One thing that has become increasingly apparent is that this pandemic virus is deadly to those who are already weakened by life, and harmless to many who are young and strong. There are many possible explanations to this phenomenon, and I want to share with you my thoughts on why.
Very young children for the most part don't get the infection at all. This is likely because their mucosal immunity is strong. Mucosal immunity is the defenses that live in our noses, throats, and intestine, specifically defensin, cryptidin, and secretory IgA. There are antibodies called IgA in our saliva. These things are capable of disposing of a virus before it even gets started infecting our cells. Most American adults don't have strong mucosal immunity, but in children it is highly effective. "Secretory IgA can be measured directly in stool, saliva, and breast milk to assess the degree of mucosal immunity," but in modern medicine this parameter is rarely if ever measured. It is however possible to make it stronger in adults, by the way that we live.
Older children and young adults can be infected and carry the virus but they are less likely to get badly sick. This is at least in part because the T-cells of their immune system are strong and active and can find the virus and kill it, and because they have lower levels of inflammation so they don't go into cytokine storm.
Middle aged adults are starting to have more chronic health problems, and this is what makes a person susceptible to a very bad case of the virus. Being obese is one of the worst risk factors. In the news they talk a lot about heart conditions and diabetes, but these things are strongly linked to obesity. Obese people have higher levels of inflammation throughout the body, including in the liver which clogged with fat, and the brain which responds by getting depressed. Obesity also impairs the immune system, reducing mucosal immunity as well as the T-cell response and letting the virus get a foothold and grow.
Older adults most often have an assortment of health conditions. The ones who've gotten overweight or obese are unlikely to survive when they get the virus. The ones that are lean and active might survive, like the 100 year old veteran in Portland who got it and came out topside.
The lesson from these patterns is clear. If you are declining into the diseases of abundance which are so common in America, you are at risk. Being medicated for your high blood pressure and excessive blood sugar will not save you. If you maintain a healthy body weight and exercise vigorously you are less at risk. Covid-19 is a lifestyle disease, it is sorting us out by our most basic level of health.
If you would like to work on your basic health, nobody is better suited to help you than a naturopathic doctor. Conventional physicians are too busy fulfilling the requirements of their network and insurances to really study on diet and lifestyle. They want to do what we do, but they can't, not in a 15 minute visit. Changing your diet and lifestyle and increasing your base health, is a gradual process. You can start today by cutting out some sugar and moving your body just a little bit more. Good luck!!
If you'd like a health assessment and tips on how to improve your particular situation, feel free to touch base with me. I'll ask you to do a diet diary (you can download the form on the bring page in this website) first so I know what you eat. I'll want a full list of the medications you take, and the supplements. Then we can talk on the old fashioned telephone.
Very young children for the most part don't get the infection at all. This is likely because their mucosal immunity is strong. Mucosal immunity is the defenses that live in our noses, throats, and intestine, specifically defensin, cryptidin, and secretory IgA. There are antibodies called IgA in our saliva. These things are capable of disposing of a virus before it even gets started infecting our cells. Most American adults don't have strong mucosal immunity, but in children it is highly effective. "Secretory IgA can be measured directly in stool, saliva, and breast milk to assess the degree of mucosal immunity," but in modern medicine this parameter is rarely if ever measured. It is however possible to make it stronger in adults, by the way that we live.
Older children and young adults can be infected and carry the virus but they are less likely to get badly sick. This is at least in part because the T-cells of their immune system are strong and active and can find the virus and kill it, and because they have lower levels of inflammation so they don't go into cytokine storm.
Middle aged adults are starting to have more chronic health problems, and this is what makes a person susceptible to a very bad case of the virus. Being obese is one of the worst risk factors. In the news they talk a lot about heart conditions and diabetes, but these things are strongly linked to obesity. Obese people have higher levels of inflammation throughout the body, including in the liver which clogged with fat, and the brain which responds by getting depressed. Obesity also impairs the immune system, reducing mucosal immunity as well as the T-cell response and letting the virus get a foothold and grow.
Older adults most often have an assortment of health conditions. The ones who've gotten overweight or obese are unlikely to survive when they get the virus. The ones that are lean and active might survive, like the 100 year old veteran in Portland who got it and came out topside.
The lesson from these patterns is clear. If you are declining into the diseases of abundance which are so common in America, you are at risk. Being medicated for your high blood pressure and excessive blood sugar will not save you. If you maintain a healthy body weight and exercise vigorously you are less at risk. Covid-19 is a lifestyle disease, it is sorting us out by our most basic level of health.
If you would like to work on your basic health, nobody is better suited to help you than a naturopathic doctor. Conventional physicians are too busy fulfilling the requirements of their network and insurances to really study on diet and lifestyle. They want to do what we do, but they can't, not in a 15 minute visit. Changing your diet and lifestyle and increasing your base health, is a gradual process. You can start today by cutting out some sugar and moving your body just a little bit more. Good luck!!
If you'd like a health assessment and tips on how to improve your particular situation, feel free to touch base with me. I'll ask you to do a diet diary (you can download the form on the bring page in this website) first so I know what you eat. I'll want a full list of the medications you take, and the supplements. Then we can talk on the old fashioned telephone.
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