Lancet and New England Journal retract studies – including one that raised safety concerns about malaria drugs.

Read article here.

CORONAVIRUS – WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

Please consider that what was speculation a few weeks ago, is now being parroted by professionals everywhere. A consensus is developing:

SARS-CoV-2 INDUCED COMPLICATION (COVID-19) IS EXACERBATED BY THE CONDITION OF THE PATIENT’S ENDOTHELIUM (cellular lining of arteries, vessels, lymphatic system).

THE THEORY IS RELATED TO SOME EARLY QUESTIONS:

• Why aren’t ventilators doing what we thought they were going to do?
• Why are patients behaving as though they are at high altitude?
• Why are some young patients getting strokes, blood clots?
• Why are patients getting better, taken off the ventilators, only to succumb to cardiac arrest?
• Why are patients being discharged home and coming back to hospital later?

“IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IF SOMEBODY HAS A DISEASE LIKE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, OR DIABETES, OR OBESITY [which causes] BUILD-UP OF SUPEROXIDE IN THE SYSTEM, AND THAT SUPEROXIDE IS GOING TO CAUSE ENDOTHELIAL DAMAGE, AND THAT MAYBE IS WHAT WE’RE SEEING IN COVID-19?” [1]

In a recent New York city study it was found that covid-19 complications occurred most often with the elderly, or among all ages who had the most common comorbidities (pre-conditions)

• hypertension (high blood pressure)
• obesity
• diabetes. [2] [3]

Through another source it was found that the following comorbidities were significantly higher in covid 19 (SARS-CoV-2) patients than in the general population:

• Hypertension
• Coronary artery disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Body Mass Index > 30%

The following comorbidities were at approximately the same level as they are in the general population:

• Asthma
• COPD
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This seems to indicate that cardiovascular Covid-19 comorbidities are more significant than pulmonary diseases, as complications are vascular disease manifested most often in the lungs.

How well a patient does with covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is related to the level of oxidative stress in their body at the beginning of the disease. [4]

Suspicions were supported by German autopsies in which undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis (clots) were found, indicating that the virus may cause abnormal blood clotting. [5]

High risk factors were reported & refined by other sources:

• SMOKING
• HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
• HIGH CHOLESTEROL
• DIABETES
• OBESITY
• LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• MEN 45+
• WOMEN 55+

(Last two risk factors are related to higher incidences of the above conditions at these ages – but we can prevent/reverse them.) [6]

Research teams in Europe, China & America indicate that there is indeed evidence that this is a disease that disrupts the stability of endothelial cells causing thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in lungs). [7]

The question of why people of color are being disproportionately affected by covid-19 is being statistically analyzed. [8]

Here’s what we see:

• Nationally, African-American deaths from COVID-19 are nearly two times greater than would be expected based on their share of the population. In four states, the rate is three or more times greater.
• In 42 states plus Washington D.C., Hispanics/Latinos make up a greater share of confirmed cases than their share of the population. In eight states, it’s more than four times greater.
• In New Mexico, Native American communities have accounted for 60% of cases but only 9% of the population.
• Similarly, in Arizona, at least 136 Native American have died from COVID-19, a striking 21% of deaths in a state where just 4% of the population are Native American.
• In South Dakota, Asian Americans account for only 2% of the population but 12% of cases.

Besides socioeconomic factors that increase exposure to the virus and limits treatment options, the question of why people of color are dying from Covid-19 complications at higher rates than others has been medically attributed to:

• lower levels of vitamin D (sunshine-induced hormone, easily remedied with supplementation) [9] [10]
• higher incidences of comorbidities
• lifestyle factors
• research shows some have a lower cellular bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), which limits reduction of oxidative stress. (Remember oxidative stress is not desirable, it damages the endothelial.) [11]

Among the elderly (nursing homes), homeless & lower income who live in crowded conditions it may be related to the highly contagious characteristic of Covid-19, particularly among those without comorbidities in which it is often present without symptoms, thus so easy to inadvertently pass along to others.

(Realize that some of the conditions above may be innerdependent.)

Even the extremely rare cases of childhood reactions to the virus (Kawasaki type disease) seem to further indicate a relationship between Covid-19 and endothelium/vascular damage. [11]

PREVENTION:

Since we are dealing with what appears to be a disease of the endothelium it is important to understand its function & apply preventative measures. [12]

To improve endothelial health we need to increase our production of nitric oxide.

Foods Rich in NITRATES:

• Beets
• Leafy greens
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Spinach
• Parsley
• Cabbage
• Radishes
• Celery
• Collard greens
• Etc.

Foods Rich in POLYPHENOLS (aids in nitric oxide production) :

• Fruit
• Garlic
• Berries
• Nuts
• Soy
• Chocolate (w/ no added fat)
• Red wine (resveratrol)
• Etc. [12]

Some negative dietary contributions to oxidative stress in our body discussed in research papers:

• High [processed] carbs (simple sugars)
• High protein
• Saturated fats (animal sources)

More importantly – some positive dietary contributions:

• Whole grains
• Nuts [in moderation]
• Fruits & vegetables
• Fish*
• Legumes

*Note the plant-based cholesterol free alternatives to nutrients found in fish:

• n-3 PUFA – found in ground flaxseed, walnuts, hemp & chia seeds
• click here for plant-based protein sources
• bio-active peptides (oats, soy, various beans, wheat, flax & hemp seeds, etc) [4]

Some other preventative measures:

• Vitamin C supplement
• Vitamin D supplement
• Quercetin (found naturally in onions, but available in supplement form over the counter)
• N Acetyl Cystein (NAC) in supplement form over the counter
• Zinc supplement
• Sleep 7-8 hrs/night
• And CDC recommendations (6+ feet distancing, hand washing, sanitizing common areas, etc) [13]

Even a single session of exercise increases production of antioxidant, prompting researchers to urge people to find ways to exercise even while maintaining social distancing. [14]

A whole food (unprocessed) plant based WFPB diet can prevent, perhaps even reverse, the chronic degenerative diseases which make older individuals more susceptible to COVID-19 while simultaneously increasing immunity by inactivating the COVID-19 itself.

Consuming this diet does not mean we won’t get infected by the virus, but it should increase our defenses to avoid the worst effects from the infection, and in so doing, help to flatten the curve of hospitalizations.

This is a powerful idea, and one especially relevant today.

Mortality data emerging from Italy and now New York City, show that 99% and 95% of the people (mostly older) who have died from COVID-19 in Italy and NYC, respectively, suffered from pre-existing medical conditions, mostly arising from a lifetime of [poor] nutrition.

– T. Colin Campbell [15]

Immune Boosting Foods:

• Citrus fruits and red bell peppers
• Sunflower seeds and almonds
• Sweet potato and carrots
• Brazil nuts (one a day)
• Beans and pumpkin seeds
• Turmeric
• Dried tart cherries
• Walnuts
• Garlic
• Pomegranate juice
• Green vegetables
• Mushrooms [16]

“I would personally recommend going out and eating some vegetables today. And I cannot think of anything more important than the fiber you get, the nutrients you get, the sense of fulfillment from the proteins you get from eating vegetables.”

– Dr. Rishi Dasai [17]

NOTES

[1] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19493

[2] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19442

[3] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19006

[4] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19577

[5] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19782

[6] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19960

[7] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19987

[8] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=20220

[9] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=20007

[10] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=20010

[11] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19722

[12] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19500

[13] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19751

[14] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19134

[15] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=18943

[16] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=18955

[17] http://projectwaistline.com/?p=19919