Build A Healthy Immune System! #Covid-19

​The term “coronavirus” may have initially been unfamiliar to many, but most everyone has encountered milder forms of such viruses, of which four strains cause about a fifth of common cold cases. But until less than two decades ago, all known human varieties caused illness so mild that coronavirus research was something placed on the back-burner of rresearch funding. 
That all changed in 2003, when the pathogen behind the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in China was identified as a Coronavirus. Everybody in the field was shocked,

Since January, nearly eight hundred papers about the virus have been posted on BIORxiv, a preprint server for studies that have not yet been peer-reviewed. More than a thousand coronavirus genome sequences, from different cases around the world, have been shared in public databases. Kristian Andersen, a professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research, said, “Almost the entire scientific field is focussed on this virus now. We’re talking about a warlike situation. (Kormann, The New Yorker) 

• The first step to beat Covid-19 is to make sure you are taking the Essential Nutrients for Immune Health and add these basic immune system nutrients into a very healthy diet at this critical time in our nation. 
• I have been asked almost daily what supplements people should take to protect themselves. The following products have all been shown in the scientific studies to support the immune system. Choose one or two products in this basic fundamental list and combine it with a healthy diet and lifestyle. During the Corona Virus Pandemic a healthy life style is isolating you and your family.  
• Below are several "options" based on cost, and delivery systems such as capsule or powder. There are many more suggestions that I will write about as Step 2 but the supplements below are Step 1 if you do nothing else.  

All of the products below can be found at:
 https://www.purecapspro.com/DrCarlyWilleford/pe/home.asp

If for some reason you cannot find them in stock at my Pure Encapsulations e-store another resource is to check Full Script at:
https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/drcarly 

Vitamin C 

• Vitamin C supports a wide range of physiological functions, including immune function and vascular integrity.
• It supports the body’s defense system by enhancing white blood cell function and activity, and increasing interferon levels, antibody responses, and secretion of thymic hormones. 

Ascorbic Acid
Ester-C and flavonoids
Liposomal Vitamin C liquid
Buffered Ascorbic Acid
Acerola/Flavonoid

ZINC  

• Zinc supports the body’s natural defense system.
• UltraZin Zinc utilizes an innovative microencapsulation technology to enhance the absorption and bioavailability of zinc. This technology creates a phospholipid bilayer around the mineral similar to a liposome, increasing solubility and absorbability.

Zinc 30
Zinc 15
Zinc (citrate)
UltraZin Zinc

Vitamin D 

• Vitamin D’s role in immune health has long been established; vitamin D receptors are found on a number of immune cells, including lymphocytes and macrophages, supporting healthy immune cell activation.
• Vitamin D also supports cardiovascular function in some individuals. Concerns about vitamin D have been raised, as two papers have shown that with additional vitamin D, monocytes/ macrophages produce more IL-1 beta, an inflammatory cytokine. While increased production of IL-1 beta is an appropriate and known supportive function of vitamin D in balance with other responses, further understanding and investigation is likely to evolve. 

Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 liquid
Vitamin D3 (Vegan) liquid
Vitamin D3 VESIsorb

Selenium 

• Selenium supports antioxidant defenses, immune function and cellular health. Take several times per week rather than daily.

Seleno-Methionine

Vitamin A  

• Vitamin A is essential to the healthy functioning of a number of biological processes, including vision, growth, reproductive function and the body’s defense system. It also supports healthy maintenance of mucous membranes

Vitamin A + Carotenoids
Beta Carotene (With mixed carotenoids) 

Probiotics with vitamins

• HMF Immune combines proprietary probiotics with vitamins C and D to provide targeted support for the immune system.
• In addition to supporting gastrointestinal health, HMF Immune provides Bl-04, a strain that has been shown in a clinical trial to support upper respiratory tract health in physically active adults. Similarly, it offers CUL-60, CUL-21, CUL-34 and CUL-20, which were demonstrated in a clinical trial to support upper respiratory tract health in children when combined with vitamin C.
• HMF Fit For School includes a combination of researchdriven probiotic strains and vitamin C that supports children’s upper respiratory tract health and immune function. In a recent clinical trial, 57 schoolchildren were randomized to receive either a placebo tablet or HMF Fit For School’s probiotic formula plus 50 mg of vitamin C daily for 6 months. Children in the probiotic plus vitamin C group had significant improvement in upper respiratory tract health. HMF Fit For School also includes 25 mcg (1,000 IU) of vitamin D per tablet to provide additional immune support.

HMF Immune
HMF Immune powder
HMF Fit for School
HMF Fit for School powder
HMF Metabolic

• Other nutritional supplements that are good would be a good multivitamin designed to support key pivot points in immune function, including neutrophil and NK cell response, and cytokine production. 
• I also like Black Currant Seed Oil because it contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA) a fatty acid that has multiple physiological roles like supporting healthy cytokine activity and healthy prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) production. . GLA provides immune support in elderly people. 
• Eat a well-balanced diet and focus on nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy proteins that provide amino acids - healthy proteins needed to support a functioning immune system. 

1. Vit A – Sweet Potato, Carrots, Tuna, Butternut Squash, Spinach
2. Vit C – Kiwi, Bell Peppers, Strawberries, Oranges, Broccoli
3. Vit D – Salmon, Mushrooms, Fortified Milk or Milk Substitutes, Tuna, Eggs
4. Zinc – Meats, Firm Tofu, Lentils, Yogurt, Gluten-Free Oatmeal 

Eliminating inflammatory foods from the diet, is essential for maintaining cytokine balance, both in the G.I. tract and systemically. In particular, patients with existing self-tissue response(s) must strictly avoid reactive foods. While appropriate dietary changes will be specific to each patient, avoidance of one or more of the following is common:

• Gluten-containing grains (wheat, rye, spelt, barley, kamut)
• Foods known to be gluten cross-reactors (dairy, sesame, oat, millet, corn, rice, coffee, yeast)
• Refined carbohydrates (some individuals may need to minimize all forms of carbohydrates)
• Nightshades (tomato, white potato, eggplant, peppers, paprika, etc.)
• Trans fats/hydrogenated oils – complete avoidance is recommended in all patients
• Nuts and legumes (e.g., tree nuts, peas, beans, etc.)
• A low-histamine, low-FODMAP or similar diet may also be appropriate

Take time to relax and de-stress. Stress drives the production of cortisol and epinephrine, which are known to diminish Th1 and natural killer cell populations. The following practices may be helpful in managing occasional stress:

• Practice mindful meditation & yoga (there are many apps and guided YouTube meditations available)
• Take a break from screens and noise
• Listen to soothing music
• Make time for favorite activities such as writing, painting, or woodworking
• Enjoy a warm caffeine-free drink such as herbal tea with adaptogens or warm golden turmeric milk

Make sure to get plenty of sleep. A lack of sleep can adversely affect your immune system; therefore, we encourage the following practices:
​
• Stick to a sleep schedule
• Avoid caffeine and eating a large meal right before sleeping
• Allow time to relax and wind down before going to sleep
• Avoid screens in the bedroom, read a book
• Consider melatonin for more restful sleep