With coronavirus numbers escalating by the day, more and more people are pushing for a faster test that can tell them whether they’re carrying Covid-19. In response, the FDA has just approved the first rapid diagnostic test, CNN reports.
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This test takes just 45 minutes to get a result — meaning it can be done in a health care setting quickly and comfortably, with results before the patient leaves. While this is good news, officials are urging asymptomatic Americans to “use discretion before seeking a coronavirus test,” so those who have symptoms can be tested first, as production revs up for mass production of the test kits.
If you are asymptomatic then the primary things you need to do are to maintain your good health with proper nutrition and supplementation if you and your doctor feel supplements will help. Nutrition plays a crucial role and several nutrients are known for their immune-boosting properties and ability to ward against viral infections. For example:
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) encourages glutathione production, thins mucus, lowers your chances of influenza infection and reduces your risk of developing severe bronchitis.
- Spirulina reduces severity of influenza infection and lowers influenza mortality in animal studies. In a human trial, spirulina significantly lowered the viral load in patients with HIV infection.
- Glucosamine upregulates mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS), reduces severity of influenza infection severity and lowers influenza mortality in animal studies
- Beta-glucan reduces severity of influenza infection severity and lowers influenza mortality in animal studies.
Vitamin C is another good choice, as it has two major functions that help explain its potent health benefits. First, it acts as a powerful antioxidant. It also acts as a cofactor for enzymatic processes. Going along with this, quercetin supplements can also be helpful.
One important thing to remember is that you should get as much of your nutrition from organic, whole, fresh foods as you can, rather than relying on supplements. Additionally, sporebiotics, probiotics and prebiotics can have strong antimicrobial properties for your gut health in your whole health plan. Of course, those come in supplements, but did you know certain fermented foods contain them too?
You can do this by avoiding commercial products such as yogurts that have little value because they often are loaded with added sugars and flavors, and choosing to make your own. The good news is that it doesn't take days of slaving away in a hot kitchen to create homemade fermented vegetables. The short explanation is as simple as getting some wide-mouth canning jars and filtered water, choosing which organic vegetables you want to use and packing your jars. The next step is easy: Simply wait a few days for the vegetables to "ripen."
To make your own yogurt, you should begin with full-fat, grass fed raw milk and live probiotic cultures. Essentially, adding the starter culture to the milk and letting it sit overnight at a consistently warm room temperature is all that's needed to turn the milk into yogurt. Tweaking the flavor is as simple as adding fresh berries, citrus juice or savory options such as dill or garlic. For more information on making your own fermented foods, see “Fermented Foods Top the Superfoods List.”