NUTRIENTS AND BOTANICALS THAT CAN BE USED THROUGH THE 4 PHASES OF COVID-19

Information is taken from our Conscious Conversation with Dr Heidi

 

What’s in this post?

• 4 Phases of COVID-19
• What state will you be in when the virus finds you?
• Nutrients and Botanicals for the 4 phases of COVID-19 – phase 1, 2, 3 & 4
• Superfood and Potent Plant recommendations

Even though many of us might have “virus information fatigue” now and start to relax our guard, the virus is still around, and without an approved medical treatment available we need to do what we can to assist our bodies. Some of you might have had already had COVID-19 – if you have, I hope that you have recovered successfully. Some of you might have lost loved ones and friends to the virus and I extend my condolences to you.

If you have not had COVID-19, the question is not ‘if’ you will get it, but rather ‘when’. And it’s good to start thinking about ‘what state will you be in when the virus finds you?’ This makes all the difference to your recovery process. Being fit and strong on the outside does not mean that someone is strong on the inside too. We all need to provide additional support for where the real fighting happens with the SARS-CoV-2 virus which can manifest as COVID-19.

DISCLAIMER:

• Nothing mentioned in this article is intended to treat or cure.
• Always check with your healthcare practitioner before starting anything new, especially if have the risk factors associated with COVID-19.

 

4 Phases of COVID-19

WHAT STATE WILL YOU BE IN WHEN THE VIRUS FINDS YOU?

2 KEY UNDERLYING PROCESSES

 

1. INFLAMMATION

You can look at inflammation as your internal security guards and police. Security guards sound the alarm to assemble inflammation: NLRP3 – it’s a bit like flat-pack furniture. If too many are assembled, there is too much inflammation in the body. There seems to be confusion in the immune system and, in people with more severe COVID-19, immune cells may struggle to stay in their lane, so to speak.

2. OXIDATIVE STRESS

Abstract: “Oxidative stress is a phenomenon caused by an imbalance between production and accumulation of oxygen reactive species (ROS) in cells and tissues and the ability of a biological system to detoxify these reactive products.”

 

Risk factors for oxidative stress

• obesity
• diets high in fat, sugar, and processed foods
• exposure to radiation
• smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products
• alcohol consumption
• certain medications
• pollution
• exposure to pesticides or industrial chemicals

Five signs of oxidative stress:

• fatigue
• memory loss and/or brain fog
• muscle and/or joint pain
• wrinkles and grey hair
• decreased eyesight

NUTRIENTS & BOTANICALS FOR 4 PHASES OF COVID-19

PHASE 1 – PREVENTION

Nutritional support:

Multivitamin – choose a good multivitamin that has the relevant vitamins in a methylated form (try Metagenics Phytomulti)

Omega 3 – preferably a fish oil source – 3g per day (try Coyne Purest Omega or Metagenics 720 / Soaring Free Chia Seeds)

Vitamin A – 5000iu – 10 000iu per day. Make sure that you take into account all your supplement amounts of vitamin A because it does get stored in fat and can cause toxicity if you are taking too much. (try Metagenics Immune Active)

Vitamin D3 – take 10 000iu as an initial dose for a few days. If taking over 5000iu per day, add vitamin k2. If you are getting blood tests then aim for blood levels between 40 – 80 ng/ml (try Metagenics D3 1000iu/5000iu/5000iu+K2 – ask Heidi for practitioner doses)

Vitamin C – increase your dose until you have a loose stool then reduce slightly and stay at that dose. 1g per day divided into 2 x 500mg doses. Your body can only absorb 500mg at a time so anything over this is wasted. (try Soaring Free Camu C + / Ultra Potent C / Immune / Coyne Vitamine C (liposomal))

Zinc – 30 – 60mg daily (try Metagenics Zinc A.G or Compounding Pharmacy Zinc/Selenium or Zinc/Selenium/Copper)

Quercetin – 500mg 3 x daily (try Metagenics Immune Care)

Melatonin – 3 – 10mg per night (note: if you are under medical supervision or using any tranquillizers or sedatives, or you have an autoimmune condition or depressive disorder or are a pregnant or lactating woman, please seek the care of your healthcare practitioner prior to use. Not for use by children under 12 years of age. Do not take when operating machinery or driving)

 

Antioxidant support:

• N-Acetyl Cystine – (NAC) 500 – 3000mg; 2 x 900mg/day (try Compounding Pharmacy NAC)
• Glutathione – (GSH) – 500mg – 3000mg; 2 x 500mg/day (try Coyne Glutathione (liposomal))

 

Immune support:

NK cell support (choose any 2 or a combination formula):

• Shiitake – AHCC fermented (try Coyne AHCC), Astragalus – 500mg 2 – 3 x daily, Androghraphis – 400mg 2-3 x daily (try Metagencis Andrographis Plus), Reishi – 400mg 2/3 x daily (try Soaring Free Reishi)

TH1 support (choose any 2 or a combination formula):

• Berbeine – 500mg 2 – 3 x daily (try Coyne Berberine), Echinacea – 500mg 2 – 3 x daily (try Vogel Echinaforce), Goldenseal – 500mg 2 – 3 x daily

 

Anti-inflammatory support:
Curcumin – 500mg 2 – 3 x daily (try Coyne Bio-Cucumin)

SPMs – (try Metagenics SPM Active) Bromelain – 600 – 2400 GDU between meals (try Amipro Digestive Enzymes)

 

PHASE 2 – INFECTION

(all of the doses are the same as in Phase 1 except with the inclusions below):

Nutritional support:
Potassium – eat foods high in potassium such as avos, bananas, oranges, beans, beets, lentils and spinach


Antioxidant support:
N-Acetyl Cystine – (NAC) 500 – 3000mg: Up dosage to 3 x 900mg/day

Glutathione (GSH) – 500mg – 3000mg: Up dosage to 3 x 500mg/day


Anti-inflammatory support:
Curcumin – Only continue if CRP(blood inflammation marker) is raised or if you have other inflammation conditions, otherwise stop.

Stop Bromelain intake

PHASE 3 – ESCALATING INFLAMMATION

(all of the doses are the same as in Phase 2 Nutritional support, with below additions + new alternative options):

Nutritional support:
Potassium – eat foods high in potassium such as avos, bananas, oranges, beans, beets, lentils and spinach


Antioxidant support:
N-Acetyl Cystine (NAC) 500 – 3000mg: Up dosage to 4 x 900mg/day

Glutathione (GSH) – 500mg – 3000mg: Up dosage to 4 x 500mg/day


Immune support:
Stop immune support as inflammation increases to shift focus on reducing inflammation.


Anti-inflammatory support:
Curcumin – 1g 4 x daily

Bromelain - 600 – 2400 GDU between meals

Resveratrol - 200 – 400mg 2 – 3 x daily (try SOLAL Reseveratrol), Sulforaphane – 200mg 2 – 3 x daily (try Coyne Sulforaphane), Boswellia – 400mg 2 – 3 x daily (try Coyne Bio-Curcumin Advanced (curcumin & Boswellia)

PHASE 4 – RECOVERY

(all of the doses are the same as in Phase 3 Nutritional support, with below additions):


Antioxidant support:
N-Acetyl Cystine (NAC) 500 – 3000mg: Reduce dosage to 2 x 900mg/day

Glutathione (GSH) – 500mg – 3000mg: Reduce dosage to 2 x 500mg/day

Immune support:
Stop immune support as inflammation increases to shift focus on reducing inflammation.


Anti-inflammatory support:

• Curcumin – 500mg 2 – 2 x daily
• Bromelain - 600 – 2400 GDU between meals
• Resveratrol - 200 – 400mg 2 – 3 x daily
• Sulforaphane - 200mg 2 – 3 x daily,
• Boswellia – 400mg 2 – 3 x daily

 

 

Here are some of our Superfood and Potent Plant recommendations for nutrient support:

• Omega 3 – Chia Seeds, Spirulina
• Vitamin C – Camu Camu Berry Powder, Baobab Powder, Lucuma Powder
• Vitamin D3 – for a vegan supplement you can try BetterYou Vegan Vitamin D Oral Spray
• Vitamin A – Lucuma Powder
• Zinc – Hemp Seeds
• Potassium – Hemps Seeds

 

About the Author

Information in this article is taken from our Conscious Conversation with Dr Heidi Loggerenberg

Dr Heidi has a master’s degree in Homeopathy from the University of Johannesburg. At 35, soon after having her 2 daughters, she developed an early, aggressive form of breast cancer. She declined a lumpectomy and prophylactic chemo and instead chose a double mastectomy to buy herself time to understand why she had developed breast cancer. On her journey, she discovered integrative medicine, functional medicine and nutrigenomics. Dr Heidi studied a post-grad course in genetic counselling at UCT and is currently completing her Functional Medicine Practitioner’s certification through the Institute for Functional Medicine. She believes that many lifestyle-related chronic diseases come from a gene-environment interaction and that many can be prevented or improved by making more personalised nutrition, environment and lifestyle choices. Dr Heidi now helps people create personalised health action plans for optimal wellbeing based on their nutrigenomic DNA and real-time biochemistry test results. Dr Heidi is a Certified Food and Spirit Practitioner (CFSP) and advocates the benefit of including a rainbow of phytonutrient in one’s diet daily.

Useful Links: www.liveheidi.com, LinkedIn , Instagram