Cutting-edge ways to fight COVID
Looking to protect yourself against coronavirus? Us too! So we asked top doctors for the strategies they think are most effective. Here, their top recommendations
New strategies to win the war on COVID-19 are being researched at a breakneck pace. “We’ve made some incredible progress over the past several months, with scientists all around the world uniting with one single goal in mind,” says integrative physician Fred Pescatore, M.D. But science doesn’t always move quite as quickly as we’d like—and getting truly definitive results from studies can take months or even years.
However, that doesn’t mean we have to wait to take action: “More and more research indicates that key nutrients launch the strongest defense against COVID and other infections,” explains Dr. Pescatore. And the evidence is so clear in some cases that he and his contemporaries are telling their patients and family members to incorporate a few easy, inexpensive strategies into their daily routines. Read on for details on the most promising options.
Stir this into soup
Potato starch, which is made by heating and cooling potatoes, acts as fertilizer for beneficial gut bugs, and according to Yale University investigators, it may also speed recovery from COVID. “Potato starch is broken down by microorganisms in the gut into butyrate, a fatty acid that’s been shown to lower the risk of viral respiratory infections,” explains Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., author of the NYT bestseller Fiber Fueled. To get the benefits, sprinkle 1 tsp. of Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Unmodified Potato Starch (in supermarkets) into soups and sauces—it acts as a natural thickener. Increase your intake by 1 tsp. a day over six days until you get to 2 Tbs. daily, since adding too much to your diet at once can cause digestive discomfort.
Take a ‘berry’ supplement
Mayo Clinic experts are investigating the potential of fisetin, a flavonoid found in strawberries and apples, to curb COVID severity. Indeed, bestselling Grain Brain author David Perlmutter, M.D., already takes 500 mg. of fisetin per day as part of his anti-COVID regimen. The compound rejuvenates the immune system, he explains. “It enhances the body’s ability to get rid of older immune cells and create new cells that fight viruses more effectively.” Plus, research reveals that fisetin alleviates inflammation, especially in the airways. (One to try: Life Extension Bio-Fisetin, LifeExtension.com/ffw, which is 25 times more bioavailable than similar supplements.) Tip: If you have sleep troubles, take fisetin at bedtime: Studies show it increases dopamine production to help you sleep.
Reach for a rinse
German research conducted on mouthwash suggests a swish can cut down on COVID transmission by reducing levels of the virus in the throat, lessening the risk of spread. But it turns out there’s another smart reason to rinse: Essential oils like thymol and eucalyptol in antiseptic mouthwashes trigger an increase in nasal secretions that help cleanse the nose naturally. “And since the nose is an entry point for COVID, this might prevent invaders from taking hold in nasal tissues, heading infection off at the pass,” explains Michael Roizen, M.D., Emeritus Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic. He advises gargling with mouthwash for 30 seconds twice daily. One to try: Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic Mouthwash.