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A Low Calorie Diet is Not a ...
A healthy diet is not one that is low in calories but one that is high in nutrients, minerals and vitamins. The problem with low calorie diets is that they conflate...
Owen Davis | 9 Aug '21
Contracting colds and flu is never enjoyable. The muscle aches and pains, the lethargy, the sore throat, the
constant runny nose, the sneezing, the coughing - it's miserable. The good news is that we're here to tell you what
you can do to give your immune system the boost it needs to defend against colds and flu.
The keys to boosting the immune system and staying well during cold and flu season are:
White blood cells are the body's primary defence mechanism against colds and flu. Their
function is to roam throughout the body and look for foreign microbes like viruses, bacteria and parasites. Should they detect any such foreign
microbes,
they will launch an attack to rid the body of them. However, when white blood cells are in low supply, the body is more susceptible to attack and infection.
Herein lies the function of vitamin C. The primary function of vitamin C is to promote the production of white
blood cells.
For this reason, low levels of vitamin C are commonly linked to low white blood cell counts and functionality and ultimately increased
susceptibility to colds and flu.
Thus, an uptake in vitamin C is critical in ensuring optimal immunity and resistance to colds and flu.
Regular over-the-counter vitamin C products contain 500mg of vitamin C per dose. However, our very own Bio Vitamin C powder delivers 2000mg per dose. It also contains powerful antioxidants like lysine, proline and glycine that provide additional antiviral support. The green tea extract
and citrus bioflavonoids give the added benefits to increase the uptake of vitamin C and offer extra
antioxidant protection.
This unique combination of ingredients makes Bio Vitamin C a high strength vitamin C powder that
benefits the immune system (protecting from colds and flu) and supports detoxification of particular heavy
metals
like mercury and several other bodily functions. To learn more about the benefits of Bio Vitamin C, click
here.
Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of health. All body systems require the requisite nutrients, minerals and
vitamins to function correctly, but this is especially true of the immune system. Nutrition supports the integrity
of the cells, while adequate protein and vitamin C (both of which are derived through nutrition) aid in the
production of white blood cells (which is your immune systems primary defence against
viruses and bacteria).
At this time of year, many of us fall victim to the temptation of carbohydrate-rich comfort foods.
This is especially the case for those of us in lockdown. The issue with a carbohydrate-rich diet is two-fold. It lacks nutrient density,
and two, carbohydrates are converted to glucose (or sugar). Sugar feeds microbes!
Consumption of fats and adequate protein also helps absorb minerals and fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, and K2
- all of which are essential to good immune health. Ensuring adequate vitamin A and D
during cold and flu season will bolster your immunity and help prevent colds and flu. There is a synergy between vitamins
K2,
A and D, whereby their benefits are unlocked by one another.
For these reasons, we recommend taking our Bio Omega 3-6-9 cod liver oil (rich in vitamin A) and Synergy
K2
(rich in vitamins K2 and D) during cold and flu season. For more information on our cod liver oil, click
here.
For more information on Synergy K2, click
here.
We suggest incorporating chicken, beef or lamb bone broth into your winter diet. Not only do they deliver warmth,
much-needed respite from the cold, but also nutrients to fight against viruses. The bone and the marrow
contain essential amino acids like proline, lysine, glycine and cystine - all of which aid in the defence against
colds and flu. Glycine and cystine are of particular importance as they serve
a double purpose
- also aiding in the synthesis of glutathione (whose benefits are discussed in greater detail below).
Colds and flu are both viruses - meaning they enter the body encased within a protein shell known as a
'capsid'.
Before a virus can infect the body, it must first bind to a cell and activate its 'neuraminidase' enzyme, injecting the contents (virus)
into the cell. The virus then multiplies within the cell - ultimately causing the cell to burst,
at which point the virus escapes the cell and then infects the body. It is usually only after the cell bursts
that people will experience symptoms of cold and flu. However, if the capsid does not bind to a cell, it can be naturally
escorted out of the body by white blood cells.
When this occurs, there is no viral infection and no cold or flu symptoms.
The body's cells contain glutathione, which is an antioxidant designed to preserve the
integrity of the cells. Thus, glutathione plays a critical role in ensuring the viral capsid does not bind to cells and inject the virus.
Glutathione is obtained through diet - specifically from foods like lamb, veal, eggs,
asparagus and avocado - however, often only in small amounts. Because of this, it is
degraded by protease enzymes. When taken in more concentrated doses in the form of a Glutathione supplement, it is not degraded and
has a more significant effect.
Glutathione can be synthesized by the body naturally by obtaining three amino acids, with selenium:
In body chemistry, a high/normal bilirubin and low G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate
Dehydrogenase) indicates low glutathione status. G6PD is an enzyme that protects the RBC membrane from oxidation.
Administering Reduced L-Glutathione sublingually allows it to be absorbed by the body's lymphatics and is more
effective and potent than glutathione derived from the diet.
Reduced L-Glutathione is available on our online
store for
practitioner use only.
While it is advisable to avoid sugar at all times, it is imperative during cold and flu season. Why? Because
excess sugar limits the effectiveness of white blood cells - ultimately suppressing the immune system. This is
particularly evident in those who suffer from metabolic syndrome, who invariably have a low white blood cell count. It is also known that sugar
or glucose consumption will allow bacteria and viruses to thrive.
What's more, if you're eating foods that are high in sugar, you're typically doing so at the expense of healthy, nutrient-dense foods. This often results in nutrient and mineral deficiency. To defend against colds and flu, the body requires sufficient nutrients and minerals - most of which we derive from the diet. Ultimately, a high sugar diet compromises the body's natural ability to defend itself.
Sugar is also a leading driver of inflammation. The role of inflammation is to shut down infection, and it is the
body's natural response when fighting against colds and flu. Inflammation as a result of excess sugar
consumption
will hinder the body's ability to fight infection. Perhaps the best way to understand this is through a military
analogy. If an army has deployed all of its troops to one region, it is unable to defend against attacks in another region. You can learn
more about the harmful effects of sugar here.
Like sugar, alcohol causes inflammation. It also behaves like a solvent, thus hindering
the synthesis of proteins essential to building immune-strengthening cells like lymphocytes.
As we mentioned earlier, a low protein status weakens the immune system, thus making it more susceptible to
contracting colds and flu.
Sufficient sleep is essential on several health fronts. However, it is especially important during cold and flu
season due to the role sleep plays in the immune system. During sleep, the immune system releases a type of
protein called 'cytokines'. Cytokines play a critical role in cell signalling - working to organise and coordinate the body's
immune response.
Without them, the immune system is weakened and is less capable of mounting a defence against colds and flu. Insufficient or broken
sleep
will also cause a rise in cortisol which further hinders the
natural healing process. Getting to bed early is one of the best ways to bolster immunity during cold and flu
season.
If you begin to develop the telltale symptoms of a cold or flu, you must act quickly to
mitigate the effects of the virus as best you can. It is important to note that a virus will only be as successful as its environment
allows for. If you can control the environment (your body and immune system), you can better control the virus.
The time when your body will feel the weakest is on sundown between 5-7pm as the
hormone cortisol drops. This is a critical time to supplement and consume a healthy dinner.
Other times is on rising, midday, before bed and midnight.
Other than following the advice above to strengthen the immune system, here are some
other things you can do.
Perform a throat gargle with The Brushing Solution (being careful not to swallow). The Brushing Solution is
typically used as a toothpaste and mouthwash substitute; however, it doubles as an effective cold and flu remedy. This is because it
contains diluted hydrogen peroxide and oil of cloves, which have antiviral,
antibacterial properties. Oil of cloves is also analgesic, giving it a soothing affect
against a terrible sore throat.
Killing viruses and bacteria in the throat during the early stages may reduce the severity
of the infection and lessen symptoms moving forward into the lungs. For more information on The Brushing Solution, click
here.
In nasal congestion, the nose is filled with pathogens. The role of nasal spray is to
clear the nose of such pathogens by shrinking them - thus reducing the risk of infection into the respiratory
system (the lungs). Nasal spray may also relieve symptoms of congestion and provide comfort during a cold or flu.
We recommend combining our PerioMix powder with 1 Reduced L Glutathione capsule and
80mls of filtered water to make an effective nasal spray. To learn more about PerioMix, click
here.
When you understand your body chemistry, you no longer have to live in fear of potential cough, colds and
sniffles. Our Health Model thinking allows you to understand the environment and
inputs required to prevent the expression of viruses and bacteria. It is a measurable
approach
that targets the cause and not just symptoms.
Owen Davis is the eldest son of Dr Eric Davis and Sue Davis, and is the co-manager at Nutrition Diagnostics. Owen studied food science and nutrition in 2003 at the University of Queensland, and later graduated with a bachelor of Health Science and Nutrition from Endeavour College. Owen has travelled to the USA on numerous occasions to attend courses and seminars run by Dr Hal Huggins and conferences run by Sam Queen.
Owen has been health coaching and consulting for over a decade now, and throughout this time, has worked with hundreds of patients to balance their body chemistry and restore their health.
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