Boosting our immune systems to resist the virus -- what might help and what doesn't?

[Jingthing]

We all know by now about social distancing and hand washing.

But another aspect of fighting this virus is having a strong immune system.

Some of us have conditions or take medications where they are basically stuck with a weakened immune system.

 

Anyway, I've been looking into things people can do to strengthen our immune systems during these times. It's a good thing to do anytime of course as Covid-19 isn't the only thing out there.

 

First of all, the common sense stuff.

 

Get good nutrition, fresh fruits and vegetables, etc.

 

Get enough sleep.  Personally I have issues with that so have sometimes been using Melatonin to help things along.

 

Exercise.

 

Fresh air (but away from crowds)

 

Now to some more questionable things. 

 

Covid-19 when it kills generally kills in the lungs.

 

So how to strengthen the lungs?

 

Based on questionable internet research I happened up information that vitamin D3 balanced with vitamin K2 (7 variety best) can be helpful with that to at least a small degree.

 

Unfortunately vitamins are very expensive in Thailand, particularly K2.

 

Yes in theory you can get enough vitamin D via sunshine and diet but it's very common especially for older people to not really absorb it properly. 

 

Getting enough K2 is rather hard via diet. The idea of K2 is that the D can contribute to calcification of arteries and the K2 may mitigate that risk.

 

Don't take my word for any of this of course! The above is what I've found and you should do your own research, talk to a doctor, etc. if you're interested. (Though personally I would avoid any non-critical visits to doctors and hospitals now.)

 

Then there is the always controversial vitamin C! People seem to have dogmatic beliefs about vitamin C. Well based on the limited research that I've done megadosing on vitamin C won't help prevent getting infected with Covid-19. However some people seem to be recommending it if you start to feel symptoms coming on in the early stages.

 

What do you think about Vitamin C? (Can of worms question.)

 

Also Zinc. Not hearing any convincing research that people should be taking Zinc.

 

In addition to the things I've mentioned are there other things that you're doing now to boost your immune system?

 

If so, please tell us about them.

 

Stay healthy if you can. 

[wasabi]

Other than social distancing, face mask, hand sanitizer;

I have always taken multivitamins and will continue. I am exercising as much as possible, eating healthy. Logically it makes sense that if you get the virus the more healthy you are the better.  I also do nasal saline irrigation a few times a day. I know many say this is useless but I think there is no harm and I have read medical opinions I respect who say this can prevent the flu.

[Orton Rd]

Lot of research done years ago on Zinc, does work and vit D3 apart from that I don't believe the garlic/honey/amulet stuff, I take Vit C as well but no evidence it is effective. Also take B12 as not eaten any dead animals or fish for nearly 50 years. not heard of K2 is that potassium? you need it for the D3 to work, but I eat loads of nuts and it's in those

Edited March 22, 2020 by Orton Rd

[Canuck1966]

 

[Logosone]

Fresh air will work, taking multivitamins is not only clinically proven to be entirely useless except for pregnant women but can also be counter-productive.

 

There is no evidence at all that Vitamin C supplements will work.

 

Fresh air is the best thing.

 

Identifying and isolating carriers and the sick is the most important. Isolating the healthy non-carriers from the healthy will accomplish nothing.

Edited March 22, 2020 by Logosone

[ICELANDMAN]

Only doubled my killer virus beer

[Orton Rd]

The Dr in the vlog takes Zinc and D3 but as he gets if from Asda it's probably a quarter of the price here

[Canuck1966]

3 minutes ago, Canuck1966 said:

 

Well worth following this doctor on YT, he is very informative and does daily vids

[RichardColeman]

With respects to the poster, you cannot strengthen your immune system to more than what it naturally is. The post should really read - how to maximise you immune system to your natural high ! Immune system is measured (one measurement) in CD4 (naturally higher in women), range in men say 400-1300, women 500-1500. If you have a natural cd4 of say 1000 - it is impossible to get to 1300. you cannot raise a fixed immune system if you have a low one from 500 to 1200. My immune system is low, only 500 ish, I know this - but I am very  a healthy person and never sick. Panic mode would be lower than 400 ! 

 

 

 

[VocalNeal]

12 minutes ago, wasabi said:

I also do nasal saline irrigation a few times a day.

Do you use a Neti pot?

The other day I saw a widget in the pharmacy that one puts on the end of a hypodermic syringe and then stick up one's nose.  

 

[Dumbastheycome]

Vit C is not a true  vitamin but is needed to facilitate  absorbtion of true  vitamins. So keeping  levels  high is a good  idea.

It has been observed in people who while suffering  C-19 that they excrete high levels of potassium for obscure reasons but has been used as a measure of recovery when the levels drop.

I think banana are a good source. Avocado, beans, watermelon.

Cheap  supplementary  vitamins are  mostly poorly absorbed.

 

[thecyclist]

Lowering chronic inflammation in your body will help your immune system. Not proven, but some studies indicate thst Turmeric /Curcumin will hely with that. Healthy teeth and gums are important. And a wide variety of different fruit, veggies and nuts. Sugar is poison. So is alcohol, but that is one poison I can't do without. 

[Jingthing]

33 minutes ago, Canuck1966 said:

Well worth following this doctor on YT, he is very informative and does daily vids

Isn't he a nurse actually? Anyway yeah he's become a viral superstar recently. 

[nausea]

37 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Fresh air will work

Yeah, fresh air therapy used to be a thing before antibiotics:

 

"Put simply, medics found that severely ill (Spanish) flu patients nursed outdoors recovered better than those treated indoors. A combination of fresh air and sunlight seems to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff.[1] There is scientific support for this. Research shows that outdoor air is a natural disinfectant. Fresh air can kill the flu virus and other harmful germs. Equally, sunlight is germicidal and there is now evidence it can kill the flu virus."

 

(Coronavirus and the Sun: a Lesson from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic - https://medium.com/@ra.hobday/coronavirus-and-the-sun-a-lesson-from-the-1918-influenza-pandemic-509151dc8065)

 

 

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

Lowering chronic inflammation in your body will help your immune system. Not proven, but some studies indicate thst Turmeric /Curcumin will hely with that. Healthy teeth and gums are important. And a wide variety of different fruit, veggies and nuts. Sugar is poison. So is alcohol, but that is one poison I can't do without. 

I've been taking turmeric supplements for many years but thanks for mentioning that in this context. I hadn't thought of that.

[cmsally]

I eat turmeric daily and manuka honey. My only problem at the moment is I have increased Manuka honey and might run out!

[bendejo]

57 minutes ago, wasabi said:

I also do nasal saline irrigation a few times a day. I know many say this is useless but I think there is no harm

I've had sinus problems, on and off, since I was a kid and learning about saline rinse 20 years ago has made a world of difference in being able to deal with it.  Think of dirt under your fingernails being being removed -- that's what it does for your nasal passages.

Squeeze bottle or neti-type doodad, no matter.

 

 

Edited March 22, 2020 by bendejo

[Jane Dough]

One key thing that i don't believe you mentioned is to try and not be stressed, try to avoid things or thoughts that make you stressful. I identified that my general well-being was being compromised over stress related to one of my larger investments. I shut it down and now I am not waking up in a sweat, not checking the markets like before. Whether my decision is good or bad financially in the long run is irrelevant. What matters is that right now my immune system might be more able to cope should an infection occur.

 

My main form of exercise, swimming, has been taken away. But there is the roof of my condo and cycling with the children. Throwing them about is also good weight training!

 

Rooster

[wasabi]

34 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Do you use a Neti pot?

The other day I saw a widget in the pharmacy that one puts on the end of a hypodermic syringe and then stick up one's nose.  

 

No, I always use those big bottles of Saline Solution actually made by Klean & Kare but not explicitly stated for the nose. If it is only saline solution it can be used in the nose even if it says for contact lens cleaning. Definitely important to use sterile water. I have been doing this almost 10 years so I am confident it is safe.

Edited March 22, 2020 by wasabi

[Canuck1966]

7 minutes ago, nausea said:

Yeah, fresh air therapy used to be a thing before antibiotics:

 

"Put simply, medics found that severely ill (Spanish) flu patients nursed outdoors recovered better than those treated indoors. A combination of fresh air and sunlight seems to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff.[1] There is scientific support for this. Research shows that outdoor air is a natural disinfectant. Fresh air can kill the flu virus and other harmful germs. Equally, sunlight is germicidal and there is now evidence it can kill the flu virus."

 

(Coronavirus and the Sun: a Lesson from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic - https://medium.com/@ra.hobday/coronavirus-and-the-sun-a-lesson-from-the-1918-influenza-pandemic-509151dc8065)

 

 

There's fresh air and then there's fresh air!

Suppose it depends where you live 

[rvaviator]

3 minutes ago, Canuck1966 said:

There's fresh air and then there's fresh air!

Suppose it depends where you live 

You be hard pushed to get more fresh air than in Norway ???? ....  Hopefully that will help them recover  ....

[CGW]

52 minutes ago, Logosone said:

taking multivitamins is not only clinically proven to be entirely useless except for pregnant women but can also be counter-productive.

We have had this conversation before and you are still posting utter nonsense ???? 

[transam]

Perhaps we should be doing the OP's stuff already, eh.....Why wait for a "bug dilemma" to rear its ugly head and then panic. ????

[transam]

55 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Fresh air will work, taking multivitamins is not only clinically proven to be entirely useless except for pregnant women but can also be counter-productive.

 

There is no evidence at all that Vitamin C supplements will work.

 

Fresh air is the best thing.

 

Identifying and isolating carriers and the sick is the most important. Isolating the healthy non-carriers from the healthy will accomplish nothing.

Yes Pike......

[lopburi3]

54 minutes ago, ICELANDMAN said:

Only doubled my killer virus beer

[david555]

15 minutes ago, nausea said:

Yeah, fresh air therapy used to be a thing before antibiotics:

 

"Put simply, medics found that severely ill (Spanish) flu patients nursed outdoors recovered better than those treated indoors. A combination of fresh air and sunlight seems to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff.[1] There is scientific support for this. Research shows that outdoor air is a natural disinfectant. Fresh air can kill the flu virus and other harmful germs. Equally, sunlight is germicidal and there is now evidence it can kill the flu virus."

 

(Coronavirus and the Sun: a Lesson from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic - https://medium.com/@ra.hobday/coronavirus-and-the-sun-a-lesson-from-the-1918-influenza-pandemic-509151dc8065)

 

 

So now the 20th century medics have discovered the "Sanatoria System" who where in use almost a hundred years before at sea sides or high in Swiss mountains for lung patients as TBC ….. amazing modern medics 55555

[baansgr]

19 minutes ago, cmsally said:

I eat turmeric daily and manuka honey. My only problem at the moment is I have increased Manuka honey and might run out!

Honey lemon and turmerici warm water daily, teaspoon cod liver oil and desert spoon coconut oil. I've seen Manuka in the supermarket under Central in Pattaya

[CGW]

Unless you are blessed with a source for food that is both natural and is not being grown in depleted earth, a lot of basics are missing from our diets, Magnesium & Selenium, to start with, Vit C we need lots of now, sure we will excrete what we don't use - so? we do the same with Alcohol, vit C is cheap. Zinc is beneficial, your body needs 90 essential nutrients, some like to dream that they are getting them from the food chain, there not, all vitamins and minerals are not the same, cheap is cheap and wont be absorbed!

The natural amino acid lysine is able to block enzymes and inhibit the spread of a virus inside the body, now is a good time for people to learn about their body and stop trusting in Big Pharma to save them! ????

[mike787]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Getting enough K2 is rather hard via diet. The idea of K2 is that the D can contribute to calcification of arteries and the K2 may mitigate that risk

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180102114147.htm

[mike787]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

What do you think about Vitamin C? (Can of worms question.)

 

Also Zinc. Not hearing any convincing research that people should be taking Zinc.

Plenty of evidence supporting both....take them if you want to live.