About 12 years ago, I had the flu. I am not talking about a run of the mill stomach flu or even a fever with some chills. I am talking about a fever over 104 degrees, burning (hot poker) joints, can’t move, wish you were dead flu!
I will never forget the pain. Even with that kind of pain, I never once thought, I could die from this. I thought, at least in a couple of days I will feel better. Even though people can die from the flu, it was not a thought for me at all.
My First Thought, “I Could Die”
I was recently speaking with a friend who had COVID recently. She said when she was diagnosed, her first thought was I could die from this! She quickly changed her thought though. She is a young, healthy woman — if you look at the death rate from COVID in her age and health, it is extremely rare to die. So why was her very first thought, “I could die from this!” She would say it is because of all the fear that is being promoted around COVID. I’m not saying that she couldn’t die from it (because it is possible), but that the possibility is very low.
“They Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself”
I think that most people have heard this quote from President Franklin D. Roosevelt before. He was addressing what was happening at the time in America — the Great Depression.
Fear can be a good thing. It is good for us to have a fear of things that could harm us. It is what prevents us from walking up to a lion in the wild and trying to pet it or grabbing a rattlesnake and trying to play with its rattle. Ultimately, the greatest fear we can have is of God. Not because He is spiteful but because He is just and vengeance is His.
Fear that paralyzes and leads to anxiety and worry though, this is the fear that we are constantly reminded about in the Bible to avoid. Why is that? Because it causes us to lose hope, to lie down, and to not fight.
Some would argue that the fear that is being promoted around COVID is a good thing. We need to have a healthy respect for what COVID can do. I would agree that we cannot deny that COVID can lead to death, but have we really created a healthy fear of it or a fear that paralyzes and causes us to lie down and not fight?
You Have COVID-19. What Are You Going to Do?
I don’t know about you, but I have not seen a lot in the news that encourages us to fight COVID. Most of what I have seen is to hunker down and avoid life until we can come up with the magic antidote to get rid of it.
In my opinion, this is not how we should approach this, or any other disease. It is good to have a healthy respect for COVID and not be reckless, but I won’t lie down and not fight.
First, I will do what I can to not spread it, and second, I’ll do what I can to not make myself a cesspool for COVID to have a home to thrive in.
But what if you still get it?! Of course, this is still a very real possibility.
If I get it, I believe that many very smart doctors have come up with some great approaches.
I Love It When a Plan Comes Together!
If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably remember the TV show The A-Team. The leader of the team would always get the team together and make a plan, and it worked out (always, because that’s the Hollywood way … it might not have worked perfectly but it worked). Any military leader, fighter, business leader, financial advisor, or parent would tell you that not having a plan most likely will lead to failure.
The same is true for your health, and I would especially say this for dealing with specific health issues such as COVID. I know people that were not interested in wearing masks, physical distancing, getting vaccinated, etc., which I believe they have the right to choose. If that is your choice, you should have a plan that if you do get COVID, you are ready to fight it. Don’t wait until you have it to come up with a plan. Instead, plan that you will most likely get it.
This is the same for people who choose to not vaccinate for diseases such as measles and diphtheria. If you are not going to get vaccinated, you better know how to recognize the disease and know what to do if you do get it.
What is the Plan?
So how do you fight a disease that the news doesn’t really talk about how to treat? Find doctors who are successfully treating it, listen to them, and apply tried and true ways people have used to fight infections for thousands of years.
Step One: Stop the Invasion
With viruses (not just coronaviruses), the first approach is to understand that the virus needs to get into your cells to infect you. If you can do things to block the virus from getting into your cells and then block the mechanism in which the virus reproduces itself, this will be a significant approach to helping you.
Certain drugs have been studied to see if they could be used to prevent entry of the virus, but no drug has been shown to be effective as of the date of writing this article.
There are, however, certain vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other substances that have been shown to prevent viruses in general from entering the cell.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a compound found in green tea, has been shown to be effective at reducing the ability of a virus to get into your cells.
Zinc has also been shown to prevent the attachment of a virus to cells.
Quercetin: Several in-vitro experiments found quercetin could inhibit the entry of certain viruses by blocking the receptors on cells to which the viruses enter, and possibly preventing certain infections.
Elderberry is an incredible antiviral proven to inhibit the early stages of infection by blocking key viral proteins responsible for both the viral attachment and entry into the host cells. It has also been shown to minimize flu symptoms and have specific respiratory protective properties.
These three supplements (zinc, quercetin, and elderberry) are ones that I would take if I was dealing with COVID, but they also can be taken as a way of prevention.
Step Two: Stop the Replication
The second thing you would want to do is stop the virus from being able to reproduce itself, if it does get into your cells.
Zinc has also been proven to prevent the replication of viruses.
Elderberry has also been shown to prevent replication of the virus.
Step Three: Increase the Fight
The next approach is to increase your immune cells’ ability to fight infections or to boost your immune system. The following supplements can help with this.
Vitamin D has been shown to improve T-regulatory cells, which help you to have a balanced immune response.
Beta glucan has been shown to help with activation of your immune system.
Vitamin C has been shown to also increase/improve immune function.
B vitamins such as B12, folate, and B6 all help to make new immune cells.
Nucleotides are also used to help make and mature new immune cells.
Vitamin A helps with supporting T-cells, which are important immune cells.
Glutathione can help protect the immune system from free radical damage as well as promote T-regulatory cells.
Glandulars, such as desiccated spleen and thymus gland, can also help boost the immune system.
The steps we’ve discussed so far are the approaches that should be taken as soon as you find yourself showing symptoms or they can be taken as prevention.
Step Four: Address Inflammation
The final approach to dealing with viruses and specifically COVID-19 is to address the inflammation that is caused by the virus and the inflammatory cascade or cytokine storm that can happen even after your body has cleared the virus. Some of these should be taken later on in the process of fighting off COVID-19 (around day 10).
Melatonin can help reduce inflammation by blocking a cytokine called NF Kappa Betta (NFkB).
Curcumin (turmeric) can block the inflammatory cascade.
Quercetin, butterbur, and stinging nettle will block histamine production which is another pro-inflammatory agent.
Quinine will also block the inflammatory cascade. The drug hydroxychloroquine is based off the natural ingredient quinine.
Omega-3 fatty acids will promote prostaglandins (cytokines) that are anti-inflammatory and block prostaglandins that are pro-inflammatory.
Certain corticosteroids have been proven to be very effective in treating someone that has moved into a cytokine storm. These drugs should be used later on in the treatment due to the immune suppressing effects they have as well.
Some examples of those drugs are dexamethasone, ivermectin, and prednisolone. These are prescription drugs and need to be administered by a doctor who can prescribe, but also knows how to prescribe it specific to COVID, as doses have been shown to be much higher than typically used.
Read On or Jump To the End
Here I will go into details about what a person can take and why, but if you would rather just jump to the end to learn what I would do, go ahead and jump to that section.
Holy Buckets! Will I Just Be Eating Supplements?
As I list all these different compounds that can help with preventing and fighting COVID you might be thinking to yourself, “Wow, I guess I will just be eating supplements and won’t need food!”
Rather than think of taking these compounds as supplements, I highly recommend that you get as much as you can from food and the ones you can’t get from food (or can’t get enough of from food) are ones to take as supplements.
When you are sick though, you may need to take them as supplements since you won’t be able to eat enough food to get them at the dose you need for them to be effective.
Below is the list of the compounds that I would take, what foods you can find them in, and how much you need for them to be effective.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG): While found in green tea, the EGCG compound usually needs to be taken as a supplement in order to get the benefits of it as an antiviral.
Currently, approved research lists the following safe dosage levels:
- 704 mg/day in liquid beverage form
- 338 mg/day as a concentrated solid dose
Zinc can be found in the following foods:
- Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food
- Red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American diet.
- Beans
- Nuts
- Crab
- Lobster
- Whole grains
Zinc taken as a supplement has somewhat of a wide range based off of a person’s age and sex. The best way to take zinc is in a lozenge, but it can also be taken in a pill or liquid form. (Table data from WebMD)
| Category | Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of Zinc |
| CHILDREN | |
| 7 months to 3 years | 3 mg/day |
| 4 – 8 years | 5 mg/day |
| 9 – 13 years | 8 mg/day |
| FEMALES | |
| 14 – 18 years | 9 mg/day |
| 19 years and up | 8 mg/day |
| Pregnant | 14 – 18 years: 12 mg/day 19 years and over: 11 mg/day |
| Breastfeeding | 14 – 18 years: 13 mg/day 19 years and over: 12 mg/day |
| MALES | |
| 14 years and up | 11 mg/day |
There are tolerable amounts for each age as well. The tolerable amount is the highest amount most people can take safely in a day.
| Category (Children & Adults) | Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of Zinc |
| 0 – 6 months | 4 mg/day |
| 7 – 12 months | 5 mg/day |
| 1 – 3 years | 7 mg/day |
| 4 – 8 years | 12 mg/day |
| 9 – 13 years | 23 mg/day |
| 14 – 18 years | 34 mg/day |
| 19 years and up | 40 mg/day |
Read more on the role of zinc in antiviral immunity.
Quercitin: Quercitin can be found in the following foods:
- Onions
- Kale
- Cherry tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Blueberries
- Apples
- Red wine
- Black tea
- Green tea
The recommended dose for taking quercitin as a supplement is between 500 – 1000 mg/day.
Elderberry is obviously found in the food source elderberry.
Most people will take elderberry as a supplement. The most common form taken as a syrup but a lozenge is available as well. The following doses have been used in past studies related to helping with the flu.
One tablespoon (15 mL) of a specific elderberry juice-containing syrup (Sambucol by Nature’s Way) has been taken four times daily for three to five days. Also, a specific lozenge (ViraBLOC by HerbalScience) containing 175 mg of elderberry extract has been taken four times daily for 2 days.
Vitamin D can be found in some foods but the best source is from the sun. Unfortunately, those people living above the 37th parallel will not get it from the sun from the months of October to April/May.
Foods that are high in vitamin D are:
- Fatty fish such as salmon, cod, sardines, and herring
- Egg yolks
- Beef liver
As you can see there are not a lot of food sources of vitamin D and the amount you get would not be enough if you are using it when you are actively fighting a virus.
Supplementation is your best bet. Research has shown that a person needs about 2000 IUs of vitamin D, and when fighting an infection we could use significantly higher amounts. You also need to remember that vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. This can make it more likely that you will not absorb 100% of what you take, but you also need to be cautious of overdosing (but this is only after 40,000 IU/day for 12 weeks). The best form to take is a liquid form that is in a carrier oil such as olive oil or coconut oil.
A recent study with patients in the hospital being treated for COVID showed that high amounts of vitamin D helped significantly. On day one the patients received 21,000 IU of vitamin D and then 10,500 IU of vitamin D until they left the hospital.
I would personally take 30,000 IU for the first day or two and then back down to 14,000 – 16,000/day until I cleared the virus.
B vitamins are essential for so many chemical reactions to happen in the body. The best way to get your B vitamins is through your diet.
The following foods are high in B vitamins:
- Salmon
- Beef
- Green leafy vegetables
- Liver and other organ meats
- Eggs
- Legumes
- Chicken and Turkey
- Whole grains
The best B vitamin supplements are ones that contain all of the B vitamins. A person does need to be careful with methylated B vitamins as some people need methylated versions, while others will do poorly with methylated B vitamins.
Rather than go into amounts of each B vitamin, these are the supplements I would recommend taking (take one or the other):
- Max B from PRL –½ teaspoon/day
- B Complex from Seeking Health – 2 capsules/day
Beta glucan can be found in the following food sources:
- Barley
- Oats
- Reshi, maitake, and shiitake mushrooms
- Seaweed/algae
As a supplement, the dose should be 400 mg/day.
Vitamin A can be found in the following food sources:
- Beef liver
- Cod liver
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Goat cheese
- Eggs
- Butter
- Some aged cheeses
As a supplement, the dose should 5000 IU (1500 mcg) per day.
I think we can all remember as kids our moms giving us vitamin C when we were sick. It was usually this large chewable vitamin that actually didn’t taste too bad.
Vitamin C is really effective at boosting our immune system. It can be found in many foods. The most common one that people think of is oranges, but it is not the best. Bell peppers actually have a much more vitamin C than an orange does. The following foods contain vitamin C:
- Guavas
- Kiwi
- Bell peppers
- Strawberries
- Oranges
- Papayas
- Broccoli
- Kale
Vitamin C in a supplement form is usually in the form of ascorbic acid. While this is just a portion of vitamin C, it needs to be taken in large doses versus the whole food form that is found in our food sources. Typically if a person is using vitamin C to fight off a virus, they should be taking megadoses in the amount of 1000 mg/hour for the first 6 hours and then 1000 mg 3 times/day until the infection has cleared.
Glutathione is an antioxidant that our body produces naturally. It does need the building block n-acetylcysteine or NAC. Foods that are high in NAC are:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Eggs
- Sunflower seeds
- Legumes
In order to make glutathione, a person must also consume sulfur containing foods (stinky!) such as:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Brussels sprouts
- Eggs
- Garlic
- Onions
A person can supplement with NAC or they can take glutathione directly. It needs to be a liposomal version, as we cannot absorb glutathione very well otherwise.
For fighting off viruses, research has shown that 600 mg of NAC twice daily is effective.
Dosage for liposomal glutathione is 500 mg per day.
Glandulars: There is no known amount of glandulars that is recommended but the best organs that have been shown to boost the immune system are organs that are for the immune system such as spleen, thymus, and kidney.
Melatonin is something produced in the body by the precursor tryptophan. Foods that are high in tryptophan are:
- Tuna
- Turkey
- Dairy milk
- Oats
- Cheese
- Nuts
- Chocolate
When you hear the word melatonin, sleep is the first thing that comes to mind, but it does help with many other processes in the body including reducing inflammation.
Melatonin can also be supplemented. Melatonin is very hard to digest and is best taken as 5-hydroxy tryptophan. The optimal dose is 50 mg.
Curcumin or turmeric (what most people are familiar with calling it) is a spice that is found in many Indian dishes. It can be added to many different foods.
The best way to take it as a supplement is in a liposomal version. The dose for turmeric is between 500 – 2000 mg.
Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in the following foods:
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Anchovies
- Wild game
- Free range beef
- Eggs from free range chickens
- Flax seeds
- Walnuts
- Navy beans
Most studies for omega-3 fatty acids are done using 1000 mg/day. When it comes to using it to reduce inflammation caused by an infection, much higher doses such as 6000 – 8000 mg/day can be used.
My Personal Approach
If you would like to know what I would do if I were sick with COVID (and really most viruses), this is what I would do. Every person is unique, so this may not be the best approach for you.
Food is usually not easy to eat and digest when you don’t feel good, so probably the only food that I would want would be homemade chicken soup. The supplements I would take would be:
Day 1-8
- Zinc — 30 mg/day
- Elderberry — 60 ml/day
- Vitamin D — 30,000 IU/day for 2 days then 14,000 – 16,000 ID/day
- Vitamin C — 12,000 mg/day for 1 day then 3000/day
- Vitamin A — 5000 IU/day
- Nucleotides and beta glucan (NucleoImmune) — 3 capsules 3 times/day
- Glutathione – 500 mg/day
- Glandulars (Congaplex) — 3 capsules 3 times/day
Day 9 – 21 (If still having symptoms)
- Melatonin — 50 mg of 5-HTP
- Curcumin — 600 mg/day
- Quercetin, stinging nettle, and butterbur — 1 capsule 3 times/day
- Omega-3 fatty acids — 8000 mg/day
- Ivermectin (if doing poorly) — doctor recommended but doctor would need to be versed in dosage for COVID
There are also many other things I would do to either prevent or help when I am sick.
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink plenty of water
- Get as much sleep as possible
- Keep a positive and fighting attitude
- Pray
- Isolate myself to prevent others from being exposed
- Avoid all sugar
- Diffuse essential oils such as On Guard from doTERRA
While there are no guarantees when it comes to fighting off infections, there are so many things you can do. Lying down and giving up should not be our approach!
Contact Valeo Health and Wellness Center if you need extra support. We have many supplements in stock and are here to consult with you on your individual health concerns. Access more COVID-19 resources.
