- Try this anti-vampire method of increasing your resistance to infections
- This new trial into vitamin D and Covid-19 is going to be interesting
- It already boosts immunity… but can it really help protect us against coronavirus?
Worried about vampires?
Don’t have a stake handy?
No crucifix in the house?
No problem!
All you need is a bulb of fresh garlic and the monster cannot touch you.
That’s how the story goes anyway.
But why would we invent such an odd story about these mythical undead bloodsuckers?
Well, there is some science to it…
One of the inspirations behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula was the prevalence of lethal infections like cholera and syphilis, which plagued the late 19th century.
So in the novel Dracula, we have this seductive man who stalks the city, infecting unsuspecting victims by sucking their blood.
He’s like the incarnation of deadly, unseeable disease… where danger could lurk around any corner… and infect us when we invite strangers into our home (just like inviting a vampire over the threshold).
Just think about all the fear, suspicion and outrage breaking out right now over Covid-19 and you can see why the late Victorians would be interested in that story.
It summed up a lot of their deepest fears.
Which brings me to garlic…
Why garlic helps fight bacterial and viral infections
For centuries, garlic has been used as a natural antibiotic against infections in folk medicine.
So it stands to reason that it might protect against the ‘vampire infection’.
Garlic is also good for repelling bloodsucking insects like mosquitoes because they don’t like the smell your body emits after you eat it.
Again, it’s easy to see how this could be connected to the bloodsucking monsters.
Of course, Dracula is just a character in a story.
But garlic remains a genuine hero in the world of nutrition – and modern science has confirmed its superpowers:
- A study in the journal Clinical Nutrition in 2012 showed that garlic extract reduced the severity of cold and flu symptoms. Not only that, but the symptoms went away more quickly in those who took the extract than those who didn’t. This is because eating garlic can boost the number of virus-fighting T-cells in your bloodstream.
- When you eat garlic your adrenal glands make fewer stress hormones. A study at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 2011 showed that your body finds it harder to fight infection when it’s constantly under stress.
- Garlic is packed with sulphur, which helps your body absorb zinc from food like brown rice and wholewheat bread. Zinc is known as an immunity booster, helping to fight off invading bacteria and viruses.
To get the most out of your garlic, crush it and let it sit for about 15 minutes at room temperature. This will trigger an enzyme reaction that boosts the activity of the healthy compounds.
Don’t then simply eat the raw garlic, as it might burn your mouth.
Instead, steep a clove’s worth in hot water for a few minutes. Then strain out the bits, adding honey and some root ginger to the brew. Ginger also has antimicrobial properties that will fight infections.
If that drink is not to your taste, then you could also crush the garlic and add it near the end of cooking to mashed potato.
Another good method is to spread the crushed garlic on toast, then add some tomatoes and chopped basil, or use it raw in a fresh salsa or guacamole.
Whatever you choose, I’d recommend you up your garlic intake this winter to help keep you healthy.
One word of caution however…
Consult with a medical professional if you’re on blood-thinning medication. Also, if you don’t already eat much garlic, don’t go overboard and gorge on it too quickly, you might cause a bit of a stomach upset.
Otherwise, this is a safe, natural way to resist infection this winter!
I know I have written a lot about boosting immunity this month, but it’s crucial that you do so at this time of year.
We’re heading into the dark months, and with the world being as it is right now, we all need to be as strong as we can be.
Talking of which, this is interesting…
A new trial into vitamin D and Covid-19
Last week it was announced that British scientists are seeking for volunteers to see if taking vitamin D can give the immune system a boost against Covid-19.
Now, in terms of things like flu, coughs and colds, this is pretty much what the research shows already.
In 2017 a study published in the British Medical Journal showed that vitamin D supplements could prevent more than three million people a year falling ill with a cold or chest infection.
This is why people in the UK are already advised to take vitamin D over the winter.
And it was why it was suggested that people even do this in the summer, because of the effects of lockdown preventing people from being out and about as much.
However, they’re now looking to see if it can have a result specifically with Covid-19.
The subjects will be given a finger-prick test to see if they are deficient.
Then they’ll be sent vitamin D tablets in the post, which they’ll need to take every day over a period of 6 months.
Importantly – these will be high quality supplements with a higher dose than usual.
Head of the trial, David Jolliffe, told the BBC that he was seeking a definitive answer to the question – does vitamin D help protect against Covid-19?
He added: “Vitamin D supplements are low in cost, low in risk and widely accessible; if proven effective, they could significantly aid in our global fight against the virus.”
I’ll watch the progress of this trial with interest.
Of course, there’s no harm in you doing this yourself, by taking a vitamin D supplement every day.
If you’re interested, then we’ve got a combination deal of vitamin D and vitamin C with 25% off.
Plus, the option to avoid swallowing capsules and instead spray vitamin D under your tongue.
For more information take a look here: Vitamin D and C Discount
