Immune Support to Defend Against COVID-19

The Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 has forever changed the world as we know it. Never has a single event impacted every part of our existence in our lifetime. Terms such as Social Distancing and N-95 masks are now in our everyday vocabulary. Toilet paper and hand sanitizer are now regarded as valuable commodities. As an Emergency Department Medical Doctor, I am frequently asked how to protect one’s self from Coronavirus. In addition to practicing proper hand hygiene techniques and heeding orders to practice social distancing, one thing I always tell my patients is to boost their immune system as much as possible for support against COVID -19.

COVID-19 has developed a reputation for overwhelming those that are immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions. The New England Journal of Medicine in 2020 reported that those with “Compromised respiratory status on admission (the primary driver of disease severity) was associated with worse outcomes. (Guan, W., Zheung, W., Wen, L…etc). Though most severe cases are found to be among the older population, The New York Times reports that young persons that smoke and vape are also at risk. This prompted an advisory by the Massachusetts attorney general Maura Healy alerting the public and particularly young people that smoking and vaping can also exacerbate the risks of spreading COVID-19. Lung health is crucial in determining one’s response to COVID-19.

So what should one do during the era of COVID-19? The answer is to avoid things that put you at risk for contracting and transmitting the disease as well as boosting your immune response. Smoking and vaping cessation which are difficult to do, but important to support lung health. As dietary supplements are concerned, Vitamin C in high doses and Glutathione can both improve your immune system. Before COVID-19, Vitamin C and Glutathione were already one of Smooth Aesthetics’ most popular products. Glutathione was added to all of our immune support infusions and all of our beauty drips because of its benefits in supporting your immune system and its enhancement of your skin condition…(it helps your skin glow). Additionally, it pairs well with our Koniver Wellness Fast Vitamin IV Push. Vitamin C was frequently used for our allergy relief infusions as well as given in mega doses for persons undergoing cancer treatment. COVID-19-Immunity-Immune-System

Glutathione is a tri-peptide with means that it is made up of three types of amino acids: cysteine, glycine, and L-glutamic acid. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that works as a free radical scavenger and detoxifying agent. It attaches itself to free radicals to avoid damage to enzymes proteins and hormones. Glutathione binds itself to toxic chemicals and heavy metals in the liver to detoxify them along with certain medications. Glutathione also has an important role in preventing cancer by regulating the normal growth and life span of cells. It is useful in the regulation of the life and death of cells as it is an important component of white and red blood cell formulation throughout the immune system. Glutathione is also vital for the regulation of Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Glutathione supports lung health by reducing lung inflammation and reducing the pastiness in lung mucous. Kerksick and Willoughby in 2005 reported that Glutathione reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs that are frequently associated with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Though Glutathione is produced naturally in our bodies, levels tend to decrease from aging, poor nutrition, stress, and environmental toxins. Though supplements are available to be taken in various ways, the superior route is always intravenous. Glutathione causes minimal side effects and is regarded as a very safe antioxidant.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is also a powerful antioxidant that is found in many fruits and vegetables that we consume. Vitamin C is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of tissues throughout the body. According to WEB MD “Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants that can protect against damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals, as well as toxic chemicals and pollutants like cigarette smoke,” (Zelman, K. 2020). The Shanghai Medical Association released the first and only official government guideline on March 1st, 2020 for the treatment of COVID-19 where high-dose IV Vitamin C (100-200 mg/kg per day) was endorsed by experts” (Chu 2020). The state of New York is the American epicenter for COVID-19. Northwell Health is the largest hospital system in the state of New York and they are administering high doses of Vitamin C to their COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Andrew Weber, a critical-care specialist affiliated to Northwell Health told the newspaper, “The patients who received Vitamin C did significantly better than those who did not get Vitamin C.” It is not however recommended to take more than 2000mg in pill form because it can cause gastric distress and diarrhea. This is not the case when administered intravenously and doses as high as 100,000mg are well tolerated. To put it into perspective, one cup of orange juice contains 97mg of Vitamin C, you would need about 1030 cups or 64 gallons of orange juice to get 100 grams of Vitamin C.

At Smooth Aesthetics, High Dose Vitamin C and Glutathione are part of our Immunity Booster regimen. Our Immunity Booster starts at $200 for 15,000 milligrams of Vitamin C and 1000 milligrams of Glutathione. An extra 1000 milligrams of Glutathione can be added for an extra $35 (max of 2000 milligrams) and additional Vitamin C can be purchased for $5 per 1000 milligrams (max of 100,000 milligrams). These services are for intravenous use only and delivered to your home or place of business. Whatever you decide to do, please ensure that you are adhering to recommended guidelines and staying safe. Though we are still not out of the woods, we are learning more and more about COVID-19 every day. Supporting your immune system is one way you can help your body defend itself from COVID-19.

See how this client felt after getting our immune-boosting formula, with a first-hand account blog post detailing her experience!

Resources:

The Antioxidant Role of Glutathione and N-Acetyl-Cysteine Supplements and Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress (2005). Kerksick, C., Willoughby, D., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2129149/ Retrieved April 10, 2020.

The Benefits of Vitamin C. Zelman, K.M. (2020). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c#1 Retrieved April 10, 2020

Clinical Characteristics of Corona Disease 2019 in China (2020). Guan, W., Zheung, W., Wen, L…et al. New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032. Retrieved April 10, 2020.

Hospital Turns to High Dose Vitamin C to fight Coronavirus. Chu, W. (2020) Nutra. https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2020/03/25/Hospital-turns-to-high-dose-vitamin-C-to-fight-coronavirus Retrieved April 10, 2020.

Smokers and Vapers May Be at Greater Risk for Covid-19. Hoffman, J. (2020) New York Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/health/coronavirus-smoking-vaping-risks.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage. Retrieved April 10, 2020.