Winning The War Against COVID-19

The Information You Need to Know Now

There is a lot that continues to change in our world at a breakneck speed.

As a result we wanted to share information updates that can help you understand more about COVID-19 and what science is uncovering about this nasty little virus.

In the end better information is a key to help win this war we’re suddenly in – and yes it is now a war.

We need to come together like never before to ensure that we emerge safe and  – more – sound so that we can help rebuild our economy, and society after this sharp curve ball we have all been thrown in the past 2 weeks.

Wishing you all safety, calm, health & wellness always.

First Off – Some Feel It / Some Don’t

The COVID-19 outbreak now has over 317,309+ cases confirmed globally as of March 22 / 2020.

The scary fact is that the number of people confirmed to have the coronavirus does not necessarily reflect the number of people who have actually been infected — or who are carrying the virus without any real symptoms.

Understanding the difference between these groups — the obviously sick and the asymptomatic — explains why people like Tom Hanks felt the virus’ effects, but people like Idris Elba didn’t.

Importantly, Elba is among the few people to test positive for COVID-19 despite not manifesting any symptoms, but there are many more out there who will NOT be tested for that very same reason – no real symptoms…

These asymptomatic carriers are critical to our understanding of coronavirus, because they may be the main drivers behind the virus’ spread, according to a study published Monday, March 16, in the journal Science.

So What’s An Asymptomatic Carrier?

An asymptomatic carrier is a person who has contracted a virus, but isn’t manifesting any of the symptoms it causes.

Historically, asymptomatic carriers are sometimes referred to as a “Typhoid Mary”

Mary Mallon was a cook in the 1880s who infected all of her customers with Typhoid fever. But she herself was healthy, and was in denial about having the disease. She was considered the first known asymptomatic carrier of Typhoid in the US.

The reason why we have asymptomatic carriers has to do with how the body’s immune system works. In some cases, the symptoms people experience are a result of the virus, while others are caused by the body’s immune response to the virus as it tries to fight it, and not the virus itself.

With COVID-19, the virus infects cells involved in oxygen circulation, also known as alveolar cells (alveoli), explains Catherine Beauchemin, a professor of virophysics at Ryerson University.

The receptors on the surface of the cell make it an ideal host for the virus, which means it can affect your ability to take in oxygen.

That’s why one of the most-common symptoms of the current coronavirus is shortness of breath, and why doctors test oxygen levels in patients’ blood to confirm infection.

As well, the cough and fever associated with COVID-19 are signs your body’s immune system is trying to fight off coronavirus.

 “So once the infection is detected, your immune response shows up, like a whole bunch of soldiers show up and there’s a combination of inflammatory cells and cell signaling,” says Beauchemin . “And all of this is your immune response kicking in.”

But if you are an asymptomatic carrier, then the virus has infected your cells, but:

• The immune system is taking too long to react (and symptoms will show up later).
• The immune system kicked in early enough in the infection’s course to not manifest symptoms.
• The infection is very mild and it’s not enough to engage a strong immune response.

Imagine the virus is an invading hoard, Beauchemin says. If the invaders show up one at a time, and “you show up early in the invasion, when there’s just one or two people there, you can push them out,” she says. As a result, you may remain asymptomatic.

“But, if you failed to notice you’ve been invaded and then when you show up, there’s like 2000 of them, you’re going to have to bring some very heavier artillery if you’re going to push all of them back out.” And thus, you will likely be symptomatic.

Asymptomatic Carriers May Be The Key To Spread

Just because you are asymptomatic, that does not mean that the virus isn’t still replicating itself in your body.

As a result, you may still “shed” the virus by exhaling it or leaving droplets of sweat on surfaces etc.

There’s been a lot of debate about whether people without symptoms spread the virus.

But we now know that coronavirus is spreading at the community level. This is when some people have been infected and are not sure how or where they became infected.

This shows that asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic transmission may be a major factor in transmission for COVID-19. Thus Social Distancing is KEY!

In some areas of China, according to simulations of the virus spread published in the journal Science, almost 9 OUT OF 10 INFECTIONS were caused by asymptomatic carriers.

In another, preliminary study posted on March 6 to MedRxiv, researchers found that 48 percent of 91 infections in a Singaporean COVID-19 cluster were caused by asymptomatic carriers.

By comparing the Singaporean outbreak to another in Tianjin, China, the researchers estimate that the virus was passed from person to person between 2.55 days and 2.89 days BEFORE symptoms showed up.

This process of infection spread is known as “stealth transmission”, and, according to Jeffrey Shaman, the researcher who led the new Science study, this is a major driver of the current pandemic.

In a note in the New England Journal of Medicine, Bill Gates echoed the same sentiments. And other public-health experts agree with Shaman’s assessment.

So bottom line here is that people need to take social distancing very seriously at this time, and people that have come back from traveling need to keep their butts parked in-house for 14 days.

It’s not easy, but this is what we need to win this war as fast as possible.

   Why COVID-19 IS Worse Than The Flu

A question we keep hearing about the Covid-19 pandemic: “Isn’t COVID-19 as dangerous as a bad seasonal flu?”

The quick no BS answer is “No” –  this is not like the seasonal flu. It’s actually a lot more dangerous.

Yes, some of the symptoms of Covid-19 resemble flu — especially fever and coughs.

But COVID-19 has some serious destruction power not only in individual human lives, but to our very society as a whole.

COVID-19 Vs. The Seasonal Flu

Simply stated:

• COVID-19 can be spread up to 200% faster.
• COVID-19 has a incubation period that’s up to 3x longer the the common flu.
• COVID-19 has the power to hospitalize almost 10X more people.
• COVID-19 has the ability to kill 1 – 3 out of every 100 people, where as the typical flu kills 1 out of every 1000 or less.

This is not to downplay the flu. The seasonal flu still kills hundreds of thousands of people globally each year. BUT THIS IS A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL.

Covid-19 hasn’t even been around a year — or even half a year.

Before January, this virus was really not known to science, at all. It’s just getting started.

While there is still a lot of uncertainty over this virus, and how it will play out, from what we know so far, this is a threat to take extremely seriously.

New Info About COVID-19

There is a stream of new info that is flooding both the news and social media. What’s true, what’s not? What’s half-baked?

We decided to take a look at some of the key info that is getting spread over the past few days, and as always the truth tends to lie somewhere in the middle.

Make Sure The Young Know They Need To Care Too

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the first analysis of COVID-19 cases in the United States.

While patient ages and fatalities so far seen in the US do resemble data from other countries, the numbers are a reminder the disease is also very dangerous to younger people.

In fact that age group has one of the highest hospitalization rates of any age group in the country. 

COVID-19 Current Severe Impacts By Age Group

 USA Mar 18 2020

Those 18 – 25 need to realize its happening to them and at severe rates.

Does Your Blood Type Make You More Or Less Susceptible?

First thing’s first: the information here does come from just one study that has not yet been peer-reviewed yet.

This study was undertaken by Chinese researchers and focused on 2,173 patients with COVID-19 from three hospitals in Wuhan and Shenzhen.

The team looked at the distribution of blood types in the normal population in each area, and then compared it to their sample of patients with the virus, again in each area.

The data showed that blood group “A” had a statistically significant, higher risk for catching/showing symptoms from COVID-19 compared with non-A blood groups.

As well they found that blood group “O” had a statistically significant, lower risk for catching/showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Many are now seeing this all over social media and it’s causing added panic and some potentially dangerous misinfo.

This of course doesn’t mean that people with type “O” blood type are immune; and that anyone with “A” is a goner… Far from it.

All it does is simply raise a fascinating question – how our blood types can change the way we may be affected by certain viruses. 

But that’s all it does. Again if you are blood type “O” you’re not invincible, and if you’re blood type “A” you’re not doomed.

Advil Vs. Tylenol

Over the past few days, social media has also lit up with reports, picked up by some media outlets, that taking drugs like ibuprofen to ease COVID-19 symptoms could actually worsen the progress of the illness.

But most infectious disease experts say there’s not enough scientific evidence at this point to support that claim. So what to believe?

The hubbub was sparked by a tweet by the French health minister, Olivier Véran, over the weekend.

He warned people not to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS (Advil/Motrin/Aleve)  — a category of pain relievers and fever reducers that includes ibuprofen — because some French COVID-19 patients had experienced serious side effects.

The warning was also included in a bulletin from the French health ministry, which counseled that patients should instead use acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol.

The questions about ibuprofen’s safety for COVID-19 patients seem to have stemmed, in part, from a letter published in The Lancet last week hypothesizing the ways various medications could, perhaps, increase the risk of infection with the coronavirus.

Research has shown that the virus attaches itself to cells in the lungs by way of an enzyme — angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

How COVID-19 Spreads Using ACE2

Ok, we’re sorry in advance, as this is a big image and is a bit scientific in nature, but it also does a good job at showing how this virus actually spreads in the body.

The Lancet article suggested that taking ibuprofen might increase the number of ACE2 receptors on a cell, which could make someone taking the drug more vulnerable to infection.

But just because you have more ACE2 receptors doesn’t mean you’re more susceptible to infection, says Rachel Graham, a virologist at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. BTW – She’s one of the researchers who discovered how the coronavirus binds to cells.

Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician and fellow with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security says she doesn’t see the Lancet letter as a reason to avoid ibuprofen for COVID-19, though she always tells her patients to use Tylenol for fever “because its mechanism is thought to affect the temperature regulating center of the brain.”

Dr. Angela Rogers, a pulmonologist at the Stanford University Medical Center and chair of its intensive care unit’s COVID-19 task force, notes that Tylenol is the go-to medication for patients who are sick enough to be hospitalized for any infection.

That’s because these patients are at higher risk of damage to internal organs, including kidneys. And kidney damage can be a side effect of ibuprofen for some patients who use it long-term in higher doses, says Rogers, whose research focuses on the kind of acute respiratory distress experienced by the most severe COVID-19 cases.

Of course Tylenol, like any chemical medicine, isn’t risk-free either. You can see our article on the dangers of overusing Tylenol and Advil here.

But the bottom line is to err on the side of caution at this time, and if dealing with fevers and/or actual COVID-19 consider using Tylenol (acetaminophen) versus Advil (ibuprofen), till more is known and understood.

COVID-19 & Pneumonia

For many COVID-19 will be a mild cold or flu. For those that are not so lucky the virus will can go on to create severe inflammation in the lungs and airways.

Prof John Wilson, president-elect of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a respiratory physician says almost all serious consequences of Covid-19 feature pneumonia.

Wilson says people who catch Covid-19 can be placed into four broad categories.

Category one are those that are “sub-clinical” and who have the virus but have no real symptoms.

Next are those who get an infection in the upper respiratory tract, which, Wilson says, “means a person has a fever and a cough and maybe milder symptoms like headache or conjunctivitis”.

He says: “Those people with minor symptoms are still able to transmit the virus but may not be aware of it.”

The largest group of those who would be positive for Covid-19, and the people most likely to present to hospitals and surgeries, are those who develop the same flu-like symptoms that would usually keep them off work.

A fourth group, Wilson says, will develop severe illness that features pneumonia.

He says: “In Wuhan, it worked out that from those who had tested positive and had sought medical help, roughly 6% had a severe illness.”

The WHO says the elderly and people with underlying problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.

How Does Pneumonia Develop?

When people with Covid-19 develop a cough and fever, Wilson says this is a result of the infection reaching the respiratory tree – the air passages that conduct air between the lungs and the outside.

He says: “The lining of the respiratory tree becomes injured, causing inflammation. This in turn irritates the nerves in the lining of the airway. Just a speck of dust can stimulate a cough.

“But if this gets worse, it goes past just the lining of the airway and goes to the gas exchange units, which are at the end of the air passages. If they become infected they respond by pouring out inflammatory material into the air sacs that are at the bottom of our lungs.”

If the air sacs then become inflamed, Wilson says this causes an “outpouring of inflammatory material [fluid and inflammatory cells] into the lungs and we end up with pneumonia.”

He says lungs that become filled with inflammatory material are unable to get enough oxygen to the bloodstream, reducing the body’s ability to take on oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.

“That’s the usual cause of death with severe pneumonia,” he says.

This is also another reason to use Organic Sulfur up to 2x daily.

Using our pure MSM can help the body better manage and reduce inflammation throughout the body and lungs.

In fact some people are even using MSM to nebulize with. 

How To Nebulize With Pure MSM

Take 3 oz of filtered/purified, distilled water add 1 level tsp. of Organic Sulfur Crystals that will create (roughly)  a 8-10% MSM solution.

Once fully dissolved add some of the solution to the nebulizer cup, and inhale for 5 – 8 mins daily. This can help combat inflammation within the lungs and airways.

NOTE: Always ensure the nebulizer cup and bottle holding the MSM solution are clean and sterile. If you are already using a nebulizer for medication/medical  purposes make sure you take the MSM solution at least 2 hours (before or after) nebulizing your doctor prescribed medications. If you have any serious preexisting lung conditions, or medical conditions  or issues in general with Sulfur/MSM you should  always confirm with your doctor first.

So Let’s Talk Cleaning

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to accelerate, cleaning supplies are disappearing off the shelves and people are worried about every subway rail, kitchen counter and toilet seat they touch.

It’s possible that a person can be infected with the virus by touching a contaminated surface or object, “then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But remember that the virus is still most likely to spread from person-to-person through close contact and respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes that can land on a nearby person’s mouth or nose, according to the CDC.

But how long can the new coronavirus linger on surfaces, anyway?

A new analysis found that the virus can remain viable in the air for up to 3 hours, on copper for up to 4 hours, on cardboard up to 24 hours and on plastic and stainless steel up to 72 hours.

Avg. Time COVID-19 Can Last Air/Surfaces

The Simplest Options To Clean Effectively

Research has shown that coronaviruses can be inactivated within a minute by disinfecting surfaces with 62-71% alcohol, or 0.5% hydrogen peroxide bleach or household bleach containing 0.1% sodium hypochlorite.

Diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions containing at least 70% alcohol and most EPA-registered common household disinfectants should be effective at disinfecting surfaces against the coronavirus, according to the CDC.

The products shown to be effective for killing this virus right now:

• Clorox Multi Surface Cleaner + Bleach
• Clorox Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner
• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
• Lysol Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner
• Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist
• Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes

Bleach In General Seems To Also Work

A simple bleach solution can also be prepared by mixing 5 tablespoons (one-third cup) of bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water.

If a person in a household is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, “clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas,” according to the CDC’s recommendations.

What’s more, “As much as possible, an ill person should stay in a specific room and away from other people in their home,”

The caregiver should try to stay away from the ill person as much as possible; this means the ill person, if possible, should clean and disinfect surfaces themselves.

If that’s not possible, the caregiver should wait “as long as practical” after an ill person uses the bathroom to clean and disinfect surfaces, according to the CDC. 

We Don’t Love These Options But…

While we think these cleaners can be effective and can help during this time, just remember they also are very toxic to us as well. 

So we suggest you use gloves as much as possible, and if you have them, use masks to reduce inhaling sprays and fumes through the lungs.

As well, keep taking Organic Sulfur/Pure MSM to help your body and cells promote more optimal detoxification to help reduce toxic load caused by these harsh cleansers.

Oh &  NEVER Mix These

Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Mixing common cleaners together can create toxic fumes. For example, when bleach is mixed with an acidic solution, a chemical reaction produces chlorine gas, which can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and nose. At high concentrations, that gas can cause breathing difficulties and fluid in the lungs, and at very high concentrations it can lead to death.

And Don’t Forget To Clean Your Phone!

We touch our phones and tech more than anything else today.

This is a great video on how to clean your phones and your tech in general.

This can also be used for remote controls, and keyboards and tablets.

But It Still Comes Back To Hands People!

We’ve talked about this, as has everyone, washing hands regularly is key to limiting the spread.

But… Most people do NOT do it right or for long enough.

This is a great video that shows how to do it right.

This is one of those pieces of info that can be life saving!

How To Actually Wash Your Hands Properly – Soap & Water

How To Actually Wash Your Hands Properly – Hand Sanitizer

Remember Boosting Immunity Is Still So Important

Healthy Tips & Recipes To Support a Strong Immune System

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

This statement seems to ring true more than ever these days. 

FACT… Although many are practicing self isolation, keeping the immune system prepped and strong really is one of the most important first lines of defense against any illness.

We have compiled a great list of natural immune supporting recipes that are simple and can truly help the body boost its natural defences.

Lemon Ginger Sulfur Shots

Ginger shots are extremely beneficial for the digestive tract and a great support for the gut colony of friendly bacteria.

While many cultures use ginger to spice up food, ginger root helps provides special rejuvenation and healing powers.

The effective substance in ginger, called “gingerol”, is the active ingredient that gives the plant many of its beneficial powers.

Lemons are also an excellent source of vitamin C and help aid in proper digestion and balancing the acidity in the body. 

This recipe requires you to use real lemons — not the store-bought processed powder.

Recipe:

• Begin by boiling water.
• Once the water is boiling, remove it from the heat and pour 4 – 8 ounces it into a cup.
• Add a slice of ginger root and allow it to steep for five minutes.
• Once you are done steeping, add the juice from one freshly squeezed lemon.
• Add 1/4 tsp. Organic Sulfur or 1/2 tsp of our pure MSM liquid drops

According to a study published in the November 2012 issue of the “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” fresh ginger helped prevent human respiratory syncytial virus, or HRSV, from attaching to and infecting upper respiratory tract cells.

Doses of 300 micrograms per milliliter of fresh ginger stimulated the respiratory cells to secrete an antiviral protein called interferon-beta.

MSM also helps supercharge the action of antioxidant properties of the ginger and lemon in the system.

MSM also provides an excellent overall all anti-inflammatory helping heal and reduce pain, cellular swelling and digestive inflammation.

Super C Sunshine Juice

Keep colds and flus at bay with this Vitamin C and antioxidant rich beverage. No fancy juicer required!

This juice also contains the power of lemon and ginger as well as the added Vitamin C boost of orange, but did you know that carrot juice is also amazing for supporting the immune system?

While the immune system needs proteins and lipids that aren’t found in large quantities in vegetables, it also relies on vitamins and minerals that are abundant in carrots: iron, zinc and copper.

The addition of MSM to this juice is also incredible for supplying crucial sulfur for increased glutathione production and overall nutrient absorption.

Recipe

• 1 orange, peeled
• 1 large carrot, cut into chunks
• ¼ inch piece of ginger, peeled
• ½ lemon, peeled
• Add 1/4 tsp. Organic Sulfur or 1/2 tsp of our pure MSM liquid drops

Place ingredients in high powered blender and blend until smooth.

Happy Body Golden Milk

Golden Milk has been consumed for centuries to help support the immune system and promote healing.

The medicinal properties in turmeric can provide a great boost the immune system, even in people with immune disorders.

One study has even theorized that turmeric can moderate the immune system.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

This recipe also contains healthy fats and other healing spices!

Remember: The MSM and black pepper are necessary to consume with turmeric in order to activate the medicinal compounds and increase overall absorption rates.

Recipe:

• 2 cups full fat coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• ½ teaspoon cardamom
• Pinch of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Add 1/4 tsp. Organic Sulfur or 1/2 tsp of our pure MSM liquid drops
• Pinch of black pepper

Heat coconut milk in a pot on the stove until warm, remove from heat, add all other ingredients and whisk to combine.

Elderberry / MSM Tea

Over the centuries, elderberry has been used to treat colds, flu, fever, burns, cuts, and more than 70 other maladies, from toothache to the plague.

In the 17th century, John Evelyn, a British researcher, declared, “If the medicinal properties of its leaves, bark, and berries were fully known, I cannot tell what our countryman could ail for which he might not fetch a remedy (from the elderberry), either for sickness or wounds.”

The berries and flowers of elderberry are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may boost your immune system They can help tame inflammation, lessen stress and help protect your heart too.

Many experts recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

Recipe:

• Simply grab some elderberry tea from Amazon or from your local store
• Add 1/4 tsp. Organic Sulfur or 1/2 tsp of our pure MSM liquid drops

Again the addition of the MSM is very important as it acts as a synergizer for the antioxidants and trace nutrients in the elderberry and a supercharger for overall absorption.

Simply make and sip hot, or cold through the day to help keep your immune system running more optimally.

A Special Note On Vitamin C & MSM

Millions of chemical reactions and biological processes are taking place inside your body every single second.

Each of these processes requires nutrients, such as minerals, amino acids, and vitamins, in order to operate properly.

MSM (Sulfur) and Vitamin C are used together in many of these processes, and when combined create an amazing immune and health tool that can’t be beat!

MSM & Vitamin C together help:

• The production of healthy new cells.
• Vastly boost the immune system, including its T-cells and white blood cells.
• Increasing antioxidant activities to neutralize free radicals and unhealthy chemicals.
• Maintaining healthy veins, arteries, and cardiovascular components.

An Antioxidant Powerhouse

In a study antioxidant activity measured using lipid hydroperoxides were shown to increase when vitamin C was taken with MSM.

Effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), alone or combined with vitamin C (Vit C), on training -induced increase of lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) levels.

Lastly, Some Food For Thought…

“…If we subscribe to the philosophy that life is always working out for us, that there is an intelligence far greater than humans at work…
That all is interconnected.
What if…
the virus is here to help us?
To reset.
To remember.
What is truly important.
Reconnecting with family and community.
Reducing travel so that the environment, the skies, the air, our lungs all get a break.
Parts of China are seeing blue sky and clouds for the first time in forever with the factories being shut down.
Working from home rather than commuting to work (less pollution, more personal time).
Reconnecting with family as there is more time at home.
An invitation to turn inwards — a deep meditation — rather than the usual extroverted going out to self-soothe.
To reconnect with self — what is really important to me?
A reset economically.
And, washing our hands — how did that become a “new” thing that we needed to remember. But, yes, we did.
The presence of Grace for all.
There is a shift underway in our society — what if it is one that is favourable for us?
What if this virus is an ally in our evolution?
In our remembrance of what it means to be connected, humane, living a simpler life, to be less impactful/ more kind to our environment.
An offering from my heart this morning. Offered as another perspective. Another way of relating to this virus, this unfolding, this evolution.
It was time for a change, we all knew that.
And, change has arrived.
What if…”

– Gurpreet Gill

As always… To your wellness and those you love most.

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Questions or Want To Order?

Get In Touch 9:00am – 4:30pm EST (New York Time)

Remember, if we are unable to answer your call, leave a message we WILL call you back asap.

Article Research Credits: 

• World Health Organization
• Wikipedia
• CNN
• The Guardian
• The New York Times
• WebMD
• The Wall Street Journal

Disclaimer: Information presented on this site is of a general nature used for educational and information purposes only, it should NEVER be used as medical advice or as a basis for self diagnosis. Statements or opinions about products and health conditions have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration (The FDA). Products and information stated herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. If you have any concerns about your own health or are wanting to use a new mineral supplement, vitamin or herbal supplement, you should always consult with your physician or other healthcare professional first. This is the same for your pet, always first consult with your veterinarian before using any new pet supplement or vitamin first.