Regulate the GUT microbiome with Long-term deep meditation

I love this article from News-Medical life sciences by Emily Henderson B.Sc

It is so wonderful that there is so much research going into meditation and that It is becoming more mainstream. I have loved meditation for years and practice it daily. It helps calm the mind and body and now we have regulation of the gut microbiome that supports immunity and better health.

Long-term deep meditation may help to regulate the gut microbiome for better health

 Regular deep meditation, practiced for several years, may help to regulate the gut microbiome and potentially lower the risks of physical and mental ill health, finds a small comparative study published in the open access journal General Psychiatry.

The gut microbes found in a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks differed substantially from those of their secular neighbors, and have been linked to a lower risk of anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular disease.

Research shows that the gut microbiome can affect mood and behavior through the gut–brain axis. This includes the body's immune response, hormonal signaling, stress response and the vagus nerve-;the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees an array of crucial bodily functions.

The significance of the group and specimen design is that these deep-thinking Tibetan monks can serve as representatives of some deeper meditations. Although the number of samples is small, they are rare because of their geographical location.

Meditation is increasingly being used to help treat mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, traumatic stress, and eating disorders as well as chronic pain. But it's not clear if it might also be able to alter the composition of the gut microbiome, say the researchers.

In a bid to find out, the researchers analyzed the stool and blood samples of 37 Tibetan Buddhist monks from three temples and 19 secular residents in the neighboring areas.

Tibetan Buddhist meditation originates from the ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda, and is a form of psychological training, say the researchers. The monks in this study had been practicing it for at least 2 hours a day for between 3 and 30 years.

None of the participants had used agents that can alter the volume and diversity of gut microbes: antibiotics; probiotics; prebiotics; or antifungal drugs in the preceding 3 months.

Both groups were matched for age, blood pressure, heart rate, and diet.

Stool sample analysis revealed significant differences in the diversity and volume of microbes between the monks and their neighbors.

Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes species were dominant in both groups, as would be expected. But Bacteroidetes were significantly enriched in the monks' stool samples (29% vs 4%), which also contained abundant Prevotella (42% vs 6%) and a high volume of Megamonas and Faecalibacterium.

"Collectively, several bacteria enriched in the meditation group [have been] associated with the alleviation of mental illness, suggesting that meditation can influence certain bacteria that may have a role in mental health," write the researchers.

These include Prevotella, Bacteroidetes, Megamonas and Faecalibacterium species, the previously published research suggests.

The researchers then applied an advanced analytical technique to predict which chemical processes the microbes might be influencing. This indicated that several protective anti-inflammatory pathways, in addition to metabolism-;the conversion of food into energy-;were enhanced in the meditation people.

Finally, blood sample analysis showed that levels of agents associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, including total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, were significantly lower in the monks than in their secular neighbors by their functional analysis with the gut microbes.

Although a comparative study, it is observational and the numbers of participants were small, all male, and lived at high altitude, making it difficult to draw any firm or generalizable conclusions. And the potential health implications could only be inferred from previously published research.

But based on their findings, the researchers suggest that the role of meditation in helping to prevent or treat psychosomatic illness definitely merits further research.

And they conclude: "These results suggest that long-term deep meditation may have a beneficial effect on gut microbiota, enabling the body to maintain an optimal state of health."

7 ways to build a healthier Immune system

 I love sharing articles from people I respect and admire in the health field. 

Here is an article written by Dr Robert Silverman that is excellent and will help you navigate a healthier lifestyle and Immune system.

Enjoy!!

7 ways to build defenses against illness and disease when patients ask how to build a strong and healthy immune system

Robert Silverman, DC January 3, 2023 <https://www.chiroeco.com/how-to-build-a-strong-and-healthy-immune-system/

The immune system has a difficult job. Its primary focus is to protect and keep you healthy from foreign invaders. It’s always walking a tightrope between being hypervigilant and not being vigilant enough. By supporting it — with proper nutrition, healthy lifestyle choices and nutritional supplements — you allow your immune system to rejuvenate and maintain its delicate balance. But how to build a strong and healthy immune system, and why does it matter?

A weakened immune system can leave patients vulnerable to infectious diseases, autoimmunity and chronic illnesses. And they don’t have a backup immune system if they choose to neglect the one they have.

Thankfully, there are many safe, effective avenues when patients ask how to build a strong and healthy immune system.

Here’s what I recommend.

1.    Eat better for a stronger immune system

Stronger immunity starts with a better diet and good gut health. Begin by saying no to gluten, processed foods, sugar, dairy and artificial sweeteners. Likewise, avoid deep-fried foods and foods cooked in pro-inflammatory vegetable oils.

Avoiding these foods is the basis of an anti-inflammatory diet. Removing them from the diet reduces cellular stressors, inhibits inflammatory signals from the immune system and promotes healthy gut microbiota. A diet high in sugar, for example, can damage your immune system; more specifically, sugar can damage the immune cells in the gut.

The healthiest diets focus on nutrient-rich whole foods, lots of plants and limited processed foods. The Mediterranean and plant-forward diets are anti-inflammatory in addition to their other benefits. Research has found that eating a Mediterranean-style diet leads to a healthier gut microbiome with more beneficial bacteria, along with lower inflammation and better blood sugar control. A healthy gut microbiome is also associated with a lower risk of illness, including COVID-19.

Detect and avoid food sensitivities

Detecting and avoiding food sensitivities can be a game changer for patients when it comes to immune health. Food sensitivity is an immune-based reaction to food that elevates inflammation. Undetected food sensitivities can lead to chronic inflammation, possible autoimmunity and a compromised immune system. Treating and avoiding food sensitivities can make a dramatic improvement in immune system function.

Environmental toxins such as lead, acrylamide, BPA and many others can enter the body and interact with the immune system, causing detrimental immune activation or suppression. A semi-annual quality detoxification program will help rid the body of toxins. At the same time, patients should work to reduce exposure to environmental toxins.

Focus on hydration

Staying well-hydrated aids in maintaining a properly functioning immune system. A good rule of thumb is to drink three-quarters of your body weight in ounces, spread throughout the day. Drinking water improves overall immunity and helps the body eliminate some pathogens naturally. Avoid fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, soda and other sweetened beverages. Stick to plenty of filtered water, organic coffee, black tea, green tea and mild herbal teas.

Manage blood sugar

When asking how to build a strong and healthy immune system, controlling patients’ blood sugar is essential for peak immunity. The glycemic index diet is one of the best dietary approaches for controlling blood sugar. It focuses on foods that have a low impact on your blood sugar.

For example, the glycemic index is a way to rank carbohydrates by their effect on blood glucose levels. Low GI (1 to 55) foods are mostly whole, unprocessed carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. High GI (above 70) foods, which can send your blood sugar soaring, are mostly sugary foods and processed carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta. A low GI diet helps keep your blood sugar at a healthy level and enables you to maintain good metabolic health, including good insulin sensitivity.

When metabolic health is good, the immune system functions optimally.

Consider intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting, or time-restricted eating with a 14- to 16-hour fasting period, allows patients’ immune systems to rejuvenate through autophagy and mitophagy. The rejuvenation process reprograms the immune system, leading to improved immune balance and better immune resilience. Autophagy also plays a crucial role in gut health. It maintains intestinal homeostasis and allows for the interaction between the gut microbiota and the innate and adaptive immune systems.

In addition, intermittent fasting helps maintain intestinal barrier integrity, which improves overall immunity. Some evidence suggests that people who follow a time-restricted eating pattern experience fewer complications from COVID-19.

Make clean eating a priority

It’s been said that eating organic isn’t a trend; it’s a return to tradition. The many chemicals we’re exposed to through our food can damage our immunity. Make clean eating a priority by choosing organically grown produce, grass-fed meat and pasture-raised poultry and eggs whenever possible. Organic bone broth is a great way to get vital minerals such as calcium into the diet.

The immune system needs to get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids to function well. Choose wild-caught SMASH fish: salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herring. Avoid processed vegetable oils; use extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil and macadamia nut oil for cooking instead.

I strongly recommend a plant-forward diet for patients that is high in organically-grown fruits/vegetables, raw nuts/seeds and quality clean proteins. This diet is high in the fiber needed to support gut health. In addition, a plant-forward diet is high in polyphenols and plant compounds such as quercetin and resveratrol, which are powerful antioxidants. Polyphenols improve gut health and activate the immune system. Foods high in polyphenols include vegetables, berries, herbs and spices, dark chocolate, nuts, olives, coffee, and green and black tea.

In a recent study of almost 3,000 health care workers worldwide, those who followed a plant-forward diet had a 73% lower chance of becoming ill with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 than their colleagues who didn’t follow these diets. If they followed a plant-based or pescatarian diet (eating fish/seafood but no other animal foods), their chances of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 were 59% decreased compared to those who didn’t follow these diets.

2.    Manage stress

Ongoing stress can sharply reduce immunity by raising cortisol levels and causing inflammation. Recognizing that stress affects patient health is the first step to reducing it. Once one acknowledges their stressors, various techniques are available to help cope. Some of my patients find meditation, mindfulness and yoga very helpful; others prefer to work out or spend time on a relaxing hobby. No one approach is better than any other; the key is to find a stress reduction technique (or more than one) that works and to use it regularly.

I often see a real improvement in immune systems when my patients take stress reduction seriously. They get sick less often, reduce their joint and muscle pain, and have less systemic inflammation.

Chronic stress often occurs with chronic sleep loss. The two feed on each other, causing inflammation, hormonal imbalances, digestive problems and decreased immunity. More on the importance of sleep is below.

3.    Patients need to get sufficient sleep

Sleep is the silent superpower. It enables immune systems to function efficiently and effectively. While patients sleep, the body repairs itself and removes toxins and waste. At the same time, their levels of immune cells rise naturally. A growing body of research shows that getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep daily is essential for the immune system to reboot.

4.    Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is one of the key pillars when patients ask how to build a strong and healthy immune system . One of the easiest ways to improve immunity is by getting regular, moderate exercise for 30-60 minutes a day. Exercise reduces inflammation and stimulates immunity by improving the circulation of immune cells and antibodies in the body, which makes it easier for the immune system to detect and respond to potential threats.

As with sleep, make daily exercise a top priority for patients, especially if they have a job or lifestyle that means they spend more than a few hours a day sitting. As I tell my patients, sitting is the new smoking.

Numerous studies show that almost all forms of regular exercise give you the same fitness and immunity benefits. When we exercise, antibodies and white blood cells circulate throughout the body faster, making it easier for the immune system to detect and respond to potential threats. Running or jogging, walking at a good pace, exercising along with a video, practicing yoga and performing resistance exercises are all excellent choices. The key is to do some form of exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes per day, 5-6 days per week.

A single 30-minute session of weight resistance training, for example, will boost a patient’s lymphocyte count. They will see the payoff in stronger muscles, better body composition and better overall fitness. Sufficient muscle mass allows for a better immune response in most people. Patients probably won’t get sick as often with minor illnesses like colds — and research shows exercise can reduce inflammation and cut the risk of autoimmunity and chronic disease.

A 2021 study of nearly 50,000 COVID-19 patients found that consistently inactive patients were more than twice as likely to need hospitalization or die compared to those who consistently met physical activity guidelines. Compared to patients who only did some physical activity, those who were consistently inactive were 20% more likely to need hospitalization and 30% more likely to die.

5.    Improve patient body composition

Excess body fat creates systemic inflammation and reduced immunity; metabolic disorders increase inflammation and further reduce immunity.

A key finding from the pandemic is that being overweight and obese are significant risk factors for severe infection. People of any age who are overweight or obese are much more likely to get infected with COVID-19. If they do get sick, they are more likely to get severely ill and need a lengthy recovery period. Overweight or obese people with metabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome or Type 2 diabetes are even more likely to get seriously ill.

The pandemic has been a wake-up call for many of my patients to work on losing weight and improving their diets. They now realize how being severely overweight or obese can affect their immunity and understand how significant weight loss and a better diet are to enhancing their immune systems.

6.    Pair with chiropractic care

As we are well aware, chiropractic care can improve the body’s function in a multitude of ways. Include advanced nutrition and physical modalities training in your practice armamentarium, paired with your vast knowledge of the body and synergistic treatments that can also allow the central nervous system to perform optimally and improve immune system function.

Low-level laser therapy

I believe that low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also referred to as non-thermal laser therapy, is the most versatile health care modality of the current century. Research has shown it provides beneficial effects for a wide array of health conditions, such as musculoskeletal injuries, vagus nerve stimulation, gut restoration/health and improved immune function.

LLLT can stimulate and balance the immune system and reduce inflammation. Laser therapy enhances microcirculation of the blood and lymph, which can aid immunological adaptation and strengthen the immune system.

7.    Boost patient immune health with supplements

Eating a well-balanced, plant-forward diet low in sugar and processed foods is key to strong immune health. However, eating well may not always be accessible for patients in today’s fast-paced, fast-food society. They sometimes need more of a vitamin, mineral or nutrient than they can realistically get from their diet.

Depleted cells in the body may not be repleted sufficiently by food alone. That’s why I often recommend specific dietary supplements as an addition to a healthy diet. Supplements can provide good nutrient status and nutrient stores. This status provides balanced immune system function, which will provide a strong defense against pathogens.

Vitamin D, for example, is necessary for strong immunity. Vitamin D mostly comes from exposure to sunshine, but we spend 90% of our lives indoors. A daily supplement is the best way to ensure you get enough of this vitamin.

Top five supplements for immunity

My top five daily supplements synergistically stimulate, balance and support both the innate and the adaptive immune responses:

Daily multivitamins with minerals: Vitamins A, C, D and the mineral zinc are needed to build the many enzymes for immune cells to produce cytokines and antibodies efficiently.

Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids help lymphocytes produce cytokines and chemokines that direct the immune response.

Vitamin D3 with vitamin K2: Taking vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 helps ensure the calcium transported by the vitamin D is absorbed by bones where it’s needed most.

Pro-resolving mediators (PRMs): PRMs help limit acute inflammation and promote resolution after an immune response.

Prebiotics and probiotics: Prebiotics support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while probiotics aid in modulating the immune system by providing beneficial bacteria to the gut’s ecosystem.

Today more than ever, building a strong immune system is essential for vibrant health. We now have many effective modalities for helping patients strengthen their immunity. As our understanding of the gut microbiome and other aspects of immunity expands, we can successfully target our treatments to meet individual needs.

If history is to repeat itself, there will be other health pandemics. But we can learn something from the past: The first and most controllable line of defense against illness is our own immune system. When considering how to build a strong and healthy immune system, instead of only reacting to sickness, a proactive approach to immunity can help reduce the risk of illness — and possibly even prevent it.

 

The One Emotion that Extends Your Life

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP

Based on progressive research we find that what we think about and what we feel have far-ranging effects on our immune system.

One important part of our immune system includes the natural killer cell or NK cells. These are a type of lymphocyte and an important player in the war on invading bad microbes and mounting an immune attack to combat these bad microbes. NK cells are known to be protective against cancer. Some studies have documented that the less active your NK cells are the more rapid cancer progression and the more it spreads throughout the body.

And guess what?

These important NK cells actually respond to your mood.

The most important emotion to boost these NK cells is laughter.

When you are feeling good, optimistic and happy your NK cells multiply exponentially!

If you are known pessimist, there is still hope for you.

A study done at the University of California showed that actors who spent time performing depressing movie scenes had a decreased immune responsiveness. On the other hand actors who performed roles where they were uplifting, had an increased immune responsiveness. So the moral of the story is something called, Fake it till you make it. Yes, even if you don't feel happy, at least act like you do! Your body's immune system will reward you for it.

Here is a good punch list to improve your mood and of course boost your NK cells: These include: watching funny movies, making music or listening to uplifting music, coloring in books, walking in the woods, going to a comedy show, spending time with good uplifting friends to something as simple as taking a soaking bath with relaxing herbs.

(Functional Medicine University)

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12652882

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11712080

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426113058.htm

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his functional medicine community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Antiviral Lactoferrin Now pitted against COVID-19

Antiviral Lactoferrin Now Pitted Against COVID-19

 by Noelle Patno, PhD

Lactoferrin (LF) has been advocated by researchers1–3 as a potential method to prevent or treat COVID-19. These recent reviews promote a hypothesis that the natural, endogenous compound which has shown antiviral capabilities for other viruses including SARS-CoV may be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus as well. With over 70 years since the discovery of this glycoprotein, this iron-scavenging milk protein now deserves greater attention. The current literature demonstrates that LF has many anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and even anticarcinogenic effects; what remains to be discovered is its specific activity against the pandemic virus of our times, SARS-CoV-2. A large body of in vitroevidence suggests that lactoferrin may have efficacy because of its ability to inhibit viruses and bind to viral surface receptors, which are related to SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms. Now is the time to discover more about this glycoprotein and its potential against SARS-CoV-2.

Mechanism of binding to heparan sulfate

A recent paper (published in Cell, November 2020) demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection depends on attachment to cellular heparan sulfate (HS) and ACE2.4 While ACE2’s role was predicted in January5 and subsequently demonstrated in March,6 this revelation in November reveals the importance of HS as an essential factor in the virus’s attachment and entry to infect the cell. Heparan sulfate, a complex carbohydrate on almost every cell’s surface, is useful to the host to determine the cell’s response to stimuli such as metabolic or inflammatory stimuli and critically as part of immune functions.7 However, many viruses hijack HS to bind and depend on it for their infection. In vitro evidence supports this mechanism for other viruses including the Nipah and Hendra viruses;8 entrovirus 71, which is associated with hand foot mouth disease;9 enteroaggregative E. coli, which is a significant cause of diarrhea and foodborne outbreaks;10 rift valley fever virus;11 and human papillomavirus.12 This list overlaps with the list of pathogenic viruses that lactoferrin inhibits in vitro, which includes but is not limited to the following: herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), avian flu, enterovirus 71, Japanese encephalitis virus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A virus, parainfluenza virus, cytomegalovirus, poliovirus, rotavirus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with clinical evidence for enterovirus 71, HCV, norovirus, and rotavirus.2 With lactoferrin’s previous ability demonstrated to prevent the Japanese encephalitis virus,13 alphavirus,14 Toscana virus,15 dengue virus,16 and the SARS pseudovirus17 from entering cells through HS receptors and infecting the cells, then LF has the possibility of preventing SARS-CoV2 from entering cells as well.

Potential mechanisms by which LF might help against SARS-CoV-2 are therefore the following:1

Prevent attachment to heparan sulfate receptors on the cell and inhibit viral entry4,13
Prevent attachment to ACE2 and inhibit viral entry/infection of the cell18

Prevent attachment to DC-SIGN, dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin receptor and thereby prevent infection of the cell3
Prevent attachment and viral entry via other receptors17

Inhibit viral replication15,19
Decrease IL-6,20 which is part of the cytokine storm

Current clinical trials evaluating lactoferrin in COVID-19

The table below lists the current clinical trials on clinicaltrials.gov evaluating lactoferrin in COVID-19.

Three recent publications further suggest that lactoferrin may help against SARS-CoV-2:

1. In vitro, bovine lactoferrin was able to decrease significantly the numbers of SARS-CoV-2-infected bronchial epithelial cell mimetics, the single compound mentioned in the abstract of the preprinted paper, and one of 17 dose-responsive compounds from a 1,425 library in a drug-repurposing high throughput screen19

2. The completed randomized clinical study listed above, in 32 patients with confirmed COVID-19 by RT-PCR, showed an early clearance of the virus, recovery from symptoms, and statistically significant reduction in IL-6 , with additional in vitro and in silico support for lactoferrin’s ability to prevent cells from infection through preincubation as well as simulated binding of lactoferrin to the ACE2 receptor.18

3. A 10-day study evaluating the effect of a liposomal bovine lactoferrin syrup that included vitamin C alone or with zinc (for a total of 256 to 384 mg of lactoferrin per day) and additional nasal and mouth spray or aerosol application for additional symptoms. IgM/IgG antibody rapid test in whole blood was used for confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in 75 people. Symptoms were scored on a scale of 0 to 3 in severity twice a day for 10 days and then a follow-up after one month. By the fifth day, all patients recovered from respiratory distress and headache symptoms. The percentage of patients without symptoms of coughing, muscular pain, nasal congestion, tiredness, and diarrhea all increased by 48 hours and 5 days after study start.21

There are many limitations to the above three studies. The first two preprinted articles have not been peer-reviewed. The third lacked clear dosing instructions, did not use the more accurate SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests; did not follow-up test for the virus after-treatment; used additional interventions for subsets of patients; lacked more rigorous, randomized, and controlled design and more objective and validated methodology; and was not the complete data set for the study, among other limitations. Clinical studies on the effects of lactoferrin supplementation in COVID-19 patients is a promising and interesting research advancement to watch.

Citations

1. Campione E et al. Lactoferrin as protective natural barrier of respiratory and intestinal mucosa against coronavirus infection and inflammation. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(14):4903.

2. Chang R et al. Lactoferrin as potential preventative and adjunct treatment for COVID-19. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020;56(3):106118.

3. Wang Y et al. Lactoferrin for the treatment of COVID-19 (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6).

4. Clausen TM et al. SARS-CoV-2 infection depends on cellular heparan sulfate and ACE2. Cell. 2020;183(4):1043-1057.e15.

5. Wan Y et al. Receptor recognition by the novel coronavirus from Wuhan: an analysis based on decade-long structural studies of SARS coronavirus. J Virol. 2020;94(7).

6. Hoffmann M et al. SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and is blocked by a clinically proven protease inhibitor. Cell. 2020;181(2):271-280.e8.

7. Simon Davis DA et al. Heparan sulfate: a ubiquitous glycosaminoglycan with multiple roles in immunity. Front Immunol. 2013;4.

8. Mathieu C et al. Heparan sulfate-dependent enhancement of henipavirus infection. mBio. 2015;6(2).

9. Kobayashi K et al. Heparan sulfate attachment receptor is a major selection factor for attenuated enterovirus 71 mutants during cell culture adaptation. PLOS Pathogens. 2020;16(3):e1008428.

10. Rajan A et al. Enteroaggregative E. coli adherence to human heparan sulfate proteoglycans drives segment and host specific tesponses to infection. PLOS Pathogens. 2020;16(9):e1008851.

11. de Boer SM et al. Heparan sulfate facilitates Rift Valley fever virus entry into the cell. J Virol. 2012;86(24):13767-13771.

12. Selinka H-C et al. Inhibition of transfer to secondary receptors by heparan sulfate-binding drug or antibody induces noninfectious uptake of human papillomavirus. J Virol. 2007;81(20):10970-10980.

13. Chien Y-J et al. Bovine lactoferrin inhibits Japanese encephalitis virus by binding to heparan sulfate and receptor for low density lipoprotein. Virology. 2008;379(1):143-151.

14. Waarts B-L et al. Antiviral activity of human lactoferrin: inhibition of alphavirus interaction with heparan sulfate. Virology. 2005;333(2):284-292.

15. Pietrantoni A et al. Bovine lactoferrin inhibits Toscana virus infection by binding to heparan sulphate. Viruses. 2015;7(2):480-495.

16. Chen J-M et al. Bovine lactoferrin inhibits dengue virus infectivity by interacting with heparan sulfate, low-density lipoprotein receptor, and DC-SIGN. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(9).

17. Lang J et al. Inhibition of SARS pseudovirus cell entry by lactoferrin binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycans. PLoS One. 2011;6(8). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023710

18. Campione E et al. Pleiotropic effect of Lactoferrin in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection: randomized clinical trial, in vitro and in silico preliminary evidences. bioRxiv. Published online August 17, 2020:2020.08.11.244996.

19. Mirabelli C et al. Morphological cell profiling of SARS-CoV-2 infection identifies drug repurposing candidates for COVID-19. bioRxiv. Published online September 28, 2020.

20. Lepanto MS et al. Efficacy of lactoferrin oral administration in the treatment of anemia and anemia of inflammation in pregnant and non-pregnant women: an interventional study. Front Immunol. 2018;9.

21. Serrano G et al. Liposomal lactoferrin as potential preventative and cure for COVID-19. Int J Res Health Sci. 2020;8(1):8.

Noelle Patno, PhD is the Nutrition Scientist for Digestive Health at Metagenics. Dr. Patno received her PhD in Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition and Masters in Translational Science from the University of Chicago, studying the role of microbial components in intestinal epithelial cell survival related to inflammatory bowel disease. Prior to her graduate studies, Dr. Patno received a chemical engineering degree from Stanford University and worked as an engineer. She has personal experience and interest in preventive nutrition and nutritional therapies for chronic disease, and her current role involves researching and developing probiotics, prebiotics, and other nutritional programs for the promotion of digestive and overall health.

Immunity and metabolism

 I love this blog from BIG BOLD HEALTH by Cheryl Kos ND,

And wanted to share it will all of you. Many wonder how the metabolism and Immunity are related. Your daily choices affect your Immune health and wellbeing and if you needed more proof of that, continue reading this concise article…   

by Cheryl Kos ND:

Metabolism is all about how your body makes use of food and water, nutrients and air. It’s also about how you deal with toxins from the environment and get rid of waste products.

But while most conversations on the subject are usually limited to things like energy and macronutrients, it turns out that metabolism directly influences the immune system. The process of metabolism is actually one of the major ways our immune cells are educated by the environment, and it plays a significant role in your immune health.

 

Your Schedule Affects Your Immunity

Like most things in the body, metabolic function works in cycles. Our immune system parallels these cycles, taking advantage of energy when available, and setting up a rest-and-repair schedule for rejuvenating damaged cells during metabolic off-hours. This helps ensure optimal immune function.

The way you arrange your days and nights really affects your metabolism, influencing how your body handles carbs, fats, calories, and all that. Yet your scheduling also impacts how much time is left for optimal immune function, effective healing, running the deep cleaning programs in your cells, and correcting the overactive aging processes most of us experience.

Here is a master key to remember — it’s really hard to heal or rejuvenate when you’re busy digesting sweet, fatty, junky, or highly-processed foods. These kinds of fuel are really distracting for your body, and you can’t have your best immunity or metabolism if you’re eating them very often.

Your body is actually pretty flexible in the scheduling of its peak healing and peak immunity times. But this can only go so far. With every day’s decisions about how you eat and live, you are either helping to promote healthier metabolism and immune function or hurting it, if your choices are not in line with your body’s protective strategy.

 

How to Harmonize with Your Body’s Clock

Humans have a body clock that is generally set for night-time rejuvenation and day-time duties of protection, activity, and digestion. Keeping this in mind, here are a few ways to harmonize with your highly evolved body clock:

• Stick to certain meal times as much as possible, avoid snacks, and try to set a limited “eating window” of no more than about 10 hours from your first calorie of the day to your last calorie. (Important note — if you have issues regulating blood sugar, you should speak to your healthcare provider before making these types of changes.)

• Maintain the same sleeping schedule at least 6 days per week, and ease into restful sleep by turning off devices at least 1 hour before bedtime. Keep your sleeping area cool, quiet, and dark. 

• Emphasize simple, unprocessed foods. One suggestion is to have at least one meal focused on fresh produce (like a meal salad or veggie bowl) and have generous servings of fresh foods. 

• Having a regular mind-body practice — like martial arts, yoga, or meditation — can help you resolve stress better, which can in turn help reduce midnight fridge raids and cravings for metabolically unsound and immune-damaging foods. 

• Enjoy prebiotic and high-fiber foods every day, because they help smooth out energy and mood bumps, and help satisfy the appetite long after you eat them. And they also feed the “friendly flora” in your gut that are so central to good immunity. Examples here include beans, berries, buckwheat, root vegetables, whole grains, and fibrous fruits like apples and pears.

 

For a Deeper Dive

Here’s a neat Scientific American article that describes how body clocks are set for specific functions at certain times, and how going against your clock with improper eating habits can disturb health. It helps explain why, for better immunity and a healthier response to stress, it may make sense to restrict fatty foods to the earlier part of your day.

PLEASE wake up…Our freedoms are in jeopardy…Former Pfizer VP speaks out.

 I would really like for everyone to start looking beyond your fear and start looking at the facts that are staring you in the face.  Anyone that goes against the Media, CDC, WHO, or any government appointed scientific view on social media or media in general is being censored, removed, ridiculed etc. In a true democracy, are we not allowed to speak our views…freedom of speech is in our constitution, yet many Doctors are being removed from Social media platforms. Fact checkers on Facebook are actually just popular opinion and not TRUTH. 

There are so many different avenues you can look at for the truth…STOP believing the news you are being spoon fed, like a baby that can’t think for itself, and start using your amazing brain and finding the facts for yourself. Living in fear is what tyranny relies upon. The tyrannical has always used the guise of public safety to implement more and more restrictions and the experiment of how far they can go will continue until we the people wake up and rise up and say NO MORE!

Here is one scientist speaking out on the current agenda. I have researched and read several more truths. DO NOT allow your freedoms to be obliterated by misinformation and FEAR. Do your homework and dig deeper to discover more facts so that you can make an informed decision and not one based solely on FEAR.  

(Lifesitenews, ICAN, the Highwire, plus many more will give you more information)

WAKE UP, before it is too late. Just look around at the atrocities happening in other countries. You have a right to chose how to take care of your health and wellbeing and the freedom to go where you desire without restriction. Your health, your choice!

Former Pfizer VP warns of ‘totalitarian’ health tyranny

“The authorities are adopting a method of incremental implementation of vaccine passports, according to Yeadon. “They’ll start with places you probably don’t go, like if you’re my age, you’re probably not going to nightclubs. So, I’m not personally affected by the news that you’ll need a vax pass to demonstrate that you’ve been vaccinated before you can get into a nightclub.”

“But that’s how they do it. It’s like dropping a cancerous cell into your body and you’re not noticing because you’re immunocompromised and it grows and metastasizes and then it kills you,” he continued. “And that’s what these [vax passes] are going to do. So don’t tolerate them anywhere in your country. The system will form itself, and I cannot see a way of removing them.”

“Once these things are in your country and being used to regulate access to essential services like food, money, fuel, trains and things like that, you’ll never get rid of it,” Yeadon said. “We’ve got to stop it beforehand.”

AND some food for though:

“ First, he addressed “the only possible argument” public health entities could advance to support vaccine passports, and this includes the notion that a vaccinated person is “safer to be around,” presuming that the shots “reduced transmission to others.”

In response, the expert in respiratory pharmacology said, “They do not [reduce such transmission]. It’s not in dispute. SAGE [Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies] doesn’t say so. The U.K. government doesn’t say so. So please, you’re not safer standing next to someone in a bar that’s been vaccinated. Not at all. And the government doesn’t say so either.”

Secondly, the COVID-19 gene-based vaccines cannot be about health because if they were, those “who’ve already been infected with the virus [and recovered],” thus having developed natural immunity, “would be excused from such injections.”

“Why would you waste money giving them to someone who already has superior immunity to anything you get from the vaccine? Also, it’s dangerous to vaccinate people who’ve already recovered from the disease in question,” he said.”

Continue to read: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/former-pfizer-vp-warns-of-permanent-totalitarian-health-tyranny-and-shares-advice-on-how-to-stop-it/

 

The gut’s role in viral immunity 

Robert G. Silverman, DC, DACBN, DCBCN, MS, CCN, CNS, CSCS, CIISN, CKTP, CES, HKC, FAKTR 

February 17, 2021 

Katemangostar/Freepik 

An individual patient’s immune response to infection is closely linked to their gut health. Patients with healthy gut microbiomes tend to have an immune system that responds quickly and appropriately to viral attacks. An unhealthy gut is linked to immune activation, mild chronic inflammation, and greater susceptibility to viral infection and more severe illness. During a long viral pandemic, helping patients restore or maintain a healthy gut microbiome and a healthy immune system has never been more consequential.

The Gut-Immune Link

The crosstalk between the gut microbiota and the immune system is constant—and central to mounting an effective immune defense. Between 70 and 80 percent of all immune cells are found in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) surrounding the intestines. When the GALT is compromised, the entire immune system is weakened.

The intestinal immune system can distinguish between the wide and ever-changing range of harmless microbes within the gut and pathogens. This constant, delicate immune homeostasis is disrupted when antibiotics, poor diet, lack of exercise, and other harmful factors such as environmental toxins alter the gut bacteria's balance, causing dysbiosis.

In dysbiosis, the GALT is continuously stimulated to produce immune cells and inflammatory response. When dysbiosis continues, the gut epithelial barrier can become permeable—the patient now has a leaky gut syndrome. Bacteria, bacterial metabolic and breakdown byproducts, and large undigested food particles can escape the gut and enter the circulation through tight junctions that open too widely. The result is further immune activation as well as localized and systemic inflammation, usually along with other dysbiosis symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, and brain fog.

The LPS Effect

The triggering factor for systemic inflammation from increased gut permeability often begins with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) endotoxin from bacteria. An endotoxin is a complex lipopolysaccharide (LPS) found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and H. pylori. About 65 percent or more of the bacteria in the gut are gram-negative. As some of these bacteria are dying off at any given time, small amounts of LPS are constantly being released.

The gut produces enzymes that neutralize the endotoxin, and any amount of LPS that escapes is easily handled by the immune system. In dysbiosis, however, the gut may have more LPS-producing bacteria than it can handle. If the dysbiosis causes the gut barrier to become permeable, LPS can leak through and trigger endotoxemia, or inflammation throughout the body. Studies also show that LPS damages the blood-brain barrier by making it more permeable.

Leaky gut syndrome and dysbiosis can lead to endotoxemia, but they’re not the only causes. A diet high in saturated fat can kill off gram-negative bacteria, which causes the release of excess LPS into the gut. If the gut barrier is permeable, as it may be from a diet high in bad fats and processed foods, LPS can get through and enter the circulation.

Endotoxemia does its damage by triggering the pro-inflammatory protein complex NLRP3. Activation starts when the LPS component of gram-negative bacteria is detected by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the cell membrane, which activates the transcription factors IRF1 and NF-κB.

IRF1 drives the NLRP3 complex to release the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β). This inflammatory pathway may be behind a wide range of chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes.

The transcription factor NF-κB is activated by LPS and other harmful stimuli, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and IL-6. Once activated, NF-κB enters the cell nucleus. There, it upregulates the genes that tell the immune system’s T cells to get active. It also controls many of the genes involved in inflammation. High levels of NF-κB are associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, and gastritis.

The Viral Link

Modern life puts many adults into a constant state of dysbiosis and low-grade chronic inflammation from immune system activation. Obesity, chronic illness, a poor diet low in fiber and high in sugar, bad fats, processed foods, and a lack of physical activity all promote dysbiosis and gut permeability.

On top of a lifetime of these pro-inflammatory factors, older adults often have an additional source of low-grade chronic inflammation known as “inflammaging.” Among the causes of inflammaging may be a decrease in the overall variety of bacterial species in the gut microbiome, along with an increase in pro-inflammatory species. The dysbiosis this causes leads to greater gut permeability and more immune activation in older adults and adds to any preexisting inflammation from obesity, chronic illness, and lifestyle.

In the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, the patients who have experienced the most severe disease and mortality are generally older, or have chronic illnesses, or are obese—or all three. In other words, the sickest patients are also the ones that are the most likely to have already elevated markers of inflammation from disturbances of the gut microbiome/immune system link before they become ill. COVID-19 is associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokine and chemokine markers such as IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and C-reactive protein. When added to preexisting inflammation, the COVID-19 inflammatory response may lead to a cytokine storm and cytokine release syndrome, which is associated with severe illness and high mortality.

Patients who have recovered from the worst of COVID-19 may still have ongoing dysbiosis, ongoing immune activation, and ongoing inflammation. A recent study published in the journal Gut of hospitalized COVID-19 patients after viral clearance showed significant alterations in their gut microbiomes compared to non-COVID-19 individuals. The COVID-19 patients also showed elevated concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and blood markers that corresponded to disease severity.

“Associations between gut microbiota composition, levels of cytokines, and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19 suggest that the gut microbiome is involved in the magnitude of COVID-19 severity, possibly via modulating host immune responses,” the authors concluded. “Furthermore, after disease resolution, gut microbiota dysbiosis could contribute to persistent symptoms, highlighting a need to understand how gut microorganisms are involved in inflammation and COVID-19.”

When their major symptoms have resolved, the disrupted gut/immune crosstalk may still be causing inflammation and lingering “long COVID-19” symptoms, such as fatigue and joint pain. Looking upstream and treating leaky gut syndrome and gut dysbiosis may help resolve these symptoms.

An Integrative Approach

COVID-19 will likely be with us for a long time, even when cases have dropped below epidemic level. A key step to prevention, both now and in the future, will be recognizing and treating dysbiosis and leaky gut syndrome and restoring normal active immunity.

This is particularly important for vulnerable patients, the elderly and those with obesity or chronic illness. Now more than ever, all patients should be encouraged to improve their gut microbiome through a better diet, more exercise, and the use of prebiotic and probiotic supplements to promote a healthy diversity of gut bacteria.

References:

• d’Hennezel, E., Abubucker, S., Murphy, L., and Cullen, T. (2017) Total Lipopolysaccharide from the Human Gut Microbiome Silences Toll-Like Receptor Signaling. Host-Microbe Biology. Retrieved from: https://msystems.asm.org/content/2/6/e00046-17
• Hirano, T. and Murakami, M. (2020) COVID-19 A New Virus, but a Familiar Receptor and Cytokine Release Syndrome. Immunity. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32325025/
• Hooper, L.V., Littman, D.R., Macpherson, and A.J. (2012) Interactions between the microbiota and the immune system. Science. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22674334/
• Levy, M., Kolodziejczyk, A., and Thaiss, C. (2017) Dysbiosis and the immune system. Nature Reviews Immunology. Retrieved from: nature.com/articles/nri.2017.7
• Toor, D., Wsson, M.K., and Kumar, P. (2019) Dysbiosis Disrupts Gut Immune Homeostasis and Promotes Gastric Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31100929/  
• Yeoh, Y.K., Zuo, T., Lui, G.C., Zhang, F., Liu, Q., Li, A.Y., Chung, A.C., Cheung, C.P., Tso, E.Y., Fung, K.S., Chan, V., Ling, L., Joynt, G., Hui, D.S., Chow, K.M., Ng, S.S.S., Li, T.C., Ng, R.W., Yip, T.C., Wong, G.L., Chan, F.K., Wong, C.K., Chan, P.K., Ng, S.C. Gut microbiota composition reflects disease severity and dysfunctional immune responses in patients with COVID-19. Gut. Retrieved from: https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2021/01/04/gutjnl-2020-323020

About the Author: 

Robert G. Silverman, DC, DACBN, DCBCN, MS, CCN, CNS, CSCS, CIISN, CKTP, CES, HKC, FAKTR

Robert Silverman is a chiropractic doctor, clinical nutritionist, international speaker, author of bestseller Inside-Out Health, and founder and CEO of Westchester Integrative Health Center. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic and has a master’s degree in human nutrition. The ACA Sports Council named Silverman Sports Chiropractor of the Year in 2015. Silverman is on the advisory board for the Functional Medicine University and is a seasoned health and wellness expert on both the speaking circuits and the media. A frequently published author in peer-reviewed journals and other mainstream publications, Silverman is a thought leader in his field and practice. Silverman was the principal investigator on a Level 1 laser U.S. Food and Drug Administration study. Silverman’s new book, Superhighway to Health, is expected to be published in June 2021.