Common cold viruses, flu, or coronaviruses…none of us want to get sick.
As we already know, with most viruses there isn’t a “cure”. When I take my little one to the doctor with a common cold…aka a virus…they turn you away with instructions and advice to stay hydrated, rest and eat well.
So, as the word “virus” has morphed this month into a trending hashtag and a much scarier “coronavirus”, and now as it starts to take its hold on the US, many of us are worrying about what we can do to protect ourselves in case we become sick, however, there are steps we can take to help our body fight the virus and overcome its symptoms as quickly as possible.
Firstly, what is Coronavirus?
The current epidemic of coronavirus is caused by a viral strain named COVID-19, but it is part of a family of coronaviruses that include SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (middle east respiratory syndrome). Some common cold viruses we contract and from which we can easily recover, are also part of the coronavirus family. These viruses can also be common in animals.
The difference between a common cold coronavirus, and the worrisome kind like SARS, MERS, and now COVID-19, is that the virus from an animal can transmit to humans and rapidly spread.
This is also known as a Zoonotic disease; caused by harmful germs such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, that can transmit between animals and humans.
This is similar with influenza virus, another contagious respiratory virus that causes flu, however a particular strain passed to human through pigs, H1N1 commonly called The Swine Flu was responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths around the world in 2009. Other diseases that are classified as Zoonotic are Anthrax, Mad Cow Disease, Ebola, Leprosy, Lyme Disease, Rabies, TB and Zika. Yup… That is one scary list.
So, with no vaccine available for this COVID-19 strain, no known treatments yet available and uncertainty with the actual number of cases in the US and around the world, what can we do to keep ourselves safe, and just as important, healthy enough to fight off any viruses that head our way?
5 important things you can do today!
1. Wash your hands. OFTEN. The CDC recommends washing your hands for at least 30 seconds with soap before rinsing. Doing so can loosen the coating on COVID-19, removing those germs before you might make contact with your face.
2. Use a hand sanitizer or alcohol before and after you eat, after contact with other people or after being in a public place such as the grocery store, subway or office. Basically kill those germs before you might make contact with your face!
3. Be extra diligent. Wipe down surfaces, handrails and shopping carts before use. Experts think that COVID-19 can hang around up to 9-days before it dies.
4. Eat healthy. It goes without saying, your body needs the best fuel to fight any type of threat, whether it is a virus or infection, or something worse. So, lay off the foods that lack essential nutrients, and focus on fruits, veggies, protein and fiber.
5. Drink lots of water. Drinking water aids your digestion, allowing your body to absorb more energy and nutrients from the food you are eating. It also helps keep you hydrated while your body sweats out a fever, helps to loosen mucus, and congestion in your lungs and sinuses. The water also aids in oxygenating your blood, which in turn, helps your body kick a cold quickly!
We believe strongly in the benefits of both a predominantly Alkaline diet, and drinking alkaline water to help give additional protection during times like now, with coronavirus becoming more prevalent, but also during regular cold and flu seasons. It has been shown and proven that viruses thrive in an acidic environment, and become inactive in an Alkaline environment, therefore, regulating our body’s natural pH is vital in fighting illness.
We asked Dr. Kristine Blanche, RPA-C,PhD from the Integrative Healing Center in NY, about the importance of choosing the right food, vitamins and water to help protect your body from viruses.
Kristine, thank you so much for joining us today! What is the number one diet advice you give your patients concerned about coronavirus, or cold and flu season in general?
To support your immune system, it is important to eat nutrient dense food and avoid inflammatory foods that deplete your immune system, processed foods, high sugar foods, carbs, gluten and dairy. Increasing nuts and seeds will boost zinc and selenium.
● Green smoothies/ juices – boost iron, folate, and antioxidants
● Nuts and seeds- boost zinc and selenium
● Leafy greens promote health bowel movements
● Avoid sugar- sugar lowers the immune systems resistance
Should we take vitamins?
Absolutely, it is very difficult to get optimal levels of immune boosting vitamins for food alone. The most important vitamins to take:
Vitamin D every single patient I tested this year was severely deficient. Studies show that getting your vitamin D 25 OH blood levels up to between 80-100 ng/dl is ideal for immunity. Most people will need to take 5000 iu but many people need a lot more to get the blood level up. It is important to check blood levels as it is a fat-soluble vitamin and so you can take too much. Vitamin D is also available in an intramuscular shot as well, to boost your levels quickly.
Zinc 25mg – will boost your immune system
Vitamin C – is a great immune booster. The GI tract can absorb only 500mg at a time so it must be spread out throughout the day. Intravenous (IV) vitamin C is a wonderful way to boost the immune system for prevention and for treatment. The influenza flu responds dramatically to IV vitamin C and studies are showing it can reduce mortality in septic shock.
Elderberry is wonderful for prevention of flu viruses as well.
Would you recommend drinking more water, and will any water do?
Yes, absolutely staying hydrated is essential for optimal body function but he kind of water you drink matters a great deal. If you are drinking water full of toxins or BPA then your body will need to put energy into clearing those toxins, which in turn, decreases your reserve for fighting cold and flu. Also, we know an alkaline body is a healthier state of being. Acidity puts stress on the body. Stress is a big culprit for creating acidity in the body so drinking alkaline water can work to restore balance. Drinking clean, alkaline water is an essential part of my own health plan.
Dr. Blanche, for sharing your knowledge with us and being a PUR2o Partner in Wellness! We are so passionate about telling people about PUR2o water!
So, if water is not all equal, what makes our water stand out above the crowd? Lets have a PUR2o Science Lesson!
PUR2o water is safe, clean and most importantly healthy.
1. First, we filter your incoming water, cleaning it ensures there are no contaminants, disinfectant products and other nasty things lurking in the water.
2. Then the water is purified using a process called Reverse Osmosis. The water is stripped of all contaminants, and every essential mineral. The result is what we call “dead-water”.
The good news is there is nothing bad left in it! The bad news is, there is nothing good in it either!
3. After cleaning, it is re-mineralized, with natural (not synthetic) Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium. The addition of these important minerals results in water that is Ionized and Antioxidant with Molecular Hydrogen and Electrolytes!
Potassium gives us our Electrolytes, which aid in muscle function, regulate the balance of fluids in the body and control pH balance in body tissue. They are superhero crime fighters when it comes to combating viruses!
Magnesium is a carrier for Hydrogen, and in our case molecular hydrogen, preventing oxidation within the cells, boosting immune function, and stopping the spread of viruses as well as their ability to replicate. Magnesium increases the activity of your immune system, ensuring it is “awake” and ready for battle
PUR2o Alkaline water has all the things your body craves, and is just as water should be… before human interventions!
So while everyone is taking reactive measures of dashing to the stores and cleaning the shelves of disinfecting products, we recommend you join us in taking pro-active measures. It may make a difference for you when dealing with the current COVID-19 Coronavirus, or it may just help you combat a common cold or flu, but by making healthy lifestyle adjustments, and investing in your water, you are helping you and your family have a fighting chance against nasty viruses.
About PUR2o
We are striving to provide as many people as possible with filtered, purified, naturally alkaline and ionized water for drinking and cooking straight from the tap, for three reasons. We care about the health of YOU, the health of our PLANET and the health of your POCKET!
THE HEALTH OF YOU
Our goal is to provide as many people as possible with pure, crystal clear, safe & healthy water.
PUR2o Alkaline water is shown to benefit: Overall health and energy, weight management, muscle stimulation, brain power, digestive system, mood, body temperature, youthfulness, complexion, lifespan, and boosting your immune system.
THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANET
We are also committed to creating a greater awareness of how plastic and plastic bottles are polluting our planet and our bodies by providing the best water out of your tap, eliminating the amount of plastic we dispose of and how much water we consume out of plastic bottles.
THE HEALTH OF YOUR POCKET
Aside from all the health benefits of Alkaline Water, you save a tremendous amount of money with our systems! Did you know?…. If you drink eight glasses of water each day, it will cost approximately $55 per year; vs $1,700 if you were to drink the same amount of bottled water instead. The PUR2o system pays for its self in only one year by one persons water consumption.
*Health Disclaimer: The health benefits of PUR2o and information in this blog have been sourced from numerous studies and feedback on the benefits of minerals or properties also available in our water. The views and health advice expressed by PUR2o are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical care or treatments. If you have a severe medical condition, see your physician of choice. PUR2o cannot be held responsible for any specific health needs that may require medical supervision. PUR2o water is not a treatment method for any of the diseases or health conditions noted on this site. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The preceding information and/or products are for educational purposes only and are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. Please consult your doctor before making any changes or before starting ANY exercise or nutritional supplement program or before using this information or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.