What You Need To Know About The Coronavirus

Today, nutrition house posted their daily health tip on the Coronavirus.  If you want to know about it and how you can protect yourself, please continue reading…

“The Coronavirus (CoV) is not a new virus, nor is it one particular virus, but a family of viruses that have come together to cause one big nasty virus depending on the severity of the form you catch. All types of Coronavirus are zoonotic, meaning they were transmitted between animals and people. The virus could display as the common cold, pneumonia or bronchitis. It can also present itself as the more severe form of the virus, such as Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) or Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). In addition to these two severe strands is the new form of the Coronavirus (nCoV), which until December 2019 had not been previously identified in humans. Researchers have been working to isolate the origin of the new strand of the virus, and similar to the other strands of Coronavirus, this strand also originated from animal to human. Once the virus jumped from animal to human, a particular protein in the virus mutated into the new form of the strand of virus called “Novel” Coronavirus (nCoV). The Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) is transmitted from human to human through various means. It can be transmitted from viral particles given off during a cough or a sneeze or skin-to-skin personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands. The virus can also be caught if you touch an object or surface that has viral particles on it and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands. The severity of the new strand of Coronavirus compared to the MERS and SARS has not yet been determined. All three forms of the virus can be critical and life-threatening for some people. Most often, those that are at higher risk are seniors, the very young or anyone with a pre-existing health condition where the immune system is compromised.

Some symptoms of the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) are similar to SARS, which include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. However, what is different about the new strand of the virus is that there does not always appear to be a runny nose, sneezing or intestinal symptoms. As symptoms of the nCoV worsen, infection, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death could occur. The virus is more likely to cause a more severe reaction if a person has health conditions. There is a natural propensity to overreact to something that is an unknown. The best way forward is to recognize that every year the genetic makeup of the flu virus changes and every year, the flu can cause severe illness and even death. It has not yet been determined if this new virus will have any more impact or the same impact than the SARS virus caused.

How Can You Protect Yourself From The Virus?

There is no specific treatment for the new Coronavirus, which is not unusual as there are no particular treatments for most viruses. They need to run their course, allowing the body to make its antibodies to counter the virus. Some of the symptoms can be managed. There is no present vaccine for the new form of the virus. Prescribed antibiotics are used to treat bacterial or fungal infections and are not very effective for most viruses. So, the most effective way you can treat and perhaps try to prevent the nCoV is to give your immune system the tools it needs to be healthy, so it can do its job of creating its own antibodies to destroy the pathogen. If you are not already consuming a diet full of organic fruits and veggies, now is a great time to start. All those colourful foods contain several different antioxidants that provide numerous benefits for your immune health and prevention. Juicing is an excellent way to consume large amounts of these healthy foods. Practice good hygiene, which means keeping your hands away from your face when you are in public, and washing your hands often. Also, practice good gut health. Over 70% of your immune system resides in your gut, so it would be reasonable to assume that keeping your gut full of healthy microbiomes is a good defense. The intestinal immune system also contains more antibody-producing cells than the rest of the body. And research has shown that taking a specially formulated probiotic supplement that contains multi-strain bacterial cultures may help boost your body’s immune response. Look for multi-strain probiotics such as Genuine health, Renew life, Natural Factors or Garden of Life that offer both refrigerated and shelf-stable options. Medicinal mushrooms have received a lot of headlines for their support as immune modulators. Medicinal mushrooms contain isolated compounds that may directly inhibit the action of viral enzymes, resulting in antiviral protection. To achieve the benefits of medicinal mushrooms, choosing supplements that have maintained the integrity of the mushrooms during manufacturing is critical. Host Defense is one of the more recognized brands of mushrooms, and specifically, Host Defense My Community, which is a blend of 17 potent mushroom species and is the most comprehensive immune support formula. Single herb supplements, such as Astragalus, can also be used for a compromised immune system and can be so efficient, it is given as an IV treatment in some hospitals in other countries. Compounds in Astragalus may increase your body’s production of white blood cells and kill some viruses. Supplements such as Natural Factors Anti-Viral or Oregano oil supplements can provide a more immediate immune response to reduce the symptoms and severity of a virus. Oregano oil supplements can also provide an antimicrobial benefit that can effectively tackle bacterial, yeast, fungal and parasitic infections. It also offers powerful antioxidant protection and immune system support and helps relieve various respiratory conditions. You can take Astragalus and Anti-Viral for extended periods, such as during the winter months, but you should not continue taking it year-round. Both of these supplements stimulate white blood cells and should be avoided if you have any autoimmune or systematic diseases. This also applies to people taking immunosuppressants. Long-term use of oregano oil may interfere with the delicate balance of gut bacteria and should only be used for the first signs of a cold or flu and its duration. Oregano may interact with medications for blood thinning and diabetes. Please check with your health care provider to discuss any concerns or interactions.”