Some nutritional strategies for protecting against Covid-19

Chris Masterjohn is Ph.D nutritional biochemist and is someone I deeply respect for his intensive and detailed research.

He’s conducted a ton of research on Covid-19 and has recently released a guide on how to support the immune system and protect against the covid-19 virus.

Here are the main points, but before implementing them please read the disclaimer at the bottom of this article.

Also, while I provide a summary here, I strongly recommend that you read Chris’ full 42-page guide, which you can order here.

Just so you know, there is no financial incentive for me in recommending this guide.

The Protocol

Masterjohn says:

“This protocol, except where otherwise noted, is meant to serve as prevention while the threat of the new coronavirus remains high or uncertain.

This is meant as first-line nutritional and herbal defense, which is, in the big picture, second-line defense after strict hygiene and social distancing as being recommended by public health experts.

The amounts listed are for adults. For children whose weight is measured in pounds, divide the doses by 150 and multiply by the child’s bodyweight.

For children whose weight is measured in kilograms, divide the dose by 70 and multiply by the child’s bodyweight.”

The Essentials

  • Elderberry: 700-1000 milligrams per day of elderberry extract from syrup, capsules, or lozenges. When using a syrup, check the label or the manufacturer’s description to make sure the exact amount of elderberry extract is reported. With some syrups, this could be as little as two teaspoons, and with others, it could require as much as four tablespoons.
  • Nutritional Zinc: Foods or supplements providing 7-15 milligrams of zinc taken four times per day, spread out as much as possible. Choose one of the following options to provide each dose of 7-15 milligrams of zinc: one or two oysters; oyster extract supplements providing the equivalent; any zinc supplement (including zinc methionine, glycine, gluconate, acetate, citrate, or sulfate) that isn’t oxide or picolinate. Take on an empty stomach unless that causes nausea. If you take it with food, avoid taking it with whole grains, nuts, seeds, or legumes.
  • Ionic Zinc Lozenge or Spray: Choose one of the following options. Option 1: Life Extension Enhanced Zinc Acetate lozenges. Suck on one per day, allowing it to fully dissolve without chewing it or swallowing any pieces (this takes about a half hour). Option 2: Transfer a bottle of liquid ionic zinc (you should be able to calculate from the label that it has 900-1200 milligrams of zinc per ounce) into a fine mist spray bottle. Use two or three sprays per day, trying to get the tongue, inside the mouth, and the back of the throat. If you get sick: Upon the first sign of a cold (such as a sneeze, cough, or sore throat), or the first sign of what could be the coronavirus (such as a dry cough or a fever), increase the dosing to one lozenge or 2-3 sprays every two hours until the illness is gone. (And if you think you have the coronavirus, seek medical attention.)
  • Copper: Aim to get 4-8 milligrams of copper per day. Mix and match from the following. If you chose oysters for the “nutritional zinc” part, this will provide 2 milligrams of copper. If you instead chose a zinc supplement that had copper in it at a 15-to-1 ratio (for example, Jarrow Zinc Balance), this will provide 4 milligrams of copper. Transfer a liquid ionic copper supplement (you should be able to calculate from the label that it has about 70 milligrams of copper per ounce) to a fine mist spray bottle, and spray it onto the tongue, inside the mouth, and the back of the throat. Two or three sprays provides 1 milligram of copper. For each additional 2 milligrams you will need, use any one of the following food options: 25 grams of spirulina, 40 grams of shiitake mushrooms, 50 grams of sesame seeds, 50 grams of cocoa powder, 56 grams of 90% dark chocolate, or 70 grams of 70% dark chocolate. If at this point you still have not hit the target, make up the remainder with MitoSynergy MitoActivator Extra Strength, which provides 1 milligram for every 2 capsules. If this is not affordable, make up the remainder with a copper sulfate or copper glycinate supplement.

He goes on to state that the following may also be helpful:

  • Garlic or Stabilized Allicin: 180 micrograms per day of stabilized allicin; or one clove of fresh, raw garlic, crushed, exposed to open air for ten minutes, and eaten without cooking or mixing with other ingredients; or 4 grams of garlic powder, mixed with water, exposed to open air for ten minutes, and eaten without cooking or mixing with other ingredients.
  • Echinacea: 500-900 milligrams of echinacea extract per day, in 3 or 4 divided doses.
  • Vitamin C: 150 milligrams per day, preferably from food. Food options include one serving (100 grams, or 3-4 ounces) of green chilli peppers, yellow or green bell peppers, guavas, or currants; two servings of kale, broccoli, kiwifruit, red bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, red chilli peppers, Tahitian taro, or mustard spinach; or three to five servings of oranges, strawberries, pineapple, papayas, lemons, peas, cabbage, green cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, banana pepper, red or cayenne pepper, mustard greens, persimmons, kohlrabi, pummelo, turnip greens, balsam pear, taro leaves, drumstick leaves, longans, or litchis
  • N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC): This does not have a role as a preventative, but 600 milligrams per day might be useful to help lung recovery for someone who contracts the illness.

Masterjohn suggests we limit or avoid the following:

  • High doses of vitamin A and D
  • Calcium supplements
  • Monolaurin
  • High dose vitamin C
  • Umcka
  • Bee propolis

Validation and scientific support

The above recommendations only cover the first 4 pages of Masterjohn’s e-book.

The remainder of the book is dedicated to explaining the rationale behind his recommendations and citing more than 90 scientific and medical references.

As stated above, because I’ve only provided a brief summary here, I strongly recommend you order the guide.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing my own thoughts about Covid-19 and how to make sure your immune system is optimised beyond Chris’s recommendations.

Ultimately, immune function isn’t optimised by taking supplements, it’s optimised through consistent nutrition and lifestyle habits, a balanced gut microbiome, and minimising the amount of toxicity in your body.

See you tomorrow, and look after yourself and loved ones.

All my best,

Dave.

DISCLAIMER:

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or nutritional advice. Do not use these strategies as a substitute for hygiene and social distancing recommendations made by public health authorities.