If you are a bit “seasoned” like I am, you probably remember when the “news” was actually that—reporting on important information or events taking place, with no opinions, hidden agendas or slants. 

Now?  It’s a fear-inducing psychological operation carried out by very well-trained, well-groomed actors, and COVID has been their choice of topic 24/7 for the last nearly two years.

But if these script readers truly cared about reporting NEWS, how about telling people ways they can slash their risk of COVID, and minimize complications if they do get it?  Why is that ignored?

I think that’s pretty news-worthy, but since the mainstream media apparently isn’t interested, I will gladly fill you in on this very important information.

Three ways you can slash your risk of COVID

Over the last two years since COVID has been the newest virus in town, three factors have been observed that can increase someone’s risk of contracting the virus, as well as make it more likely that serious complications will arise.

Inflammation, obesity, and low vitamin D levels.

But the good news is, when you take measures to address those three issues and turn them around, your risk plummets!

Let’s take a closer look at each of those.

COVID Risk #1- Inflammation

Although there are several factors that can trigger inflammation in your body (including injuries, physical activity and even medications), in our modern society numero uno is our DIETS.

Many of the foods we eat stir the pot of inflammation, but the three biggest offenders here are: sugars, refined carbs, and unsaturated fats.

Now, most people know that sugars and carbs (like cookies, cakes, pasta and bread) aren’t great choices and are best minimized for several reasons, including their role in insulin resistance, overweight, and yeast overgrowth in the gut, but many are surprised about unsaturated fats.

Aren’t unsaturated fats “heart healthy” and saturated fat the devil?

Nope, nope, nopitty nope.

Unsaturated fats (especially polyunsaturated fats like processed vegetable oils) are highly subject to oxidation. As the fat oxidizes, it breaks down into harmful sub-components that are as deadly to your cardiovascular system as trans-fats. 

Heart healthy my foot.

Plus, when they’re heated, this process accelerates.

So, if you think you’re doing your body good by cooking with unsaturated fats, you couldn’t be more wrong.

And here’s something really eye-opening—according to a report in the journal Gastroenterology, data indicate that COVID mortality rates are heavily influenced by the amount of unsaturated fat you eat, while saturated fats are associated with LOWER mortality!

How to help:

Minimize sugars and refined carbs in your diet (that includes soda, by the way).

Cook with good stable saturated fats like butter, coconut oil, lard and tallow.

Take advantage of Nature’s awesome anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fats.  The richest food source is fatty fish, but since that’s not something everyone eats all the time, a pure fish oil supplement like VitalMega-3 can help ensure you have healthful levels of these crucial fats. 

COVID Risk #2- Obesity

As much as I wish I could say otherwise, currently about 42 percent of Americans are obese, and another 30 percent or so are overweight.  This is not good for several reasons, including COVID.

According to the CDC, approximately 30 percent of the American adults hospitalized for COVID (up thru November 2020) could be attributed to obesity.  In addition, the greater your body mass index (BMI) the higher your risk for complications and a poor outcome.

Plus, obesity increases your risk of severe COVID illness and triples your risk of hospitalization!

Certainly, our diets are to blame for our incredible obesity rates, but there is more at play than you may realize.

If you have tried losing weight time and again, only to put any weight lost back on again and then some, it’s time to finally put the right strategy in place—one that goes beyond just addressing the food you eat.

How to help:

Healthy lifestyle habits are the true key to losing weight and keeping it off, and these important habits are detailed my book, Want to Lose Weight? Stop Dieting!

Want to Lose Weight? Stop Dieting! lays out a health-supporting “formula” that can help you achieve your ideal body weight, as well as stay disease- and medication-free for life!

I call it the REAL weight loss formula because that’s what it is—real life 12 months a year and not a restrictive diet. 

The key components are:

1. Eating real foods that tastes spectacular
2. Supporting efficient digestion
3. Adopting an exercise routine that’s right for YOU
4. Counteracting other limiting factors that hinder weight loss

I’ll guide you step by step so you can finally reach your goal of a healthy bodyweight, and stay there!

Oh, and reduce your COVID risk too. 

COVID Risk #3- Low Vitamin D levels

Several co-morbid risk factors have emerged that greatly increase the risk of complications from COVID including high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, insulin resistance, and autoimmune diseases.   

The interesting thing is, all of those risk factors are affected by your level of vitamin D! 

• Vitamin D helps maintain proper blood sugar levels—vital for diabetics (a COVID co-morbid factor)
• It’s associated with lower blood pressure (another COVID co-morbid factor)
• It supports heart and cardiovascular health (another one)
• It encourages proper immune function—especially with respect to autoimmune diseases (and another)
• And it supports respiratory health (COVID is a respiratory virus!)

With all the ways that Vitamin D can counteract COVID risks (as well as support strong immune function to help your body fight ALL viruses), it should be no wonder that deficiency in this super-nutrient has been shown to dramatically increase someone’s risk of contracting COVID and possibly succumbing to it.

As a matter of fact, research has shown that COVID patients with inadequate Vitamin D have a sevenfold higher risk of death than those with healthier levels.

And people with serious deficiency of (less than 20 ng/mL) have a 12 times greater death risk!

How to help:

Strive to get 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure every day (if possible) to allow your body to manufacture Vitamin D like it was designed to.

Since sun exposure can be difficult (especially in the northeast this time of year), supplementing with Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B can help ensure consistent healthy Vitamin D levels.  Optimum DK Formula contains a therapeutic 5,000 IU dose of Vitamin D3, plus its partners Vitamin K (in the forms of K1 and K2) and the mineral boron.

Now you have gotten a good dose of real information (not fear mongering) that you can put to good use in reducing your COVID risk, as well as your risk of all other viruses, infections and diseases!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia

The information in our articles are NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and are not intended as medical advice.