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Key Takeaways (How to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Infected with COVID-19)

• WASH YOUR HANDS
• Avoid people who are sick (and if you’re sick, STAY HOME)
• Take the Chinese herb, astragalus, every day
• Make sure your vitamin D levels are optimal
• Supplement with immune-enhancing mushroom extracts (Dr. Weil recommends Host Defense’s MycoShield Throat Spray)
• Eat more crushed garlic (or take an allicin extract)
• “Ordinary masks are permeable by viruses. They don’t do anything to prevent you from getting infected. The only ones that reduce the possibility of inhaling or swallowing a virus are the N95 respirators.” – Dr. Weil

Intro

• Dr. Andrew Weil (@DrWeil) is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine.
  • Check out his website
  • Andrew has written 15 books on health and well-being, including:
    • Mind Over Meds
    • Fast Food
    • Good Food
    • True Food
    • Spontaneous Happiness
    • Healthy Aging
    • Eight Weeks to Optimum Health
• Host: Kevin Rose (@kevinrose)

How scared is Dr. Weil of COVID-19?

• “I’m not particularly fearful. It’s hard to sort out the news—there’s a lot of sensationalism and a lot of paranoia.” – Dr. Andrew Weil
• “I would say, at the moment, the flu is much more of a concern” – Dr. Andrew Weil
  • In 2019, 80k people in the U.S. died from the flu: “That dwarfs anything that’s going on with the coronavirus”
  • What about the coronavirus’ death rate of 2%? 
    • (For reference, the flu’s death rate is ~0.1%)
    • That number might not be accurate—time will tell

Big Questions We Still Need Answered

• Can the coronavirus be transmitted by people who don’t develop symptoms?
• Does the coronavirus persist on surfaces, and for how long?

How does Dr. Weil advise people to prepare for COVID-19?

• WASH YOUR HANDS
• Avoid people who are sick (and if you’re sick, STAY HOME)
  • (Dr. Weil stresses this point’s importance)
• Although masks may not prevent you from catching the coronavirus, they can certainly reduce the possibility of transmission
• Try not to touch your face

How to Boost Your Immune System and Reduce Susceptibility to COVID-19

• Make sure your vitamin D levels are optimal
  • (Hint: if you live in a colder climate, supplement with 3,000-5,000 of vitamin D3 daily)
• Take the Chinese herb, astragalus (1-2 capsules), every day
  • “This is a very well-known medicinal plant. It’s non-toxic and can be used long-term. There’s good research supporting its efficacy against viral infections.” – Dr. Andrew Weil
  • (There’s some research stating that elderberry extracts may reduce the risk of catching the flu, but Dr. Weil doesn’t think it’s in the same league as astragalus)
• Supplement with immune-enhancing mushroom extracts
  • Examples: Reishi, shiitake, maitake, oyster mushrooms, etc.
  • Dr. Weil recommends Host Defense’s MycoShield Throat Spray (he uses it when traveling or out in public)
    • “If you’re around people who might be sick, this is a great thing to have on hand. It reduces the risk of contracting something through your oral and nasal cavities.” – Dr. Andrew Weil
• Eat more crushed garlic (or take an allicin extract)
  • Dr. Weil heard from a doctor friend that in one Chinese county (where most of China’s garlic is produced), there isn’t a single person who’s been infected with the coronavirus (the county’s population is 1.3 MM, and 30k people work in Wuhan)
  • Allicin isn’t present in raw garlic; it’s formed when fresh garlic is crushed and exposed to air
    • To get the maximum dose of allicin, crush some fresh garlic cloves in a garlic press, and let them sit for 10 minutes before cooking 
    • Also: “Anything you do to garlic—drying it, aging it, fermenting it—destroys allicin” – Dr. Andrew Weil
  • Zhang Health Company makes an excellent allicin supplement

What about vitamin C?

• “The evidence for vitamin C as a preventative isn’t very great” – Dr. Andrew Weil

Do masks protect against COVID-19?

• “Ordinary masks are permeable by viruses. They don’t do anything to prevent you from getting infected. The only ones that reduce the possibility of inhaling or swallowing a virus are the N95 respirators.” – Dr. Andrew Weil