EMERGING THEORIES ON BUILDING COVID-19 IMMUNITY

Why Chronic Stress Reduction along with Key Foods and Supplements may Protect Those at Higher Risk from Having The Most Severe COVID 19 Complications

By Coral Qadar, RN

The CDC warns that virtually every citizen will likely be exposed to the SARS CoV2 virus at some point. Evidence is steadily mounting pointing to clues as to why some people are more vulnerable to having the most severe outcomes due to the COVID-19 disease than others. 

The human immune system protects the human body by launching numerous kinds of attacks against harmful invaders like viruses and bacteria. The body is very capable of identifying the foreign “enemy” proteins of these invaders and disabling them using specialized cells, mechanisms and proteins. 

If our immune system is healthy, it can disable assaults without our even being aware of these complex actions. As a consequence, most people who are infected with the SARS CoV 2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease, don’t even know they have contracted the virus. 

The vast majority of COVID-19 patients are actually “asymptomatic,” meaning they don’t experience any symptoms of the COVID-19 infection. However, these people are still “vectors” capable of spreading the virus to others.

A smaller percentage of those infected experience symptoms such as fever, very low body temperature, dry cough, loss of smell/taste, dizziness, body aches/pains, and some have noted unusual skin rashes, particularly around the feet or toes, etc.

Many recover from their symptoms within a few days or weeks. Patients are advised to get emergency medical care if they experience shortness of breath, chest pain, mental confusion, seizures or blue/grey coloring on the face or around the lips.

Tragically, a very small percentage of those with COVID 19 will have very severe symptoms, which lead to failure of the lungs and/or other vital organs. Those who have previous medical conditions “comorbidities” prior to being infected are more likely to become severely ill, and even die. 

But why? It is widely reported that African Americans and Hispanic are suffering staggeringly high percentages of the COVID-19 hospitalizations and fatalities in relation to their population. When we analyze known data about the poorer health among these ethnic groups, we can easily identify causal patterns. 

Both groups experience high percentages of comorbidities. The Muslim Health Consortium are among the many health advocates and clinicians who’ve focused intensively on this issue. We are examining various mechanisms by which physiological imbalances weaken the immune system. 

These mechanisms seem to be rooted in CHRONIC STRESS and TRAUMA DISORDERS, which could also be the major drivers of the comorbidities that weaken the body’s defenses against COVID 19.  

We see opportunities to turn this negative trend around and to save lives through education. We want people to know that they can effectively BOOST THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS RIGHT NOW!

We recommend that you USE THIS UNIQUE TIME of sheltering and social distancing to implement IMMUNE STRENGTHENING STRATEGIES using fearless FAITH, protective and HEALING FOODS and RESTORATIVE HABITS, so as to reset the bodily cycles needed for healthy immunity. 

We encourage you to share and discuss these and any new health interventions with your doctor. This information is not intended to supersede the medical advisements which your doctor has developed for your specific health care needs.

There are theories on WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEVERE COVID-19 DISEASE, WHILE OTHERS NEVER KNEW THEY EVEN HAD IT.

By targeting the ACE 2 cellular enzyme, the SARS CoV2 virus enters cells within certain tissues like the nasal mucosa and lungs. The virus can also affect other organs, such as the kidneys, intestines, and blood cells. Virus-induced clotting of the blood is leading to strokes and heart attacks. 

The immune system’s primary defenses can disable the virus, therefore keeping the immune system healthy is absolutely vital for protecting ourselves from COVID-19 complications. 

The SARS CoV2 virus has the ability to multiply enormously quickly “virulence,” causing myriad disruptions in cellular and organ function. Bacteria and viruses also have a unique method of supporting their virulence, by synthesizing protective films “biofilms” that act as matrixes which provide suitable surface environments for colony multiplication. 

These biofilms also act as protective shields from immune cells and substances that attack viruses and bacteria directly, so as to disable them.  

There are many supplements that support a healthy immune response. Among the most important are VITAMIN C, VITAMIN D, ZINC, SELENIUM, B COMPLEX which includes VITAMINS B6 and VITAMIN B12, and VITAMIN E, GLUCOSAMINE and NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine). 

Discuss dosages and length of use with your doctor. Be aware that very high dosages of Vitamin C may be recommended by your doctor for this time of increased risk.

Some immune-support and biofilm disrupting foods include GARLIC, GINGER, CINNAMON, OREGANO, CRANBERRY, OLIVE OIL, RAW HONEY, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, MANUKA, TURMERIC, CRANBERRY, ELDERBERRY, BLACK CUMIN and SPIRULINA.

Biofilm disrupting minerals include ZINC, MANGANESE, CALCIUM CITRATE and MAGNESIUM CITRATE. There are several other supplements that support the lungs, cellular function and/or the cardiovascular system. 

Many also act as strong biofilm disruptors and may actually be very useful during an ACTIVE COVID 19 infection, as they may help keep blood from clotting. If you are caring for yourself at home for COVID 19, discuss these supplements with your doctor to determine recommended dosages and whether they are safe for your specific health conditions, as some may interact with medications.

These include BLACK SEED OIL, BLACK CUMIN (Nigella Sativa), CURCUMIN, QUERCETIN, ECHINACEA AND OIL OF OREGANO which is IS VERY POTENT. It is a powerful biofilm disruptor with VERY SUBSTANTIAL ANTIVIRAL PROPERTIES. 

It should be used under the direction of a knowledgeable practitioner. Biofilms can also be disrupted by DIGESTIVE ENZYME SUPPLEMENTS.

If you are actively managing COVID-19 symptoms, it’s especially important to avoid any foods that are difficult to digest. Try getting protein from foods like salmon, broths, collagen, nuts and seeds. 

EATING LOTS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for keeping our immune systems strong. Eat RAW and COOKED VEGETABLES and FRUITS like BERRIES, AVOCADOS, BANANAS, APPLES, PEARS, FIGS and DATES.

THE WORST COVID-19 SYMPTOMS: The direct cellular attack by the SARS CoV2 virus can cause substantial cellular disruption. However, THE WORST COVID-19 OUTCOMES SEEM TO BE LARGELY DUE TO AN IMMUNE SYSTEM RESPONSE THAT IS TOO EXCESSIVE.

In some people, the body releases extremely high amounts of inflammatory proteins called “CYTOKINES” which can overwhelm the proper functioning of the body’s vital organs. The complications of this excessive surge of immune system super-inflammatory protein is described as a “CYTOKINE STORM.” 

Cytokines are necessary for healthy immune function, however, when the body’s own immune system is not regulating itself properly, excessive cytokine proteins can cause cellular stress leading to severe inflammation, organ failure and death.

CAN WE PREDICT WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE NEGATIVE CYTOKINE STORM PHENOMENON? Studies reveal that human beings should have many varieties – counting in the trillions – of HEALTHY BACTERIA within our intestinal tract “gut,” in order for our immune systems to be capable of properly regulating the body’s responses to invasive viruses and bacteria. 

In short, WE MUST HAVE A HEALTHY GUT MICROBIOME TO KEEP CYTOKINE REGULATION IN BALANCE. New studies are emerging that suggest THERE WERE NOTABLE IMBALANCES OF HEALTHY GUT BACTERIA “Dysbiosis” in COVID-19 patients in China, who had the worst outcomes. 

This prompts the obvious question as to whether the cytokine storm phenomenon can be prevented. If a healthy variety of good gut bacteria were properly balanced within a healthy “microbiome” in the body, could COVID-19 patients avoid becoming severely sick?

A HEALTHY MICROBIOME ALSO FACILITATES VITAMIN D ABSORPTION. In Italy, CHRONIC VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY was observed in patients with the worst COVID-19 outcomes. It is known that a healthy gut microbiome is needed to absorb the VITAMIN D hormone, and vitamin D is essential for immune health. 

Furthermore, VITAMIN D can’t be absorbed into the body if levels of the stress hormone, “CORTISOL,” are chronically elevated.

Please email The Muslim Health Consortium to be added to our email list for notifications and events at contactyourMHC@gmail.com.

(Coral Qadar is the convener of The Muslim Health Consortium. She has been a registered professional nurse for more than 30 years, specializing in a variety of obstetrical nursing disciplines such as Labor and Delivery, Mother/Baby, Newborn Nursery, High Risk Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine. Coral has also been a Med-Surg Nurse, School Nurse, RN Educator, Clinical Nursing Supervisor and Quality Assurance Nursing Supervisor responsible for teaching homecare nurses how to care for mechanically ventilated patients.)