Masks, hygiene & spacing are good, but how is your immune defense inside? Learn your internal metabolic health status now!
Inside Your Body Your Metabolic Health Status is Critical
The current pandemic involves Covid-19 as a dangerous viral disease that can be deadly. To prepare for viruses and other infections, you must know what condition your condition is in! Take your personal Metabolic Health Test now.
Learn the 5 metabolic factors in your Metabolic Health test involve weight circumference (not body mass index as many think), glucose levels, blood pressure, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, while not taking any related medications such as statins and diabetic drugs such as Metformin. Metabolic health was defined in 2001 by a study from the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) which indicated metabolic syndrome was present if you failed to meet optimal levels of 3 of 5 “cardiometabolic risk factors.”
A massive study authorized by the CDC from 2016-2019 disturbingly found only 12% of Americans were metabolically healthy (88% unhealthy) and thus frighteningly susceptible to pathogen invasions such as SARS-CoV-2 virus that produces Covid-19 disease. Public statements of what to do for protection from this virus and others such as influenza, emphasize good hygiene including washing of hands; distancing of 6 feet from others to help diminish spread by droplets in the air from those infected and the wearing of a face mask to avoid inhaling air-borne virus. These steps are all beneficial to some degree and to be encouraged when applied with reason.
However, what about our defenses inside our bodies? Public notices tell us people immuno-compromised are more susceptible, especially as we age, But how do we normalize, stabilize and maintain an immune system comprising 1/5th of our bodies, or about 20 trillion cells. First know the word, “Metabolic” relates to the full range of biochemical processes that occur within any living organism. We often use the term “metabolic” when discussing the breakdown and digestion of food and the transformation of food and nutrients into energy, but the true meaning is broader and more specific when applied to “metabolic health.”
The guidelines for being metabolically healthy were specifically a waist circumference less than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women. A fasting glucose level of less than 100 mg/dl (dL=deciliter) and Hemoglobin resting A1c of less than 5.7 (A1c of 6.0 is considered diabetic). Additionally, blood pressure of systolic less than 120 and diastolic of less than 80 mm/GG. (GG=gigagrams). Triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dL. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol needs to be less than 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women. Also, you fail if you are taking any medications for any of the five metabolic factors above.
Now you know the odds are you do not have good metabolic health! Bottom line is those not metabolically healthy have increased vulnerability to infection and pathogens, especially with advanced age and a declining immune response.
If you have excess body fat, Type 2 diabetes , high blood pressure, heart disease, excess Triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol, you are primed for worse outcomes from any infection, including Covid-19 and influenza.
Did you know obesity is estimated to double the risk of hospitalization not just for the elderly with Covid-19, but also in patients less than 60 years of age! Obesity causes chronic inflammation (not brief acute inflammation) and chronic inflammation increases pro-inflammatory cytokines in your body, which in turn increases the risk of a cytokine storm especially in the lungs which can be deadly in Covid-19.
As to insulin resistance and diabetes, in addition to imperfect cholesterol levels, we can do something today to improve since the probabilities are high almost all of us may be confronted with Cobid-19 or a mutation and influenza exposure at some point. When this occurs, you either don’t want to get sick, or have few symptoms of the virus (hopefully none as you are asymptomatic) and virus negatives for only a brief time.
As to diet, the Kaufmann diet is suggested (www.knowthecause.com) including minimizing processed foods and refined carbs, sugar and omega 6 oils. Take Vitamin D daily. No pizza, bread or white rice either. Eliminate industrially processed seed oils including canola, corn and soy; many being genetically engineered. Substitute coconut oil.
Normalize your immune cells and immune response to avoid being immuno-compromised. In addition to Vitamin D, daily take zinc, elderberry and beta 1,3/1,6 glucan to nutritionally and naturally help your body help yourself. Moderately exercise, get adequate sleep and minimize stress as possible.
Pathogens assault us constantly from birth, but with attention and implementation of the suggested lifestyle changes, metabolic health for most can be attained while normalizing and activating our immune defenses. Begin now to control excess inflammation so you don’t add fuel to the flames of viral load in your body. The decisions are yours.
Today recognize and improve your personal pathogen, including viral, defenses both outside and inside your body. Enhance your metabolic health and immune system to let today be the first day for the rest of your life seeking a quality existence; hopefully resulting in minimum pathogen miseries and good health.
