Can sunshine, vitamins, and minerals really help in the prevention of COVID-19?

We take a look at some proven Immune-boosting foods and the “miracle supplement” Vitamin D, to find out if it's all it's hyped up to be.

I’m sure you all have read about people rushing out to their local drug store to stock up on Vitamin D tablets. Me included... However, does this important vitamin really help fight against the dreaded C-19 infection?  Let’s take a look at some ingredients that have been proven to boost the immune system.

Everyone knows that we should eat more fruit and veg. These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals which are essential for our bodies. They nourish our bodies and play a major role in keeping us functioning correctly and keeping our immune systems strong. They are paramount in fighting off infections and diseases of any kind.

As philosopher Desiderius Erasmus stated back in 1500, “Prevention is better than cure.”

Unfortunately the majority of adults do not get enough of these nutrients and instead of eating whole foods, lean meats, oily fish, fruits, nuts and vegetables, they choose a diet full of highly processed foods that are high in cholesterol, salt-sodium, bad fats such as trans & saturated, and refined carbohydrates such as wheat and sugars. 

GET SOME D! 

Covid-19 vs Vitamin D 

It is well known that Vitamin D is associated with sunlight and that getting outside daily to absorb its direct rays for 13-20 minutes makes us feel a whole lot better. 

But why is this? 

Well, according to scientists, when your skin is exposed to sunlight, it makes D vitamins from cholesterol. The sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays hit cholesterol in the skin cells, providing the energy for vitamin D synthesis to occur. 

Vitamin D has many roles in the body and is essential for optimal health. It improves muscle tissue and bone density by supporting the calcium-phosphorus metabolism (enabling calcium to do its job correctly) it also stimulates insulin production and improves cardiac function by allowing the heart to function better under pressure (myocardial contractility) and improves respiratory function. It also plays a major role in the immune function response.  Vitamin D interacts with the majority of the immune system's cells (over 3000 different functions!), and inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhances the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. It also inhibits the adaptive immune system and promotes the innate immune system which balances the immune response and provides an overall anti-inflammatory response.

The question which everyone seems to be asking is:  Does it really help to protect us from Covid-19? 

Well, it turns out that Vitamin D deficiency is very common within the UK, US, and the EU. In particular, it seems to be most prevalent within the elderly, people of colour, and those with a body mass index of above 30 + (obese) which suffer from high blood pressure.

It is believed that Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with an increased risk of acute viral respiratory infection and community acquired pneumonia. This could be why there has been so much attention aimed at protecting vulnerable people in high risk locations such as residential care homes, and hospital wings for the elderly where infection rates seem to spread more rapidly. 

A German study showed that not only did hospitalised Covid-19 patients have lower vitamin D levels than less sick Covid-19 outpatients, but that hospitalised inpatients who were vitamin D deficient were roughly 15-times more likely to require intensive care treatment, and over 6 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than those with sufficient vitamin D levels. Several studies also emerged from the US and Israel over the summer highlighting higher Covid-19 infection rates in those with low vitamin D levels.

If Vitamin D really does help to improve overall immunity, then it could logically help fight against the onset of respiratory conditions including Covid-19. 

Evidence to support this theory can be found in a French study which showed that the survival rate of elderly nursing home patients with Covid-19 five weeks after leaving hospital was 83% amongst those given large doses of vitamin D prior to discharge versus 44% in those who didn’t receive it.

Furthermore, The Irish Medical Journal reports that: 

“Correction of vitamin D deficiency is thought to suppress CD26, a putative adhesion molecule for Covid-19 host cell invasion. Vitamin D may also attenuate interferon gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) inflammatory responses, both potent predictors of poorer outcome in critically-ill ventilated patients including those with Covid-19” 

An opinion piece published on Tuesday 23rd February 2021 by the Journal.ie reinforces this belief, and a  group of Irish researchers and professors are actively pushing for Vitamin D to be included in Ireland’s “Living with Covid” plan and Covid-19 prevention policy.

However, the jury still seems to be out. Some in the medical community believe that there is contradicting or inconclusive findings, and believe that there is not enough hard evidence to support these claims that by taking these supplements you can guard yourself against Covid-19.

For example, many studies that do not take into account underlying conditions such as diabetes and hypertension which would also affect the morbidity and mortality rate. There is also a perceived “western bias” which suggests that western countries hold a strong association of vitamin D deficiency with socioeconomic status-- resulting Vitamin deficiency mainly through such things as a poor diet and lack of education due to lower-income. 

However, they do not agree with this belief and state that this does not affect countries such as India, where there have actually been a number of studies to demonstrate the lower prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in low socioeconomic status and correlated this to higher sunlight exposure in lower socioeconomic strata. 

So what are we supposed to do?! 

There seems to be some strong evidence that suggests that Vitamin D deficiency markedly increases the chances of having severe complications after contracting the Covid infection. 

In order to protect ourselves against any disease, we should be doing everything we can to boost our immune system. Supplements are one option, but another option is right in front of us, something that we do every day- our diet. 

Having the right nutritional chemical balance in the body is key to both physical and mental wellbeing. For example, just by sitting outside in the sunshine, we can instantly improve our mental state and that can have a positive effect on how our bodies react to illness. The power of the mind can be a strong healing force too. Back that up with quality nutrition and you are well on the way to helping your body fight off infections and disease. 

Here’s a handy guide to show you which other vitamins and minerals aside from Vitamin D can help your immune system be its best self, and which foods can take you there. If you’re looking for a miracle superfood that packs maximum punch, there may be a one-stop hop for you! 

Immune Booster-guide. 

As you can see Crickets are nearly a one-stop shop and contain 10 of the 11 key nutrients we need to stay healthy. They are a great source of sustainable alternative protein, 3 x more protein than Beef! They are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and prebiotic fiber and are the best alternative to traditional, resource-intensive protein sources such as meat or dairy.

They are really tasty and have a subtle nutty flavor. They are extremely versatile and can be added to most dishes, both sweet and savory. Why not try a tasty smoothie or Bliss ball and sit outside in the sun and soak up some rays! 

Here are some links to our FREE Cricket cookbooks. Click the pictures below!

https://www.crickethop.com/shop/cricket-flour-cookbook-free-superfood-recipes-to-get-you-started

https://www.crickethop.com/shop/pandemicpantrycookbook