All is Fair in Love and Covid-19

Anybody can contract it. Anybody can be a carrier.

I’m seeing extreme reactions concerning the Covid-19 pandemic. Some dismiss it as just another virus that can be dealt with and therefore no need to panic. Some simply panic out of fear. The former tends to dislike the community quarantine measures imposed by the government. The latter tends to do panic buying all the canned goods and shut themselves inside the house. Both of which are not addressing the problem.

I must admit that I lean towards the first set of people: it’s just another virus that a healthy body can deal with. But with the alarming rise of dying people, I have to be more responsible for how I think. How I think will dictate how I act.

The reality is that not everyone has an optimum health to fight the virus. Not everyone lives a healthy lifestyle. Not everyone likes to eat healthy food. Think of the elderly. Think of the medical people who are in the front line who is under stress and not getting enough rest and proper food. To obliterate the pandemic, we must act with wisdom and compassion. Wisdom is knowing the solution and acting on it. Compassion is to act with wisdom with the defenseless in mind.

The way I see it, there are two important steps in stopping this pandemic.

1. Taking heed of a community quarantine can stop the virus from spreading and die its natural death. Viruses need a host to live. If we don’t provide it a host, it dies.
2. Build immunity. Vitamin A-rich foods, vitamin D from, Coconut oil, Vitamin C, are some of the foods that help us boost our immune system

The Food To Choose

It’s time that Filipinos go back to eating moringa or malunggay soup. It’s the most economical, readily available, not to mention very nutritious superfood available. One can even ask for it for free from a neighbor if you happen to live in a rural area like ours. Moringa contains 12% Vitamin C and 9% Vitamin A among other vital nutrients. It is high in anti-inflammatory properties too. In fact, wounds can be treated with moringa leaf. Wounds heal faster treated with moringa with a minimal scar.

Getting some sun gives you that instant dose of Vitamin D. The sun enables your skin to produce Vitamin D. Egg yolks also contain vitamin D. Ideally it should come from pastured chickens. Butter and fish eggs are high in vitamin D too. Again, the healthier the source the better.

Philippines is a coconut-producing country. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oil there is. We have to remember that corona virus is lipid-coated. Oil dissolves oil. The medium-chain triglycerides in coconut oil is the best to counter the virus. The coconut oil dissolves the virus coating and thereby destroying the virus. If you are up for a virgin coconut oil, then that’s the best type of coconut oil. 

We have to remember that coronavirus targets the lungs. Lungs need saturated fats to function fully. My family and I go for a healthier kind of fats in chocolate. Nope, we don’t buy from the mall. We buy the 100% fermented chocolate liquor or what is locally called tablea. Butter from grass-fed cows is also a good source of saturated fats. Please stay away from industrial fats at all cost. They are usually found in canned goods and processed food. Its ill-effects is worth another article.

Philippines is blessed with calamansi or its local lemon. It’s a good source of vitamin C. I usually drink pure calamansi in an empty stomach. I mix a dash or two of turmeric powder. The curcumin in turmeric increases the effect of Vitamin C when it comes to protecting the cells. 

References:

1. Turmeric and Vitamin C https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17148847
2. Moringa Oleifera Leaves Protect against Chronic Diseases https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745501/
3. Cocoa and Chocolate in Human Health and Disease https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4696435/
4. Dietary Fats and Health: Dietary Recommendations in the Context of Scientific Evidence https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3650498/
5. Does Inhalation of Virgin Coconut Oil Accelerate Reversal of Airway Remodelling in an Allergic Model of Asthma? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5474257/