Defending against COVID-19
As the country opens up, and we start venturing back out into the world, we’re reminded that our fitness level is a key factor in being able fend off not only the novel coronavirus but all viruses in general. At True Cycling Studio we provide our new members a basic fitness assessment in which we discuss proper nutrition & supplementation and together we devise a personalized fitness plan based the individual’s motivation, goals and schedule.
Use of supplements for protecting against viral infections
Supplements containing vitamins C and D and other micronutrients, sometimes in amounts exceeding the federally recommended levels, are a safe, effective and low-cost means of helping your immune system fight off COVID-19 and other acute respiratory tract diseases, an Oregon State University researcher Adrian Gombart says.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that is thought to have beneficial effects in patients with severe and critical illnesses. It is an antioxidant and free radical scavenger that has anti-inflammatory properties, influences cellular immunity and vascular integrity, and serves as a cofactor in the generation of endogenous catecholamines.
The physicians of OMNS and the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine urge a nutrient-based method to prevent or minimize symptoms for future viral infection. Here are their recommendations for adults:
Vitamin C: 3,000 milligrams in divided doses
Vitamin D3: 2,000 International Units daily
Magnesium: 400 milligrams daily
Zinc: 20 milligrams daily
Selenium: 100 micrograms daily
Strengthen your lungs to fight COVID-19
To get your lungs into better shape the best option – hands down – is regular old physical activity, the kind that gets your heart rate up according to top critical-care pulmonologists.
"Anything that makes you breathe faster is basically a breathing exercise,” says Joshua Denson, a pulmonary and critical care specialist and assistant professor of medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. “My first advice would not be, ‘Go sit in a chair and breathe deeply.’ I'd say, ‘Get on a bike and ride 20 minutes a day,’ or ‘Go for a brisk walk.'
Deep breathing exercises are another way to get air deep into your lungs and clear secretions. Although they're not as effective as physical activity, they are better than doing nothing for people who are sedentary, pulmonologists say, and they can be particularly helpful for people who have mobility issues. Indoor cycling is a great option to both get you moving under low impact and get both breathing and heart rate up. This helps in increasing lung capacity as well as burning calories and ridding your body of unneeded fat.
Conquer obesity, conquer illness
A high risk medical condition which can addressed through diet and exercise is obesity. Obesity is already associated with numerous underlying risk factors for COVID-19, including hypertension, heart disease type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney and liver disease. From COVID-19 risk to recovery, the odds are stacked against those with obesity, and a new study led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill raises concerns about the impact of obesity on the effectiveness of a future COVID-19 vaccine.
Researchers examined the available published literature on individuals infected with the virus and found that those with obesity (BMI over 30) were at a greatly increased risk for hospitalization (113%), more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (74%), and had a higher risk of death (48%) from the virus. Metabolic changes caused by obesity -- such as insulin resistance and inflammation -- make it difficult for individuals with obesity to fight some infections, a trend that can be seen in other infectious diseases, such as influenza and hepatitis.
For more information, visit www.truecyclingstudio.com, call 443-512-8783 or email info@truecyclingstudio.com.
References
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200826083015.htm
https://ktvz.com/news/oregon-northwest/2020/04/24/osu-researcher-vitamin-c-d-supplements-can-fight-off-covid-19/
https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/adjunctive-therapy/vitamin-c/
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/covid-19-vitamin-c-supplements/2020/03/20/id/959180/
https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2019/get-moving.html
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/lung-health-covid19.html