How to Protect Yourself Against Viral Infections

Since we know that stress negatively impacts our immune system – hard to escape in these times – we can also look for what does improve it, specifically to counter viral infections.

A huge amount of clinical evidence exists by now that shows how specific Vitamins and Minerals significantly improve our immune function!

Many doctors around the world have accumulated a wealth of experience how to lower the risk for a serious Covid-19 outcome (including hospitalization) and are now advising everyone to keep their natural immune function high with specific nutritional prevention guidance.⁷

Through evidence-based, safe & effective recommendations on vitamins & minerals, many doctors & health care professionals have published the research. They can prove that it is indeed possible to prime the immune function and fend off respiratory viral infections which includes the yearly flu and the Coronavirus.

Check out these evidence-based, proven Protocols

For the persons interested in some of these Doctor-recommended protocols that I am referring to, see the Dr. Zelenko early treatment protocol here, – famous for having treated President Donald Trump & President Jair M. Bolsonaro from Brazil, plus many Ministers and officials around the world.

Also you can check the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance protocol here, the Italian protocol by the Ippocrate Organization, here, the World Council for Health, a world-wide coalition of many health-focused organizations, with a practical approach to a home-based early Covid-19 treatment here , and finally scroll down until you reach the prevention recommendation of the Drs Tyson-Fareed protocol, here.

Key Nutrients & their Daily Therapeutic Range

So find below a summary of the key nutrients, specifically to boost Immune Function against Viral Infections, with their daily therapeutic range and the specific mechanism of action in the body.

The range or quantity is an approximate one; the lower amount stands for a person with a lesser risk of getting seriously sick and the higher one for a person with a higher risk.

Scroll down to the end if you’d like to review the references from clinical trials & research.

• Vitamin C
• 500 – 1000 mg 2x daily

ACTION/FUNCTION IN BODY

antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory; protects healthy cells, incl. activated immune cells, increases systemic interferon response & serum antibody;

reduces duration of sickness, reduces seriousness of symptoms, improves oxygenation parameters.¹

• Vitamin D3
  
• 10,000 IU (14 days), thereafter 5,000 IU  

ACTION/FUNCTION IN BODY

coordinates immune response, cytokine & immune cell proliferation, stimulates antimicrobial peptides;

reduces infection risk, lowers viral replication, reduces inflammation, immune-modulatory to lower respiratory disease mortality.²

• Vitamin A
  
• 5,000 IU – 15,000 IU (as beta-carotene)

ACTION/FUNCTION IN BODY

coordinates cellular immune response,  promotes immune cell proliferation,  enhances mucosal integrity;

balances immune response in high doses, fights infections.³

• Vitamin E
  
• 200 – 400 IU per day

ACTION/FUNCTION IN BODY

antioxidant, protects healthy cells, enhances B & T cell response, boosts immune defense;

inhibits inflammation to support whole-body health, supports especially heart, brain, arteries & the immune system.⁴

• Zinc
• 30 – 40 mg per day (picolinate, citrate)

ACTION/FUNCTION IN BODY

blocks viral replication, essential for immune cells, minimizes infection & inflammation, prevents lung injury;

shortens duration of sickness (or already prevent viral entry), essential for immune integrity & response, inhibits viral replication, prevents lung injury.⁵

• Quercetin
• 250 – 500mg 1x-2x daily

ACTION/FUNCTION IN BODY

anti-viral, plus Zinc ionophore, i.e. essential for helping zinc get into cells;

anti-inflammatory, lowers cortisol, supports cardiovascular system & upper respiratory tract;

lowers inflammation, lowers severe respiratory infection.⁶

^{Additional Consideration:}

• Multivitamin

Amongst other ingredients with Magnesium, Potassium, Iodine, and Selenium (200mg), B-complex, especially Folate & Pantothenic Acid (Vit. B5) min. 100mg, or higher per serving, to drive ATP Energy Production for greater absorption of nutrients.⁷

On a side note:

The reason selenium has not made it into the above chart – despite its well-documented role for strong immune function – is because it is sometimes included with Zinc and for sure in a Multivitamin. One is cautioned not to exceed 200mcg per day though, except if recommended by a health care professional.

The above recommendations are equally valid for a unvaccinated or vaccinated person. Keep in mind that a strong immune function is key to many different health issues in life, not just for a viral infection! And prevention is STILL the best defense when it comes to good health!

Much more research – evidence-based & clinically studied – is being published every week by doctors and scientists around the world. Please feel free to contact us at VitalChoices Aruba if you need some guidance how to check on that.

1   Common concerns and unfounded bias regarding vitamin C, https://www.vitaminc4covid.com/vitamin-c-concerns-bias/

Low level of Vitamin C and dysregulation of Vitamin C transporter might be involved in the severity of covid-19 infection, http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2020.0918

The Review: Vitamin C Intervention for Critical Covid19, http://www.vitaminc4covid.com/12trialreview/

Vitamin C and Covid-19 Research Resource, https://www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/nutrition-in-medicine/vitamin-c/

2   Vitamin D for Covid-19, 139 studies by 1,214 scientists, https://c19vitamind.com/

SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates associated with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0239252

Possible role of vitamin D in Covid-19 infection in pediatric population, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40618-020-01327-0

Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: individual participant data meta-analysis, https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/hta/hta23020#/abstract

Vitamin D deficiency aggravates Covid-19: systemic review and meta-analysis.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33146028/

Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation could Reduce Risk of Influenza and Covid-19 Infections and Deaths https://www.grassrootshealth.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Grant-GRH-Covid-paper-2020.pdf

3   Database of all Vitamin A Covid-19 studies, https://c19early.com/va

Revealing the targets and mechanisms of Vitamin A in the treatment of Covid-19, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32805728/

Importance of Vitamin A deficiency in pathology and immunology of viral infections, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12664666/

4  The role of Vitamin E in immunity, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266234/

Strengthening the Immune System and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress through Diet and Nutrition: Considerations during Covid-19 Crisis, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32471251/

5   Database of all Zinc Covid-19 studies, https://c19zinc.com/

Potential health benefits of Zinc supplementation for the management of Covid-19 pandemic, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33458853/

6   Database of all Quercetin Covid-19 studies, https://c19quercetin.com/

Quercetin and Vitamin C: An Experimental, Synergistic Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Related Disease (Covid-19), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32636851/

7   Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect against Viral   Infections, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/1181/htm