned a dysfunctional metabolic system is detrimental to proper immune system function. Age also decreases proper immune system function.
Protection: Work with a healthcare professional who can help determine if your immune system is well balanced. There are both traditional and functional medicine tests that can help you move towards balance.
4- Maintain optimal Vitamin D
Ahhh. The sunshine vitamin. Most of the Vitamin D we have is produced in our body from sunlight on our skin converting our own cholesterol into Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps to balance our immune system so it doesn’t overreact to a pathogen such as SARS-COV-2 which causes COVID and produces excess inflammation that could be deadly. In my practice the optimal Vitamin D levels are between 40-70, with higher levels in Summer and lower levels in Winter.
Protection: Get your Vitamin D levels checked. Plan out a strategy of safe sun exposure and supplements if necessary to get your Vitamin D levels to optimal protective levels.
5- Stress Reduction
Have you ever noticed that when you are stressed for a prolonged period of time, you become more susceptible to infections? Chronic prolonged stress can have adverse effects on your immune system so stress is not what you want while trying to avoid COVID. Perhaps not watching the talking heads in the news media would reduce your stress?
Protection: Work with some holistic healthcare professionals to learn and develop stress reduction techniques. Some examples of stress reduction techniques include meditation, yoga and the use of mindfulness apps. What is working for many people is turning off the news media.
6- Proper Sleep
Sleep and stress are very intertwined. Increased stress messes with proper sleep. Improper sleep keeps your stress hormones elevated. Neither are good for your immune system and overall health. Pre-modern day people would awaken with sunrise and wind down at sunset. Without electricity and bright devices in our faces all the time, proper sleep cycles were easier to achieve.
Protection: Work on developing good sleep habits. Try and avoid bright lights after dinner. Work with your healthcare professional for more tips on how to improve your sleep.
I could probably add more than 6 natural and lifestyle factors to help prevent a bad outcome from COVID. But these 6 are at the top of my list.
If you have others, please leave them in the comments below.
Dr H, do you have a clean vitamin D chart or link to it? The one pictured is blurry for me.