This website, risetohuman.com , does not provide medical advice. The contents of this website, text, images, graphics, media, and other material (“content”) is for general information, educational and entertainment purposes only. The content on the entirety of the website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or cure. Please seek advice from your primary care physician or another qualified health professional before attempting anything found on this website or anywhere else.
Upon your entrance and reading of content located on this website, you agree and confirm you have an understanding of laws in your area and that you have consulted with an appropriate medical professional about any changes you implement. The use or reliance of content on this website is at your own risk. You, the reader assume all risk.
Let me share with you a recipe that helps with any illness. From the cold to the flu and all the other current nasties floating around now. Winter illness or otherwise, this recipe is sure to help you in a pinch.
Fair warning, This recipe is bitter, but you can add a few specific sweeteners to it to help make it more agreeable to your palate. Here is the Virus busting recipe.
1-2 grapefruit peels
1-2 orange peels
1 lemon peel.
Steps.
Add peels to a pot and cover with water, turn the heat on and let it boil
once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and let it simmer for 15-30 mins (longer means stronger)
turn off the heat and strain out the liquid. This is potent and you do not need much. The average person should take no more than 4 tablespoons to start. Heavier/bigger people can use more. Smaller/shorter people can use less.
Take as often as you need (usually every few hours) preferably room temperature or hot. Do not drink cold.
Feel free to add it to your water or any drink as is. you may sweeten the tea with honey, maple syrup, or stevia/monkfruit only. Avoid other sweeteners.
That’s it. This makes several servings depending on the water content and can be scaled up or down if desired. It is safe for everyone to take 5 years and up (use 1 teaspoon though).
This is a guest post by a friend of minewho helps people like you with their business interests.
Congrats on taking action towards a new life!
This is you already winning.
Now it’s time to level up. However, let me introduce myself.
Yours Truly
My name is Jose and I provide business owners, both new and current, clarity and insight into better running or starting their businesses.
You will find your true strengths and save energy towards building an efficient functioning business.
I help you to see your path with clarity so you can see how to achieve your financial security.
Money will sprout.
I even help you with creating a team and helping you place those people in their best roles of strength to ensure your business machine is well oiled and high functioning.
If this sounds like something that interests you, then use your time slot. Schedule your call, after all it belongs to you already. Otherwise someone else will take it.
Let’s see if we are a good match for each other in starting or bettering your business endeavors.
All it takes is you showing up. Bring your ideas, concerns, jokes or anything else. Let’s make your vision better than 20/20 (not the year but definitely better than the year).
Proteins are necessary components of the larger molecular flesh machines.
S.T.
What is your source? What do you store in your internal flesh satchel?
Moo. Oink. Cluck. Gurgle. Thud. A bean is born. Protein. The most beloved of all macro nutrients. The one nutrient everyone can agree upon. A single nutrient everyone consumes in unison. The biggest make-up of the human body is protein. Unless you are grossly obese then fat wins. Protein is the nutrient responsible for all the wonderful things in our bodies. From skin to hair to enzymes to muscles. The bodybuilder wears it like a suit of armor.
Protein is championed by everyone for everyone. From the mighty athlete at the peak of the game to the grandma in a walker fighting off muscle wasting from age. Bipedal plant-eaters and bipedal meat-eaters agree that protein unites us all. Where the protein comes from is the point of contention between bipedals. How much protein do you eat and what is the quality? Where does it come from and is there a difference between types of protein? Time for a deep dive, hold your breath.
What comes to mine for most people when protein is discussed.
Protein
Meat, eggs and dairy. These are the primary source of protein most people assume when they hear protein. Anything that comes from an animal is based in protein. Where do herbivorous animals get their protein then? From the plants themselves mostly. Plants do contain protein but in varied amounts. Can you only eat plants and achieve your protein requirements? Maybe. Read on.
Protein is the building block of many tissues and enzymes in the body. Several organs are made of protein. Proteins for hormones. Not counting water up to 75% of you is protein. We do not store protein in the body except in the form of muscles and organs. If you do not eat enough in a day to maintain what you have or put more on you, then you will eat yourself. Self cannibalism. That is how important and necessary protein is.
Proteins are long chains of amino acids. Amino acids are what build the muscle and enzymes in the body. There are 9 essential amino acids the body cannot make. The body must receive these from an outside source. These 9 amino acids are what defines a high- or low-quality protein. These terms are misleading however. A better term is a complete or incomplete protein. Different proteins are made of different amino acids.
Do Plant And Meat Proteins Provide The Same Quantity?
Muscle meat and dairy are similar in types of proteins. Their amino acids are different in proportions, however. The main factor in these complete proteins is that all 9 amino acids are present in amounts that would nourish the body. Spinach also has proteins, but its ratio of amino acids is vastly different. In spinach, a few amino acids are very low. In fact, the numbers are so low that to get a complete array of the essential amino acids you would need to eat 5 pounds of spinach a day. Can you even eat 5 pounds of food in a day let alone of spinach? This is why herbivores eat all day, it is to get adequate amounts of nutrients and amino acids from the plants they eat.
Plant foods lack certain amino acids. That is why they are called incomplete proteins. Most would tout that beans and nuts are the highest source of protein among plant foods and that is true, but they still lack some amino acids in a quantity that would make a difference. Others may say that protein combining is the key. This is a method by which you eat different food together, such as beans and whole rice, to get a more complete array of amino acids.
This works well, but can it provide you with enough depending on your goals? If you are on the lower end of the protein requirements, you might be able to get away with eating less protein than someone who is more active. Being on the lower end means you are sedentary, doing very little physical activity.
An Inefficient Fuel.
Protein is a fuel source, but an inefficient one. Protein can breakdown and form glucose, a type of sugar, in the body. Unlike exogenous sugars, glucose from protein will not use insulin in the same manner. Insulin shuttles glucose into the cells when blood glucose levels rise. This glucose from protein is made in the exact amounts needed by the tissues asking for it. This process is very energy intensive and the body is not a fan of doing it for all the glucose requirements. It is so disliked by the body that you can run into what is called “rabbit starvation” if all you eat is protein.
Rabbit starvation is named after rabbits who are very lean and low in fat. In theory this sounds ok, but in practice it is horrific. Bipedals who only eat rabbits eventually find themselves in a situation where their hunger cannot be satisfied. They may eat 2 pounds of meat in a sitting and still be hungry. They can suffer from diarrhea and other maladies. This is what happens if you only eat protein without a fuel source. Do not use protein as a fuel all the time..
No such thing. More protein means more muscles right?
How Much To Eat?
Protein is used to pack on muscle. Bodybuilders would eat several servings of protein to build more muscle mass. In fact most bipedals snatch, chomp and guzzle down protein in all forms. How much protein is too much? What is the necessary amount? The RDA states that 98 grams of protein is enough for one day or .8g/kg. This is to prevent malnutrition, not to reach optimal functioning. Others suggest things such as 1 g/kg. That means a 200-pound man roughly eats 98 grams a day. These values don’t consider physical activity nor the breakdown of protein. Others say a 7-ounce serving a day is enough. If you want malnourishment, go eat 7 ounces or less a day of protein.
For repair purposes others have postulated 1.2g/kg and to build muscle 1.5-2g/kg.
Some people freak out at eating a higher protein diet. MY KIDNEYS! I’LL DIE! Concerns arise about kidney failure and other horrid things. Here is the truth. Up to 4g/kg a day of protein showed no harmful effects. The kidneys were fine. The fear of kidney failure comes from patients in acute or chronic kidney failure need to avoid protein. This matters to them because they cannot filter out the byproducts such as urea that forms from ammonia. Too much of that circulating in your body for days is killer.
A normal person with functioning kidneys will do fine eating a little more protein depending on your goals.
As an aside, a bodybuilder who doesn’t eat any animal products, aka plant based, needs to supplement with protein powder in the form of pea protein or other sources. If that is what you want no problem, but there are two things to consider. In this post food is defined as found in nature as is. Pea protein is a processed food that goes through who knows what to become this thing. It is preferable to only eat real food.
Plant strong?
When Is Plant Protein Enough?
The main point is that if you are looking to build or maintain muscle, regardless of whether you are a body builder or not, you need more protein. 7 ounces of protein a day is ok if all you do is sit in an office and sit at home tweeting and updating your status. A diet devoid of animal products makes it harder to supply enough protein from real food to those in more active lifestyles.
Expecting plants to give you all the protein requirement you need in a day, requires a few situations. Being sedentary at home watching the latest show or surfing social media for the next viral thing require less protein. Compare this to someone who works out at the gym three days a week cycling and lifting weights. The second scenario requires more. Protein needs are based on activity level. More activity means more protein.
Another point is age. Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass as one ages. This is due in part to lower metabolic efficiency. Meaning that protein is harder to digest and utilize. As such, an older person has a higher protein requirement to stave off muscle loss. A younger person can do better than an older person on a low protein diet. An older active adult will need much more than a younger couch surfer. This is not to downplay those who follow plant-based diets, rather it is to make you aware that protein needs differ based on activity. Avoid undernourishment.
Are meat and plant proteins interchangeable?
Are Plant And Animal Proteins Unique?
Plant proteins and animal proteins are not the same. They do not digest in the same manner. Take gluten as an example. Gluten, a protein, can damage the wall of the intestines. Egg or muscle protein does not do so. Milk can cause issues based on the casein subtype or if the dairy is raw or pasteurized. Even within milk there are two proteins that are digested differently. Whey and casein. Whey is absorbed and used rapidly. Casein, another protein molecule, sits in the digestive system longer slowly diffusing itself into your body.
Muscle meat, dairy, and eggs as well, are all protein that causing an anabolic reaction. Anabolism is where the body builds up on itself. Muscle building from exercise is one example. Part of this is due to an insulin rise from specific amino acids. Notice once again, specific amino acids cause this. Not every amino acid. Once again different proteins act differently in the body.
Collagen is another type of protein useful in preserving tissues like skin and joints. Collagen is hardly found in plants at all. The amino acid glycine, found abundantly in animals, is an essential amino acid that can cause problems if deficient. Glycine is produced in the body, but in low amounts. Glycine is not found in plants easily. Unless one consumes superfluous amounts getting enough glycine is difficult. Once again the quantities are very low in plants. Glycine is needed for other function in the body besides joint repair and making skin look radiant and beautiful. Glycine in the absence of other amino acids, like methionine, will also cause more long term issues.
What Is Right For Me?
The moral of the story is protein is important and not all protein acts the same in the body. As mentioned, protein consumption depends on your goals and upon your morals. Should you choose to build muscle, know the pitfalls and make sure you eat enough. A plant-based person, or one who is thinking of transitioning needs to know about the specific pitfalls that can occur. If you choose that path, ensure you take in what you may be lacking in one way or another. More on this in the future. No matter what your way of eating is, protein is important and necessary part of the diet. Eat enough of it to make it through life.
Calories are units of measure that tell you how good a certain food tastes. Fudge has a high number and is very good. The low calorie celery, which is not a food at all but rather a member of the plywood family invented to get dip into our mouths, is not so delicious.
Sergio Tlacelel
Yup, calories. Count them all the same because they are all the same right?.
Mushy pulpy mess of soggy fries washed clean by yellow fizzy liquid. Verdant crunchy fiber-like bolus scented with hairy scarlet sweetness. Calories. It’s what you eat. Are they different? Do fries act differently than raspberries? Should they be counted and why does that matter? Should we bother counting calories and meticulously stare at all the foods in front of us? How about weighing every little ounce of precious morsel that enters our mouth and subtract every calorie from the food we spilled onto the floor? Calories don’t count. Not the same way you are thinking. Humans don’t need to count calories. Bipedal animals do. Obsession is depression. Question that stressful expression. Use calories like the tool it is.
When bipedals talk about calories, it is considered the prime reason for food consumption. You cannot live unless you have enough calories. You will die if you under eat. You can die if you overeat. Why is under eating a separate word and overeating a single word? Is it to convey the message that less calories are bad and overeating is better since you won’t die of starvation? Can you die starvation if you overeat?
The future of consumption, coming to a living room near you. I.V. pole not included.
How much is enough?
We can have our metabolism measured to know exactly how much we use daily based on inactivity. Then proceed to only eat that much and not a number more. This will allow us to eat cheetos and never become fat all while sitting on the couch watching streams of our favorite YouTube celebrities, old reality show reruns and hilarious standup comedy. The laughter will help burn a few extra calories.
Calories in and calories out. All calories are the same there’s no doubt.
Dangerous thinking. Calories come from the macronutrients found in whatever foodstuff we are stuffing into our face at the time. Protein and carb calories are close in value while fats are more than double the amount found in protein or carbs. In fact, one serving of fat is more calorically than one serving of protein and carbs combined. Since calories are calories it doesn’t matter whether it is from cheetos or carrots, right? They both start with c like calories and if the calorie count is the same then my weight scale needle will not shift upwards. Not all calories are the same nor are all calories built the same.
Calories can be the same thing. Carrots=Cheetos right?
Emptiness is the abyss
Empty calories are calories that give no nutrition. Soda, for example, is a liquid-like syrup that only provides carb calories. Unless you order diet, then it really is empty of anything except fleeting pleasure. Candy is no better. Most foods have some nutrition coupled in with calories, but other things like rice flour cereal must have nutrients added to it to make it “better”. These are not empty but devoid calories. Just like that ice-cold diet soda. No substance. So far not all calories are the same. There are better Caloric choices out there. We like multifunctional items. Not only eatable items.
Celery. That stalky green mass of water and fiber. Celery has 5 calories per stalk. The calorie count of celery does not consider the processing that goes into breaking down that particular foodstuff. It ignores the oral mastication, look that up, and digesting as it traverses the avenues, boulevards and sewers of the body. The number is much lower than 5. Some would say it is negative in this regard, but I would not bet your horses on it just yet.
There is a difference between all calories in terms of how the body processes them. Fat needs the least processing; therefore, its caloric numbers are still the same. Carbs need more processing than fat; therefore, its number is slightly lower. Protein is the lowest on the calorie scale needing the most work done to break it down in the body. In other words, if you have a 100-calorie package of plain jerky, plain crackers, or butter, jerky will have the lowest calories. It will be lower than 100. The butter will be the closest to 100 calories and the crackers will be somewhere in between. Ignoring nutrients present, calorically the biggest winner, or loser, is butter. Clearly not all calories are the same.
Junk food junkies beware.
Calories in, calories out.
Time for a math game. Bodily processing not being considered, Fat is roughly 9 calories per gram. That means one tablespoon, 15 grams, of fat is about 126 calories. Protein and carbs both come in at 4 calories per gram. For the same tablespoon of protein or carbs you get 56 calories. 56 from protein plus 56 from carbs equals 112. Lower than fat, however, knowing what you know now about the processing aspect of calories, those numbers are going to be lower while the fat calorie count remains the same.
The optimist sees a donut, the pessimist sees 452 calories boiled in fat, drenched in sugar, and empty on the inside.
Sergio Tlacelel
What about deficits
Calorie deficit is mentioned as necessary to drop weight. Ever heard the adage that one pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories? This is true by weight, not by effort, however. Shedding fat is more complex than just do not eat so much and put the damn fork down. Calorie deficits carry the risk of malnutrition. Starvation is a real thing. Reducing calories is a stress on the body, especially if you do not get enough nutrients in your diet and thus require more than what you are giving yourself. Do not give yourself a budget where you end up owing debt in massive amounts. Constantly being in a red deficit can lead to issues down the road; A road with potholes.
A calorie deficit leads to a point where you overeat. Buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Yes, please! It is not the overeating that is dangerous. Although that carries its own risks. The danger lies in the signals told to your body. The signal being that food is scarce now. Overtime a calorie deficit forces the metabolism to become lower and slower. The moment food enters your mouth you gain weight. The signal you sent of food being scarce told the body that food needs to be stored because who knows when you will eat again. It was hard surviving without food. Could a calorie deficit be carried out normally? If adequate nutrition is involved, possibly.
There are diets that provide enough nutrients and are more regulatory in their calorie consumption without counting. These diets tell your body that food is adequate, not scarce. Thus, helping to prevent the rebound effect of weight gain that follows a drop in weight for most people. Not to mention, don’t track weight loss period. Obsession is a regression. There are better ways.
What about too much?
Calorie surplus has its own issues too. It is far too easy since food and “food” is overly abundant. “Food” aisles of packaged pastries and bagged chips lining stores. Candy peaking over a counter’s edge at checkout. Pizza is only a call or click away. At every corner, in every aisle, even in unexpected places like a park food is found.
Overindulging in foods allows one to become soft like the ice cream one eats and bloated like the inflatable pool toys available during summer. Giving the signal that food is abundant has its value but not while we sit around doing nothing. Not all calories are the same, not all weight gain from calorie surplus is the same. Calories from meat are different than from rice if both are matched for calorie counts. Those two differ compared to calories from bread or sugar.
Should counting calories be a thing?
Counting calories is very neurotic and complicated. It can impact social life to the point where you isolate yourself for meals because you cannot eat out with friend or have that drink you want. Unless you trust the restaurant to provide appropriate counts, you may avoid it all together. Life without drink will make you twice think or so says some alcoholic dude. Drinks cause their own issues. Drink calories are easier to obtain versus food calories. Alcohol has its own calorie process. It gets further impacted and more complicated when ordering rainbow colored sugar drinks. Alcohol calories act quite different from our other friends.
Life without drink will make you twice think.
A. Alcoholic
What to do?
What then is the best choice or way to go about things? Do not count calories. Instead eat in a way that is auto regulating. Become aware of what you eat yet eat without concern. Don’t eat liberally like a grazing cow. It means eat food that is rich in nutrition. Eat knowing that calories behave differently in the body. What you eat will react differently within you. Eat in a way that keeps you full and happy. If pounding bag of chips and puffs by the pound doesn’t satisfy your hunger, find food that does. More filling and more nutrient dense means you will eat the adequate amount daily or a little under what you need and still be fine with no stress. No two calories are the same. Rise above it.
If it doesn’t rot or spoil do not eat it. Except for honey, that stuff lasts forever.
Dripping bubbling greasy mouthwatering twinkies. Charbroiled scent wafting through streets guiding to a treasure trove of cheeseburgers and obese milkshakes. Food drives us. It drives us to feed the body and soul. Food is meant to nourish and fuel us, but our food relationship has morphed. No longer do we think of food as a necessity for life. Food has become a tasteful delight.
A trip down the pleasurable velvet lined hallways and gullets of humanity. Food is now a rave with taste buds throwing a party for the mouth every few hours. Rich decadent mush forms in our mouths causing whole body vibrations. We bipedal animals have fallen from grease. We grace ourselves with cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and other C worded junk food.
Food is not for gorging on when life is boring. We are separated from what food really is. Our grandparents and great-grandparents would not recognize what we eat as food. Why eat it?
What To Eat?
There is so many conflicting points in the media and amongst fellow bipedal animals about food. One day eggs are great, the next hour they are as bad as smoking a pack of cigarettes. This holds true for almost every food. Vegetables are great, but only eat organic unless you want to poison yourself. Fruits are amazing, but they are watery sugar sacs; do not indulge by the pound. Fat will kill you, but it will save you from a fall by cushioning your organs. Thank goodness for fat mounds and paunches.
What to eat then? How about returning to what food really is. Eat what your grandparents or great grandparents would eat.
Food Is Nourishing.
Food provides us with building blocks for the body. Every tissue in the body replaces itself constantly. This turnover requires a steady stream of food. Without proper nourishment from real food, then the body begins to breakdown. Proteins in the body do not function right. Inflammation occurs at a higher rate than it should.
Typical tantalizing treat teasing trepid taxpayers to a trap.
That candy bar was so worth it! Was it?
How does this affect you? You may feel groggy as you reach for your coffee, tea, or a breakfast pastry. You have bowel disturbances. Acne rears its ugly head on your head and face. Joint pain or muscle aches occur. The delicious icing on the cake is you crash in the middle of the day. The only option left is to wash those depressions away and drown those sorrows in alcohol or Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. No wonder we call it the Standard American Diet (SAD). If this isn’t you, congratulation. Hopefully, this reality will never become yours. However, bipedal animals cannot escape nor outrun everything. Reality will catch up sooner or later.
Food should nourish us strongly. The best choices are not strong-tasting foods, but strong natured food. Not shallow food but food with deep nutrition. Food found in nature. That is the proper title for real food, nature. We were birthed, forged, and rose from nature. We bipedal organisms are still animals first and foremost. If it ain’t from nature beware of danger.
If it ain’t from nature beware of danger.
Sergio Tlacelel
Nowhere in the world have we found a brownie bush or a cookie tree.
Brownie bush in it’s native habitat.
Food Is Fuel.
This is a no brainer for most. Food is fuel for the body like gas in a car. How about we put jet fuel in our airplane rather than diesel? Without food we would have no energy. That is justification for eating bread, pastries or pasta, right? Bread is called pain in French, but that’s a story for another day. Yes, food provides fuel, but there are better sources of fuel than stale white bread. Want to use cheap gasoline? The risk is it could damage or gunk up the engine. Cheap gas is bad. Cheap food is bad too.
Cars can run on diesel or natural gas. Some even have electric motors. Likewise, there are better fuel options. There are better bread options with better bread benefits. Better yet, make a breadless selection. Give starchy roots attention. Root vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes and beets are a safe choice for fuel.
Fat is a fuel source. The body can run on fat if you let it. Many of us store fat up for a rainy week or two. Protein can be used as fuel in a pinch. Let your teeth sink into that one for a minute. Some food choices are like the electric car, others like diesel. Experiment and find which burns cleanest for you. We bipedal animals are all alike to a degree, but not all of us are identical. Just because your spouse prefers burning protein, doesn’t mean that it works just as well for you.
Food Is Alive.
You are alive. Eat things that are alive. That doesn’t mean you have to eat a mooing steak, but if you really want to by all means proceed. Aliveness is a term meant to describe food freshness. Fresher is better. Fresh baked bread is better than stale old bread. Although a dry aged steak is good, a fresh steak trumps a three-week-old cooked steak in the fridge. A freshly picked plant or fruit is more enjoyable than a canned one. Fresher means better tasting. Although exceptions do exist, the closer to harvest a food is the more nourishing it is.
We want deep nutrition. Fresher contains better nutrient profiles than something older. A riper fruit or vegetable is better than one picked green. Most food in a grocery market is old and picked while green. Fresh plants are crispy and firm. Old plants are limp and saggy. Do not eat decrepit food. Some food may have been kept in cold storage for a year or more. That is not as alive as day old food from a farmer.
There must be food somewhere around here.
Food Is From Nature.
Food comes from nature, the ancestral home of the bipedal animals. We are a part of nature and thus consume nature to live. That means if the “food” you are plating in front of you cannot be found as is in nature, then it’s a food product made in a factory. Not food. Eat nature, not couture mixture tailor made for human consumption.
Food is always found as is in nature. No twinkie bush nor pizza tree exists. If you find one, you win. Food products, on the other hand, are always packaged. Food products are usually strong tasting to get you to love them. Don’t waste your money on these ho-hos. These food products ain’t loyal. An apple is food. A steak is food. Apple ring candy is not food. Beef cup of noodles is also not food.
The allure of strong-tasting food products is strong. So powerful is this allure that it dwarfs your taste of vegetables or fruit. Imagine the flavor of decrepit saggy pale lettuce vs potato chips. A weak flavor made weaker versus a strong flavor. No wonder people hate vegetables as all these issues combined add up to a bland food. The older it is the less alive it tastes.
Old food that’s bland should be canned and banned from being panned!
Real fresh vegetables have taste, deep nutrition and fit the category of food. Real food is alive and does not have a dead, bland, taste. Sure, a candy bar is sweet, but an apple with peanut butter is just as good. Fruit is nature’s candy after all.
Don’t Disassociate From Your Food.
Food comes from nature, but from where does your food come? A farm or a factory? What animal is your choice of protein? What’s in your stomach? Plants are alive and we chop them into small pieces. Animals are alive and we chop them into pieces. Fruit are plant babies and we chop them up into pieces. seeds and nuts are also plant babies. Know that what you are eating was alive and came from somewhere in nature. Processed food is a zombie long dead. Candy, pastries and other junk are from a factory defecated out of a tube neatly packaged and perfumed.
In summary,
Stop eating condensed starch whether flat, round or sweet.
Stop eating sweet grease bars and balls.
Stop drinking sweet liquids and psychedelic colored liquids.
The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.
Vince Lombardi
Here we are at the horizon. The final frontier.
Impatient? Want to get the good stuff right away? Here it is, thank you for showing up. After all, showing up is half the battle. This is the quick overview of what to do, including the most recommended supplements to take. For more detailed information, check out the other posts. After all knowing is half the battle.
If showing up is half the battle and knowing is half the battle, then if you show up knowing do you win?
A philosophical guy.(not me)
Top practices
Go outside and get sunlight. 20 -30 minutes of unprotected sunlight on your skin. The more skin exposed the better.
Go for a walk every day. Save time and walk while basking in sunlight. Walk for 30 mins when possible. Even 20 minutes is fine.
Exercise with resistance. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, lunges, pull-ups, and any other strength-based movement is a fantastic idea. If you have weights or straps, feel free to use that too. Do not feel the burn. Do not reach failure.
Rest. Set aside 30 mins to an hour of doing nothing. Better yet, meditate during that time in what ever way you want. Seated, Tai Chi, Qigong, or light yoga will all serve to relax you. Get some rest. No devices.
Breath deeply. Add breathwork to your meditation to save time. Tai Chi and Qigong do this innately. Breath into the lower belly. Use your nose. Breath in for 6 seconds and breath out for 6 seconds.
Get proper sleep. Go to bed at a decent time. No devices 2 hours before bed equals better sleep. A dark room is wonderful for sleep.
Calm yourself. Emotions will add to the chaos and turmoil in life as we know it. Keep yourself centered. If you burst with anger or melt with worry, focus on your breathing and come back.
Drink clean pure water every day. Avoid plastic when possible.
Eat good whole food. The closer to how it is found in nature, the better. Avoid fried and breaded items. Reject prepackaged items. Do not eat pastries and sweets. No bagels.
Do not over sterilize. Be smart and wash your hands when necessary. Do not stress out about cleanliness 24/7.
Stop smoking.
Supplements for prevention, and for use while ill.
Recommended supplements.
If you are eating well, take a good Multivitamin and mineral supplement. This supplement will help round out deficiencies. If you are not eating well, it does nothing.
Monolaurin can be added during illness. If you can only afford one supplement, this is the best one to fight off lipid coated viruses like coronavirus. More detail is provided below.
Most Recommended Chinese Herbs And Formulas For Use During Illness. Pick Only One.
Either one of this will help fend off the virus when you are ill.
Pharmaceuticals?
It may sound silly, but truth is stranger than fiction. The recommendation that follows does have several scientific evidence backing it up. It works best when you are ill, not as a preventative measure. Bear with it and read it entirely. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Yes, it sounds a bit absurd, but here is the science.[10] Read it for yourself.
Do yourself a favor and get the real pharmaceutical not something you find at the pet store.
In several of those studies, people improved quickly. Better outcomes were had vs those who did not take this medication while infected. The latest study in May out of China shows the same results.[8] This list has several studies providing sound evidence in using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine as a treatment. Notice the study from 2005 that shows this pharmaceutical being effective against the original SARS virus.[9]
Good Alternative?
If chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine isn’t available. Take monolaurin. There is some science backing it’s potential. Follow along for a second. Lauric acid is an effective antimicrobial agent.[11] It fights off viruses, bacteria and fungi.[13] Lauric acid is produced in the skin forming a barrier against infectious life forms.[12] It is also present in breast milk. Being present in breast milk means it helps play a role in safeguarding against infection. After all who has a weaker immune system than newborns? Lauric acid gets converted into monolaurin in the body.[14] Hence as another choice, eat 15-60grams of coconut oil instead of taking monolaurin.
COULD TAKING MORE LAURIC ACID OR MONOLAURIN ACTUALLY WORK?
Take this study [14] (full text PDF is below) where women ate coconut oil and the lauric acid content in their breast milk increased. Through an enzymatic process, lauric acid becomes monolaurin in breast milk. Without getting deep into the science, Milk is filtered blood nutrients. Yes, that means milk is concentrated blood factors. Watch this brief video for a better understanding.
Milk. Comes from the blood, and from what is eaten.
Milk comes from blood nutrients. If lauric acid content increases in breast milk after eating more lauric acid, then it is in the blood. Otherwise how could it form on the skin? How could it form in breast milk? Remember that blood flows everywhere, even in the lungs. Eat more lauric acid, or the more potent version monolaurin,[15][16][17][18] and you have an effective safeguard against a lipid coated virus when you are ill.[19] Imagine that, you can dissolve it from within.
WHAT ABOUT MY CHOLESTEROL?
What about it? To quickly squash those concerns, coconut oil has no cholesterol. LDL, the bad cholesterol, is not as bad as it seems. LDL plays a role in immunity. This means that LDL actually helps fight infection.[1][3] How does this happen? LDL absorbs toxins from certain bacteria.[2] Total cholesterol has been shown to be protective from infection, pneumonia, flu and possibly even reduced AIDS deaths.[3][5][6][7] Older people averaged much lower death rates with higher cholesterol.[4] This is food for thought.
That concludes this series. Start at square one here. See you for the next discussion. More information, more entertainment, and more human. No need to rise early, but do show up.
In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.
Ulysses S. Grant
Muscles and brawn. Bodybuilders. Iron clacking. Blood, sweat and tears. Swear words and grunting. Conquer and defeat. Steroids. This is a bodybuilding battle plan against weakness. Likewise we are implementing a battle plan against illness and infection. Against coronavirus. Against defeat. Expected the unexpected. No steroids needed, we have better tools.
Strategies and game plans win battles. If it rattles their bones, then it batters their souls. This post will cover anything meant to target a virus. Call them virus killers. Use these only when infected. These weapons do not prevent infection, only resolve it. Remember that virus targeting missiles do not prevent wars. Phytochemicals are up first.
Virus targeting missiles can win the war.
Phytochemicals
Plants have compounds that fight off diseases and herbivores. They are not fortunate like animals. Animals can run away. Plants are stuck in the ground, going no where but up for years and years. As such, plants have defenses to protect them. You would too if you were buried with only your head sticking out. Luckily for us, we can take advantage of these defenses.
Grapefruit. Popular in weight loss or breakfast rings. How does it kill viruses? A compound contained in the pith called naringenin. This compound displays antiviral properties.[2] Grapefruit to the rescue!
Grapefruit is not alone. Other citrus fruits contain a phytochemical that may fight off viruses as well. This is called limonin. It too is located in the pith. Citrus having vitamin C and viral fighting component sounds too good to be true.[1]
There is one problem. Maybe two. First, the pith is bitter. The 2nd problem is chewing the pith is not effective. Phytochemicals are found exclusively in the fiber. This is true of all phytochemicals. Chewing cannot effectively breakdown the fiber unless you chew for hours. A cow will chew grass and regurgitate it for further chewing. Consider that a cow is specialized for this and even then they must chew more! What solution do we have?
The solution is blending. A more powerful blender is needed to do this. A Vitamix is fine, but the best is a Blendtec. This gets you the most fiber busting capability bang for your buck. A grapefruit with no peel but half the pith goes in the blender. Blend until smooth. Drink.
Another item to consider is garlic pesto. The sulfur thiols in garlic help fight off microbes[3] while garlic itself increases zinc status. Recipe will be at the bottom. How about a sweeter deal than garlic? Manuka honey.[6][7][8] Not the garden variety you find at any store, I’m talking about those that use MGO score. Most use UMF and that can be misleading. Look for honey with an 83 or higher MGO score. For illness, consider at least 300 MGO score.
Lastly mastic gum needs to be studied closely. Moronic acid is the predominant phytochemical in mastic gum. It has shown efficacy against herpes and HIV. [4][5]Enough about plants, time for the major list.
Coronavirus stands no chance when supplements are used in unison.
Virus Targeted Missiles.
These are all weapons for the struggle against coronavirus. Any virus really, but right now coronavirus has gone viral! (terrible pun). All previous steps and options are the main event. These listed are the icing on the cake.
CAUTION: If you become dizzy, sensitive to sunlight, prone to dry mouth or upset stomach stop taking.
Duration: short term up to a week.
Dose: 300 mgs 3 times daily.
Homeopathic
Supportive for during flu or colds, but not necessary. Not for preventing, but can aid in shortening illness. Use if desired. Information is here for completeness.
Lauric acid is found in breast milk and on the skin.
Monolaurin is produced normally in the body from lauric acid.
Dose:1800-3000mgs daily.
ALTERNATIVE: 1-4 tablespoons coconut oil a day. (15-60 grams fat)
Only for use during active infections, not prevention.
An herb removing an attached coronavirus from a cell.
Chinese herbs
If the previous supplements were icing on the cake, these are the sprinkles and toppings on top of the cake. They are not necessary to make a cake, but can complete it. These are recommended for use during illness only.
Andrographis
Good for throat and resp infections.
Use a formula
Dose: 2 caps or 10-20 drops 3-4 time daily 1-2 weeks
Bupleurum
Increases phagocytosis and safe for use during the flu
Some of these formulations are harder to find, but are effective. Rememeber less is more. Pick 2-3 supplements from this overall list to use when ill. Sooner is better than later. Do not buy and take all of these. In the next post there will be a most recommended supplement list. There will also be a condensed quick-start guide. A few more interesting tidbits that serve as food for thought. Will be included.
Solitude makes us tougher towards ourselves and tenderer towards others. In both ways it improves our character.
Friedrich Nietzsche.
Here we are, ready for more? The last post covered some prevention methods. Usually deficient aspects of our lives. This post carries prevention methods that are one of two things. Empowering or giving TLC to neglected aspects of your life. Let’s start with the not so straight forward and progress to the straight forward stuff. After all progress is moving forward in a straight line.
Before we get to phytochemicals, the neglected part needs to be discussed.
Detox.
This isn’t about juicing nor fasting, there’s a time and a place for that, rather this is more about proper elimination. The source of elimination is not limited only to the ivory throne. Your body exudes on a daily basis. the skin, the lungs, urine, and yes bowel movements. Let’s get our hands dirty. Remember to wash them afterwards.
Toxic Avengers
Toxins affect the immune system greatly. The body is designed to handle toxins, but ultimately the body is responsible for any repair. An example, a surgeon may stitch a wound shut, but the body finishes the job. Your body is willing to detox. Allow it. Detoxification is done through the liver in two stages.
Do not overburden your liver. It will not vomit toxic rainbows either.
Phase 1 and 2 detox
The liver breaks down toxins into a less toxic form. Some are ready to be expelled, others are still toxic and need further processing.
Phase II converts toxins into nontoxic water-soluble forms. These are excreted through urine or bile into the digestive tract and into the toilet, down the drain to never be seen again.
Glutathione, the master antioxidant, is the number one step in phase II. Do not wastefully deplete your supply. Many toxins are willing and able to do that to you. Mercury can exhaust it, but you have tools to safeguard it.
Detox Organs. An Overview
Detox liver
Cleanse colon
Clear blood and improve lymph flow.
Aid the connective tissue.
The Liver.
The liver filters microbes form blood. It also converts toxins into less harmful substances. We can assist the liver with food and with herbs.
The 2nd most important organ. Microbes in gut are essential to detoxing foreign material. The large intestine is responsible for expelling toxins into the ivory throne.
Herbs to help the colon:
Any plant. Fiber gets fermented in the digestive system and freely forms butyrate acid. This acid is an energy source for the colon. Eat adequate fiber. Butter is another great source of butyrate acid. In terms of foods, butter is the highest source of it.
Lastly to aid elimination, squat to poop. This reduces pressure in the colon making for an easy smooth drop. Avoid constipation. You want your large bowel eliminations to make you proud. If you eat three times a day, you should poop three times a day.
Blood and lymph
How to clean blood and why should you care? Lymph is responsible for clearing out microbes. Lymph also aids in clearing blood toxins. White blood cells are very active in the lymph system. By improve your lymph flow you improve the removal of foreign invaders like our infamous coronavirus. How do we improve the flow?
Exercise. Yes, moving the body moves the lymph. Specifically aerobic exercise. Any vibrating force aids in moving the slush of dead viruses and junk through the side streets of lymph. Whether the thudding of your feet on the ground, or the rhythmic motion from a massage.
Inversion are great as well as gravity helps drain the lymph. Use inversions with a table or the free version, handstands. For an easier version do a downward dog variation.
A great defense system. Connective tissue, think tendons and ligaments, help to cushion the body and are affected by stress. It can be easily damaged by toxins and diseases like inflammation.
If an infection is present, the lymph and blood have it. Tendons, ligaments and fascia exchange fluid with the lymphatic system. This causes the connective tissue to store some toxins. Exercise helps clear the connective tissue. It improves blood flow to the connective tissue. Acupuncture and massage help move fluids out of these tissues. Because of self-isolation, foam roll it out.
These were the primary elimination organs. Secondary organs are as follows:
Secondary organs
Kidneys maintain fluids and filter the blood.
Promote kidney function
Drink enough water. Take mild diuretics to aid elimination.
Lungs, the respiration system. Mucous membranes trap microbes and other particles. You can rinse sinus passages to help clear it. Qigong and pranayama help cleanse the lungs by removing stale air.
Breath. Consider attending a sauna a few times a week if possible.
Skin excretes waste via sweat and oils. Consider dry brushing [7] before showering to remove excess dead skin cells or a have detox bath. Remember the skin also absorbs what’s in contact with it. Avoid exposure to any toxins to prevent immunity reduction.
A Final Word.
Restoring the innate immune function.
Most of us have a hindered and weak immune system. The first step towards improvement is becoming aware of your body. What you feel, and how you feel.
Notice fever when it is present.
Fever feels like an all over body warmth with a flushed face. A fever under 101 degrees, manage at home. Resting and increasing fluids is enough. Use cool cloths to relax the fever a bit. Once it is unmanageable, go to the hospital. This means you have tried everything for at least a day or two and no change. Conversely, if it is over 101, that needs more assistance.. Fever plays a vital role. [1] Do your best not to ignore or cover those symptoms. Doing so may prolong the infection and is associated with higher mortality.[2][8]
Rest at the first sign of illness. This is your body telling you to self-isolate.
Remember how to rest.
Draw the shades, avoid light, do nothing.
Play only soothing music or meditate.
Sleep when sleepy.
On inflammation
Rest. Improve your omega 3 status and lower your omega 6 intake. Use DHA, EPA or GLA omega fatty acids, not ALA. Animal sources of omega 3s are better absorbed and used than plant sources.
For chronic inflammation, exercise and reduce stress to regulate cortisol better. At home remedies exist to lower inflammation, but the culprit is usually the omega 3 status.
Good sources of Omega 3s:
Wild ocean fish and some freshwater fish. Avoid farmed fish.
Onto the main event. A preventative list consisting of herbs and immune modulators. Feel free to pick one from each category to use for prevention. These herbs either reduce inflammation or boost the body’s fighting ability. An adept boxer does not wear boxing gloves to knock out an opponent. The gloves are to prevent injury to the striking hand.
Dose: 9-15 grams of root as a tea in one-quart water boil 30-45 mins. Take 1 cup daily away from food. If taking pills, follow manufacturer’s recommended dose.
Despite burning pain and fiery inflamation, white blood cells will stab coronavirus.
Immune enhancers
These regulate and boost the immune system. During these days, we can all use a boost; however these are not 100 percent necessary. All the previous steps are enough in preventing illness. These are more like icing on the cake. Should you choose to trend down this path, select 1-2 carefully. It can be dangerous to go alone, take these.
CAUTION: Avoid these if you have an autoimmune disorder or are taking any immunosuppressing drugs.
This one is harder to recommend due to legal issues and quality issues. I’ll list one here. It may be listed as hemp oil to bypass any legal issues. Note that you need to be aware of your local laws and abide by them.
Last time we briefly covered antioxidants and supplements. This is the main supplemental prevention list. To get the most out of this list, best foods and a supplement form with dosages are listed. If none are listed, follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage. Cautionary notes are listed as well please heed them. All links posted are non-affiliate links. I get zero commission from them, only your unbridled joy and happiness. A few more important notes.
The Following Are For Prevention Only! Do Not Use Any While Sick Unless It Is Specifically Stated!
On with the list These common vitamins and minerals act like antioxidants in the body. Some people require more of some nutrients compared to others. Food is usually adequate, but every percentage point counts. Pick a few, use your discretion, to take on a daily basis. Do not buy the whole list and take it everyday. Less is more even during the coronavirus stay at home bore.
Vitamin C
Everyone knows this one. It helps protect from infection and is water soluble. It enhances immunity by supporting the thymus, a major center of immune function.Vitamin C also prevents glutathione, the master antioxidant from being used up.[1]
For preventative purposes, you can get adequate sources from food. If you are concerned, you may supplement, but respect and follow the rules to glean its power. During an infection use a higher dose. Harder to accomplish this with only food.
Preventative dose: 200-500mgs a day. Can go up to 2000mgs a day if needed.
1000 mgs is a good solid number for most people daily.
During infection a larger dose is recommended. Start at 2000mgs and spread it throughout the day. Can increase to bowel tolerance.
CAUTION: Vitamin C in high doses can cause diarrhea.
Avoid vitamin C supplementation if you have
Chronic kidney disease
Hemochromatosis
Gout
History of kidney stone formation.
Avoid if you take coumadin.
Birth control pill users, corticosteroid takers, and aspirin swallowers may need more than the average person.
Vitamin E
Works hand in hand with vitamin C.[2] Vitamin E reduces oxidation damage and protects thymus like vitamin C.
High food sources include
Almonds(raw) and other nuts
Olive oil (cold pressed)
Avocado
Coconut oil (cold pressed)
If supplementing, Alpha-tocopherol is the most bioactive form. D-alpha tocopherol taken with food is ideal.
Preventative dose: 200-500 IU
CAUTION: Avoid more than 1000IU a day as headaches can occur and blood clotting may be affected,
Vitamin A and Carotenoids.
Highly essential for immune function.[3] It manages mucous membranes and the skin layer. This aids in expelling or destroying the virus. Water soluble form or micellized form may be best. Preferred form is retinol as it is more bioavailable.
CAUTION: You may turn orange from consuming high amounts. Stop consumption and it will reduce.
Vitamin B2
Helps to metabolize and breakdown other foods. It activates other B vitamins as well as vitamin E. Usually low levels of this vitamin is associated with low antibodies (B-cells remember?)
A mineral necessary to produce glutathione (master antioxidant).[5] It converts oxidized fats into less harmful fats (preserves antioxidant status). It helps the thyroid and removes mercury from the body reducing the burden on the body. Selenium will stimulate phagocytes, cell eaters, and T-cells to action.[6][7] A dose of 200 mcgs will increase natural killer cells.
Best foods:
Kidney
Fish
Brazil nuts
Supplement Preferred form: selenomethionine or selenium picolinate.
Preventative dose:200mcgs
CAUTION: Do not take long term without health professional overviewing. Blood work may need to be done to assess adequate levels.
Zinc
VIP mineral. Zinc is necessary for superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant produced in the body. It maintains T-cells and assists the thymus (immune center).[8][9]
CAUTION: Do not to exceed 150 mgs a day. Can cause copper depletion and depress immune function especially above 300 mgs.
Secondary nutrients
These are heavy hitters that help and assist. The second line of defense from the antioxidant group. Some are phytochemicals, others are amino acids. All are found in food at adequate levels. These aid in prevention. Pick 1-2 to take daily. No need for all of them.
COQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)
Found in mitochondria. A strong antioxidant that may energize you. It enhances immunity by stimulating Phagocytic activity.[10]
Best foods:
Organs (specifically heart)
Red meat
Fish (sardines)
Nuts
Cereal bran (grain husks, not the box stuff)
Supplemental preventative dose: 30-90mgs taken alongside fats for absorption.
CAUTION: Those who take blood pressure meds may need more.
Lipoic acid
Lipoic acid “recycles” other antioxidants like Vitamin C and E.[11] Unlike other antioxidants, it is water or fat soluble, take alongside either. It can also help remove heavy metals.[12]
Best foods
Red meat
Organs (liver kidney)
Spinach
Broccoli
Supplemental preventative dose: 25mg-100 mg with meals
Quercetin
A VIP antioxidant. It increases natural killer cell activity and is antimicrobial to some extent.[13]
Best foods:
Apples(with skin)
Onions(outer most layers)
Black tea
Fruits
Veggies
Herbs
Supplemental preventative dose: 400mg 2-3 times daily
Proanthocyanins(pycnogenol)
First found in pine tree bark, then later in grape seeds and skins. Also found in bilberry and elderberry. This has a much stronger antioxidant activity than vitamin C and E.[14]
Best foods:
Grapes
Blueberries
Cranberries
Black currants
Apples
Pomegranates
Preferred supplemental form: Pycnogenol
Preventative dose: 50-100 mgs
Antioxidant amino acids
The Immune system is mostly protein. Using proteins gives more building blocks to the immune army so they can flex their muscles.
Whey
Whey will boost glutathione levels.[15] It isn’t just for bodybuilders. A few caveats are present with this one.
CAUTION: Avoid if you have auto immune disorders. Avoid whey protein isolate or heat/acid processed whey as the immune boosting benefits are absent in isolate and destroyed by heat or acid. Start slow if you have issues with dairy. Immediately stop taking if issues occur.
Arginine
Boosts nitric oxide production and opens blood vessels. Arginine works on immune system by Increasing natural killer cell activity and stimulates the thymus gland.[16]
Best foods:
Meat
Fish
Nuts
Chocolate
Supplemental preventative dose: 500-1000g daily, works best with ornithine at half the amount of arginine.
Preventative dose: 500-2000mg a day. 4000-8000 if exercising heavily or heavily stressed.
CAUTION: Avoid if kidney failure or liver failure/cirrhosis is present.
Glutathione
The master antioxidant. It protects cells from damage and assists in detoxification of harmful substances. Higher levels are indicative of better health. Eating methionine raises levels. This is because part of the formation of glutathione requires adequate B vitamins and glycine (derived from collagen sources) only after the body has met it’s need for methionine. The excess converts into glutathione. Vitamin C preserves glutathione for when it is really needed.
Preventative dose :500mgs a day. May take more when ill.
Enzymes
Not an antioxidant, but enzymes help in immunity. Enzymes breakdown harmful toxins. They assist in tissue repair and inhibit viral replication. Enzymes are present in fermented foods, raw plant food and raw animal products (raw milk/cheese, raw egg yolks).
Cooking lowers enzyme count in foods. Lightly cooked food is better as some enzymes are intact. A raw food diet is not ideal. Excessive raw food increases mold and bacterial counts in the digestive tract. Another excellent choice for enzymes is juicing.
If juicing, drink immediately. Oxidation will lower the value you get from the juice. Choose veggie juices over fruit juices to lower the impact on blood sugar. A large enough blood sugar drop stresses the body and suppresses the immune system. Juicing is a great source for enzymes, but a poor one for phytochemicals.
Phytochemicals are secondary nutrients present in plants. Quercetin, mentioned above, is one and lycopene is another. Blending is preferred for phytochemicals since they are located in plant fiber. Lightly steam veggies then place into a blender (high speed preferred) and blend. Consume like a soup. Use ferments like a condiment, such as salsa, for antioxidants and phytochemicals.
Still need supplements for enzymes? Enzymes come in capsule form. Select phytochemicals are found in supplement form, but most are obtained from food. More on that in the next post.
Enzymatic supplement recommended: Proteolytic (Wobenzym) is best for improving immune function.
Dose: 4 tabs three times daily 1-1.5 hours before food.
The next post will cover more preventative methods you can implement to give you a wide net of protection from anything thrown (or sneezed) at you.
The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.
Thomas A. Edison
Obliterate. Eradicate. Decimate. Contemplate. Coronavirus. The shoot first ask questions later methodology. Useful in Cinema, useless in life. This post covers prevention strategies. This means you have an idea or read the previous posts. Didn’t you? Do not shoot first. Do not pass go and do not collect $200.
Briefly, we will touch upon the topic of sterilization. The issue present is “Sterilization is the only way to get well and be safe.” Why is it an issue? There is a lack of understanding regarding the complexities of humans and the environment around us. Humans are complex messy things. Nature is far more messy and complex. So messy is nature that we cleanse her existence from our lives.
Microbes play an important role in our lives. Bacteria live in the gut and on the skin. Like the Amazon rainforest, these species compete with each other and live in harmony with their environment (us). Having them in balance keeps us in balance. Imagine, for a moment, dropping atomic bombs on the Amazon rainforest.
Amazon Rainforest looking good.
Why would we do this?
Because we hate ants and want to get rid of them. We dropped atomic bombs to get rid of them. As a consequence, we lose the forest and other animals living in the forest. Tribal people would perish also.
This is sterilization. Whether by antibiotics (eaten or placed on your skin) or a cleaning agent, the result is the same. Complete removal of life. Yes, situations exist where the use of extreme clean measures are warranted. Not every situation is fixed with an atomic bomb. To go into deep detail of the benefits of the microbes is beyond the scope of this post. I’ll leave you with this to contemplate.
Pure water has no fish.
Some smart dude (not me).
To kill everything around you is to harm yourself. Don’t be maniacal about it, be cautious but not obsessed.[1] To be germ-free is not carefree. You carry the extra burden. Germ-free mice in germ-free environments need more nutrients than normal mice.[2] Be smart about your sanitation. At home, you are fine. There is no need to be germ-free. In a public bathroom, wash your hands.
Aside from the CDC recommendations, wearing masks and washing hands, is there anything else that prevents infection? If only our bodies had something unique that can ward off this disease, even if exposed. Why are we cursed in such a manner? That something does exist.
It is called the glycocalyx.
Who knew we were hairy inside too.
Another Swear Word?
Humor this for a bit. The glycocalyx is a thin substance that is jelly like. It is present on several tissue surfaces including: the lungs, small intestines, and blood vessels. [3]. This is a filter that allows certain particles to cross barriers.[4]
The glycocalyx is like the border patrol of the body.
How does this layer work in the lungs?
Imagine this as jelly or peanut butter on a piece of toast. The toast falls onto the ground jelly side down. Any contaminants are on the layer of jelly/peanut butter. The bread itself remains untouched from the grime, dirt and dust. Remove that layer before it falls, and the exposed bread is toast (bad pun). Specific proteins (albumin) can cross this barrier with ease, but fluid is prevented from crossing.
How does it play into coronavirus infection prevention?
The glycocalyx “coats” the cells in the body. ACE2 receptors (remember those?) are located on the cell surface closest to outside contact. Like the airway to the lungs. An intact coating means less receptors are available for our coronal enemy to snatch in its attempt at domination. Good for us, bad for coronavirus. Shedding of this layer causes acute lung injury [5].
The lost layer leads to leaky lungs and becomes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In ARDS, a protein rich fluid fills the alveoli [3](the balloons in the lungs). Alveoli have a high density of ACE2. The destruction of ACE2 receptors by coronavirus could possibly be due to lack of a glycocalyx.[6][7].
Remember ARDS?
The glycocalyx protects the lungs. It prevents cancer cells from entering the lungs via bloodstream. The shedding of this filter [4] causes filling of the alveoli with fluid. Fluid should not replace air in the lungs. The loss of the glycocalyx may worsen the infection by weakening the blood brain barrier. [8][9][10]
Can we preserve the filter?
Avoid shedding it to preserve it. What causes shedding?
Certain Viral diseases [11]. Malaria may as well cause shedding. Compounds or toxins from a virus cause shedding of the glycocalyx.[15] The shedding of this layer may be a defense mechanism against viruses who bind to this layer. This may make us more susceptible to coronavirus. Sepsis, infection in the bloodstream, also causes shedding [12].
Will anything else demolish this layer?
Other factors that cause shedding:
Inflammation
Shock
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
Elevated C-reactive protein (stress may play a role) [4][13][14].
Reactive oxygen species (too much lactic acid or heavy exercise)
Low oxygen (same as previous, COVID-19 causes this)
Cytokines and chemokines (these cause inflammation).
Smoking and pollution, sulfur oxides from fossil fuels, cause lung inflammation and reduces immunity. Secondhand smoke is a contributor. Imagine smoking on its own.[16][17][18][19]
Smoking causes inflammation in the lungs. Inflammation sheds the glycocalyx protective layer. Areas with pollution cause inflammation in the lungs by reducing oxygen in the air. That causing hypoxia or low oxygen. Pollution also introduces toxins into the lungs. Sounds a little bit like Wuhan, doesn’t it?
Smoking COVID. 19 cigarettes per pack
Could it be that the smoker’s cough, with its wet mucous, is the shedding of the glycocalyx layer?
Those most at risk, have a higher density of ACE2 receptors, the binding site of coronavirus. More males living in polluted cities that smoke are in the higher risk group. Don’t forget Wuhan or China in general has heavy pollution problems.
The Shorthand version.
Avoid high glycemic load food like: sodas, chips, breads, sweets and other processed foods. Reduce inflammation. Do not smoke. Do not hang around smokers. Avoid pollution (the air is cleaner now, so go outside). DO NOT BE FEARFUL. [20] That is a stress that impacts immunity. Many small steps add up to one huge item. Couple this with CDC recommendations and those to follow in future post. Every percentage counts. Remember , the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Will Supplements Help?
Possibly. Let’s look at antioxidants, a first line of defense. Antioxidants are naturally produced in the body. They neutralize any compound formed in the body, formed from a virus, or an external toxin. The body is prepared to deal with these occasional guest appearances. What is unexpected, however, is overload of this system.
Attacks by viruses like the coronavirus will impact antioxidant use. Add to this living in areas with high pollution, further reducing antioxidants. As your lungs inhale pollution’s toxic waste, pollution also reduces your oxygen intake. Couple this with one last thing. Stress. Antioxidants are gone. Taking antioxidants reduces the burden on your body.
What about stress?
Stress, like fear, forces shallow breathing, reducing oxygen intake. Humans naturally breath into the diaphragm. Look at an infant sleeping. Does its chest or belly rise? Breath into the diaphragm, the way we all should. You will receive oxygen better this way. Here is a quick start guide.
Ideal learning posture for belly breathing.
Look at the above image. Lie down like that, or sit in a chair if needed.
Place one hand on the chest and another on the belly.
Breath in the nose and make the belly expand prevent the chest from rising.
Your belly hand rises. The chest hand stays in place.
Breath out your nose and feel the belly sink.
Repeat for 5 mins. Practice daily
Work up to belly breathing seated and then standing.
Do the breathing exercises. It’s a free chill pill.
Where To Get Antioxidants?
Get antioxidants from food sources first. It is easy to find antioxidants in all brightly colored vegetables and fruits. Antioxidants are also present in the animal fat of grass-fed ruminants, like cows and goats, and their dairy. You may also supplement them.
The higher your stress the higher your need. Infection is also a source of stress. Diet is usually enough, should you choose to supplement then the next post has a list of potent weapons to arm yourself.
