The following have been studied extensively for antiviral properties or promoting immune system defense against viruses like COVID-19:
- Vitamin D3 is key to protection. It is more than a vitamin, more like a hormone. It helps regulate everything. Need blood level at least 60. If you have not checked a level yet, most of us are low and 10,000 IU daily is generally safe to start
- Selenium 200 ug daily, increasing to 400 ug if feel sick. It is a trace mineral we have farmed out of the soil and is essential for your immune system and thyroid to work correctly
- Turmeric has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It also dampens NF-Kappa B, which helps control inflammation. Take at least 1000 mg daily. Also put on foods and in smoothies. Use organic raw powder or capsules. If feel sick, increase to 2000 mg daily
- Zinc picolinate 25-30 mg daily, increasing to three times daily if feeling sick. Take with food due to possible nausea. It has antiviral properties.
- Melatonin 3 mg prior to bed (usually 2 hours prior). Increase to 10-20 mg if feeling sick. Besides helping sleep, which is essential for your immune system to operate effectively, it inhibits activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes which cause a pro-inflammatory Cytokine storm when viruses like COVID-19 invade us.
- Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and reduce inflammation/damage. Eat a variety of bright and dark colors of fruits and vegetables. Purple colors like Acai and Blueberriesare especially potent. Raw Cacao powder is the highest antioxidant food on earth. Baobab is the highest Vitamin C fruit on earth. If taking Vitamin C, use one with bioflavonoids; 2000 mg/day increasing to 4-5000 if feeling sick. If using Vitamin E, use one with several forms of tocopherol (Gamma E). Resveratrol is from things like red grapes and Cacao; take an optimized form at 250 mg. Quercitin 250 mg is also powerful and helpful.
- Echinacea has been well studied, but not well accepted. It seems to help viral defense when getting sick, so it should only be taken at that time. Use whole plant Echinacea, 1200 mg several times that day.
- Garlic has antiviral properties. If you don’t want to eat raw garlic, use capsules equivalent to 1000 mg of extract and take 5-6 with each dose of Echinacea when feeling sick
- Elderberry has immune boosting properties when feeling sick. It is a potent antioxidant. Take several capsules with Echinacea and garlic.