Getting Infected by a Hurricane? The Real Risk is a Cytokine Storm

Please take a minute to watch the Facebook video below to understand the meaning of the title of this article.

Yes, there is nothing worse than getting infected by a hurricane. Although, if we are being tongue-in-cheek, one could argue that something even worse than a hurricane is a cytokine storm.

A cytokine storm is a sudden and uncontrolled immune response where the body releases a lot of inflammatory proteins called cytokines. Instead of protecting the body, this overwhelming inflammation can hurt healthy tissues and organs. This can cause severe illness and, in extreme cases, death.

The important question is not just how to avoid infection, but how to make sure your immune system is healthy and working well. We are exposed to billions of bugs all the time, some good, some bad. Our immune system protects us. We get infected, our immune system responds appropriately. We get over it, usually in about 10 days, and our immune system is stronger and more responsive. This will help us protect ourselves against similar infections in the future. But sometimes things don't quite go according to plan, and it develops into an overwhelming and life-threatening cytokine storm. So, how do we reduce the possibility of ever suffering a cytokine storm?

The key to avoiding a cytokine storm is to focus on supporting normal immune function through good food, a few key supplements, and healthy living instead of relying on one treatment. Do this year-round, no matter what time of year, no matter how healthy you are, and no matter how old you are. This aligns very much with what being a freeranger is all about. One combination that has stood the test of time, during and since the beginning of the "COVID Years" includes:

• Vitamin C

• Magnesium

• Selenium

• Zinc

• Manganese

• New Zealand blackcurrant powder

• New Zealand Pure Fulvic

• Cod liver oil

New Zealand blackcurrant deserves special mention because it is naturally rich in anthocyanins and also contains quercetin. Quercetin belongs to a group of natural plant compounds known as flavonoids. Laboratory research suggests quercetin can act as a zinc ionophore.

A zinc ionophore is a substance that helps transport zinc from outside the cell into the inside of the cell. This is important because many viruses rely on the machinery inside our cells to reproduce. Zinc is important for normal immune function. In lab studies, higher zinc levels in the body have been shown to stop some viruses from growing. A zinc ionophore simply helps zinc reach a place where it can perform many of its normal biological functions inside the cell. However, zinc itself cannot, or has a hard time getting through the cell wall into the inner part of the cell, where it can work its magic. Think of an ionophore as being a special truck that carries zinc and, unlike other trucks, it can transport zinc through the cell wall membrane.

New Zealand Pure Fulvic appears to offer another interesting mechanism. Fulvic substances are naturally occurring organic compounds formed during the breakdown of plant material. Fulvic acid extracted from ancient peat mined from the deep south of New Zealand is said to be the purest of its kind. Research suggests they may bind minerals and improve their transport across cell membranes. In this sense, fulvic acid may have an ionophore-like effect, helping shuttle minerals such as zinc and magnesium into cells where they are needed. While this is an area of ongoing research and should not be overstated, it provides one plausible explanation for why many people find fulvic minerals a useful addition to their nutritional programme.

To this, I would add one or two capsules of cod liver oil each day to get omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and D. These vitamins are known to help the immune system work well.

Taken together, a practical daily programme might be:

• One teaspoon of New Zealand Pure Fulvic.

• One teaspoon of New Zealand Blackcurrant Powder.

• One level to one rounded teaspoon of Vitamin C, magnesium, selenium, zinc and manganese.

• One or two capsules of cod liver oil.

This combination does not prevent viral infections, nor does it cure them. What it aims to do is provide the nutritional building blocks that allow the immune system to function normally. People with well-supported immune systems often cope better with infections, experience milder illnesses, and recover more quickly. They develop the immune memory that follows a natural infection.

There has been considerable debate about the benefits and risks of COVID-19 mRNA gene therapy vaccinations. Many doctors and scientists, including myself, are worried about this kind of vaccine. Many health experts still think that getting vaccinated with this gene therapy helps prevent serious diseases. But I think they are very wrong. It's okay to disagree, but I would argue that it's not worth risking injecting an experimental drug when there are cheap, healthy ways to greatly reduce the risk of infection. When it comes to lining up to take an experimental gene therapy drug, my best advice is to be at the back of the queue. Better still, don't join the queue at all.

But why, I would ask, are these cheap alternatives not being promoted? Why, instead, is an expensive, obviously unsafe gene editing drug allowed as the only remedy? Is it, I wonder, because there is no money in promoting cheap and unpatentable alternatives? Things as cheap and as simple as picking a lemon off a tree.

Regardless of where people stand in that debate, there should be broad agreement on one point. Building metabolic health, correcting nutritional deficiencies, maintaining regular exercise, obtaining enough sleep, and reducing chronic stress are among the safest and most evidence-supported ways to improve the body's resilience against infectious disease.

Good nutrition remains one of the foundations of good protection.

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Medical disclaimer: 

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Nutritional supplements do not prevent, treat or cure viral infections. People with existing medical conditions, those taking prescription medicines, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and anyone with concerns about COVID-19 or other infectious diseases should seek advice from their healthcare professional before making changes to their health programme.