The Novel Corona-Virus ( SARS-CoV-2 )  that causes COVID-19 has disrupted the world with no one having natural immunity to this Virus and elderly being the most affected due to week immune system. But as the world is getting ready to remove the lockdown slowly, What is that we can do to protect ourselves Naturally? Let’s Discuss with Scientific evidence

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps in neutralizing free radicals in our body and is a key component to a robust Immune system.
Its antioxidant Property decreases inflammation and helps the immune system function better.
vitamin C also boosts the activity of immune cells ( phagocytes) that can Kill harmful Viruses.
it helps in the growth of lymphocytes and easy movement, which in turn increases your circulating antibodies.
People who are deficient in vitamin C could have more risk of getting infected, or of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms because their immunity is impaired, also research has shown that Vitamin C Can Shorten the Length of Stay in the ICU and one more research has shown that it can help with Pneumonia along with another Study showing reduced Mortality Rate in Covid19 patients.

Natural Sources of Vitamin C:

  • blackcurrants
  • citrus fruits – oranges, limes and lemons
  • berries
  • kiwifruit
  • tomatoes
  • broccoli
  • sprouts
  • red, yellow and green capsicum

If one is going for the supplement 2000mg is the upper limit one can consume daily without any negative effects

Vitamin D:

Preclinical research suggests that the SARS-Cov-2 virus enters cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Coronavirus viral replication downregulates ACE2, thereby dysregulating the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and leading to a cytokine storm in the host, causing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). (u can read a simplified article on how coronavirus is caused in the body here) Research also shows that vitamin D plays a role in balancing RAS and reducing lung damage. On the contrary, chronic hypovitaminosis D induces pulmonary fibrosis through activation of RAS. Similarly, hypovitaminosis D has been strongly associated in the literature with ARDS, as well as with a pejorative vital prognosis in resuscitation but also in geriatric units, and with various comorbidities associated with deaths during SARS-Cov-2 infections. Conversely, vitamin D supplementation has been reported to increase immunity and to reduce inflammatory responses and the risk of acute respiratory tract infections.

Research also shows that Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections and a recent Research  confirms that Vitamin D alone can reduce 50% of the complications of chest infection if taken as a supplement Prior

Natural Sources of Vitamin D:

  • Fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon
  • Foods fortified with vitamin D, like some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, and cereals
  • Beef liver
  • Cheese
  • Egg yolks
  • Sunlight

If one is going for the supplement around 65μg would be good for an average Adult

Quercetin

Quercetin belongs to a family of bioflavonoids, which are responsible for the bright colors and medicinal properties in many plants. It is also found in cannabis plants.
Similar to Hydroxychloroquine, Quercetin acts as a zinc ionophore and helps in shutting the action of a protein that is responsible for the replication of RNA in coronavirus.

Natural Sources of Quercetin :

  • capers
  • peppers — yellow and green
  • onions — red and white
  • shallots
  • asparagus — cooked
  • cherries
  • tomatoes
  • red apples
  • red grapes
  • broccoli
  • kale
  • red leaf lettuce
  • berries — all types, such as cranberries, blueberries, and raspberries
  • tea — green and black

If you are going for a supplement 1000mg is the recommended dosage per day

Green Tea and Black Tea:

In Green Tea Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) is the main active component of tea polyphenol and shows several biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antitumor-promoting, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities, It is also a Zinc Ionophore and works exactly like quercetin.

Theaflavin (TF) and its derivatives, known collectively as theaflavins, are antioxidant polyphenols that are formed from the condensation of flavan-3-ols in tea leaves during the enzymatic oxidation (sometimes erroneously referred to as fermentation) of black tea. A study shows that Theaflavin has inhibitory properties of Coronavirus

Tannic Acid:

Tannic acid is a bitter-tasting substance called polyphenol that is derived from plants. They fall into the category of flavonoids Similiar to quercetin. Tannic acid is the component of red wine or unripe fruit that makes your mouth want to crinkle. Early research has shown that tannic acid can inhibit the activity of coronavirus by as much as 50% But is found only in a handful of food items

Natural Sources of Tannic acid:

  • Red Grapes
  • Green Tea
  • Persimmons

NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine):

it is an antioxidant that helps the liver get rid of toxins and reduces the toxin effects on liver
As an antioxidant, NAC helps replenish glutathione levels in your lungs and reduces inflammation in your bronchial tubes and lung tissue, which is one of the reasons for mortality in COVID-19
It has also got the ability to Boost Glutathione Levels and help in Improving Immune Function. Research has shown that NAC may not help in preventing the Virus but will reduce the symptoms significantly by up to 75%. 

NAC is synthesized by our body using other vitamins, more info here.

If you are going for a supplement 1200mg is the recommended dosage per day

ZINC:

ZINC is a crucial element in the fight against Covid-19 as it the only substance is known so far that inhibits the replication of virus by interacting with Virus protein
Hydroxychloroquine that is currently used in the treatment of COVID-19 is an ionophore, which simply means it allows zinc in your body to enter into cells and interact with Virus protein present in the virus-infected cell
hence it’s crucial to maintain an optimum level of Zinc in your body

U can find a list of food substance that has Zinc here

If you are going for a supplement 40mg is the upper limit of dosage per day

Sleep:

there is an article written by me that explains how sleep can help fight against COVID-19, u can read it here. The Key Takeaway is that consistent 7 to 8 hrs sleep is necessary to fight against COVID-19

14 Mins Shower:

Not any shower but a systematic bathing procedure called Contra Shower can help fight against Covid-19, we have an article written here. The key takeaway is that u take  5 min Hot shower followed by 1 min cold shower followed by 3 mins hot shower followed by 1 min cold shower followed by 3 mins hot shower and finally ending with 1 min cold shower

If I Find any other tips that are beneficial to fight against COVID  19 I will add here, share this article with your loved ones and help protect them and their loved ones as well, together we can build a strong community to fight Covid-19, all comments for any new research or improvements and questions are Welcome!