Canibais e Reis

A minha "vacina" diária anti-gripe A são 2400 UI de vitamina D3, ocasionalmente uma colher de sopa de óleo de fígado de bacalhau, óleo de coco regularmente, uma dieta paleolítica a maior parte do tempo, e um jogging regular, mesmo que à chuva e ao vento, como hoje/Domingo foi o caso na Marginal de Oeiras às 9:30 da manhã. Infelizmente os especialistas dizem, conforme já ouvi numa notícia da televisão, que a única forma de evitar a gripe A é tomando a vacina e seguindo as recomendações oficiais. Mas, pergunto eu, a vulnerabilidade aos vírus e agentes infecciosos não depende, primariamente, do sistema imunitário de um indivíduo? Se algumas pessoas apanham a gripe A e em 2 dias ficam boas, e outras apanham uma gripe comum, que se transforma em pneumonia e depois morrem, certamente é por alguma razão. Terá, porventura, algo a haver com o seu organismo, com os seus níveis de imunidade? Com o estilo de vida, com a alimentação e com a actividade física? Seria interessante divulgarem, por exemplo, os níveis de vitamina D e de colesterol das pessoas diagnosticadas com gripe A, pois talvez tivéssemos uma grande surpresa. Provavelmente muito baixinhos, não serão?  É que estas duas substâncias VITAIS, quando em baixa, têm tudo a haver com imunidade comprometida e maior propensão a infecções. E a gripe A é, para todo o efeito, uma infecção, que nas pessoas mais imuno-deprimidas pode até ser fatal. Abaixo seguem-se as recomendações de Mark Sisson e de Don Matez, que não sendo oficiais me parecem, no entanto, das mais sensatas que já li até hoje.

H1ow N1ot to Get Swine Flu
Mark Sisson

"1. Avoid Sugar. Sugar is a powerful immune suppressor. One dose of a big dessert or a bag of gumdrops scarfed at a movie can be enough to temporarily weaken the immune system and open the door to infection. That’s especially true if you’ve been eating Primally and clean for a while. Unfortunately, most Americans are susceptible because a lifestyle of sugar intake can result in perpetual immune suppression, the effects of which not only make them sitting ducks for the flu, but can also exacerbate heart disease and cancer.

2. Avoid Stress. Chronic cortisol (the major stress hormone) release is another powerful immune suppressor. As tough as times are, it behooves you to get a handle on stress and do whatever you can to mitigate it, whether it’s through meditation, yoga, prayer, biofeedback or just taking a few minutes each day to chill. People get sick when they are stressed out not from the stress itself, but from the fact that exposure to any virus or bacteria overwhelms their frail immune system.

3. Avoid Overly Stressful Workouts. Again, few things can suppress the immune system as quickly as chronic cardio or a single excessive weekend warrior workout (usually anything under 45 minutes is fine). I can pinpoint from my marathon days those exact individual workouts in which I knew immediately that I had gone too far or dug too deep. Invariably I came down with some URTI within a few days – not because I was newly exposed, but because I was vulnerable to anything and everything that was always floating in the air, on a doorknob or in a handshake.

4. Cut the Grains. This would normally be part of the first item “avoid sugar”, since grains tend to be converted to glucose pretty rapidly. But beyond their glucose load, grains (especially whole grains) and their glutens, lectins and phytates may have a collective immune altering or immune-suppressing effect in some (and I suspect most) people.

5. Avoid Stupid Exposure Mistakes. In many cases a mild exposure, like being in the same room with a flu “victim”, is enough to stimulate a healthy immune system to react in a way that further reduces the likelihood you’ll come down with your own case. On the other hand, shaking the hand of someone with the flu who just coughed or sneezed into it might put you over the edge if you then wipe you nose or rub your eyes (eyes are a very vulnerable entry point). I’m not the biggest fan of hand cleaners, but if you think you just got slimed, wash a decent hand soap just to be sure. No need to go OCD in this regard. I would never wear a mask on a plane, for instance, but I’m not telling you not to if you sit next to a cougher/sneezer.

6. Do Get Some Sunshine. The immune system requires vitamin D to function optimally and sunlight is the best way to ensure you get enough D (a vitamin D supplement won’t hurt either). Winter is cold and flu season not just because we are inside sharing our sputum, but because we spend less time getting sunshine and vitamin D.

7. Exercise Appropriately. If you follow the PB, you’ll know that getting a fair amount of low-level aerobic activity and a few focused strength sessions each week will have an immune-boosting effect.

8. Eat Good Fats and Avoid Bad Fats. Omega 3s, mono-unsaturates and even most saturated fats will support healthy immune systems. On the other hand, any intake of trans and hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fats will compromise immunity, as will excessive intake of the Omega 6 fats found in many vegetable oils. The swine flu is nothing new. Whether you get sick or not is entirely up to you. To paraphase George W. Bush “Flu me once, shame on — shame on you. Flu me — you can’t get flued again” Take responsibility for your own health and, fer cryin’ out loud, don’t be flued by the hype."

 

Fonte: H1ow N1ot to Get Swine Flu, Mark Sisson.

 

 

How to protect yourself from swine flu
Don Matez

"1. Vitamin D3:
a) Get your levels tested through Grassroots Health.
b) Take 2000-4000 IU daily of D3 until you get your blood test results.
c) Get as much direct sunlight as possible, without sunscreen, between 10am and 3pm, with as much skin exposed as practical.
d) Maintain levels at 50 to 70 ng/ml. Many people will need 4000 IU daily to reach and maintain this level in the winter.
e) If you feel an infection coming on, take 10,000 IU daily for 3 days or until the infection passes. Pregnant or lactating women should limit the emergency dose of D3 to 4000 IU per day.

2. Vitamin A (retinol):
a) Eat 4 ounces of liver once weekly, or take 1 teaspoon of cod liver oil daily.
b) If you feel an infection coming on, either eat liver, or take 10,000 IU of fish liver oil source vitamin A for three days in a row. Pregnant or lactating women can eat a serving of liver, but should limit the emergency dose of isolated vitamin A to 5000 IU per day.

3. Eat saturated fats, especially coconut milk or oil, or butter fat. Coconut products and dairy fats provide antiviral fatty acids (lauric, caproic, caprylic, and capric acids)

4. Avoid sugar, corn syrup, honey, fruit juices, etc. A 100 gram dose of sugar can depress your macrophage activity by 50% for more than 4 hours.

5. Reduce carbohydrate intake. Diets high in carbohydrate raise blood sugar levels, which suppresses the immune response. Eat a paleo diet of meat, vegetables, fruits, and nuts, as outlined in my book, The Garden of Eating.

6. Take herb."

 

Fonte: Swine Flu Protection, Don Matez.