We know that the vast majority of deaths from COVID-19 are among the elderly with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, immune compromised status, cancer and obesity. According to the CDC, there were comorbidities or other conditions listed on the death certificates of as many as\u00a095 percent of all COVID-19 deaths<\/strong><\/a>. These chronic diseases have been linked to what the study authors call \u201ctoxic stressor exposures\u201d (chemical, physical, biological, or psychological stressors) that inhibit the immune system\u2019s ability to deal with viruses.<\/p>\n In short, it is the pervasive, constant exposure to toxic stressors in our environment, in combination with genetic factors, that cause us to develop diseases that impair our immune systems and make us susceptible to serious COVID-19 infection. These factors include:<\/p>\n For each of us, the combination of these factors, in addition to our genetic makeup, helps determine our susceptibility to a virus like COVID-19. Yet our response to the pandemic has been to focus on a single factor, that is, the virus itself: fighting it with drugs and vaccines or avoiding it with quarantines and isolation.<\/p>\n This thinking ignores those companies who profit off of our poor health. It\u2019s the chemical companies pumping out endocrine disruptors, PFAS chemicals, and pesticides; it\u2019s Big Food creating the processed, sugar-laden junk; it\u2019s Big Pharma peddling ever more dangerous, often\u00a0ineffective<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0prescription drugs. It\u2019s these mega-corporations that are making us sick and susceptible to COVID-19. Consider the extent of the damage. The US is one of the least healthy nations in the world. Almost\u00a043% of Americans<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0over age 20 are obese, which is among the\u00a0highest in the world<\/strong><\/a>. The US\u00a0leads<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0developed nations in type 2 diabetes; has the\u00a0third highest<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0mortality rate for circulatory diseases like high blood pressure; and is second highest in mortality rate for heart attacks.<\/p>\n The chart below shows a correlation between the development and use of pollutants and the rise in chronic diseases:<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ve\u00a0pointed out previously<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0that the response to the pandemic has almost completely ignored\u00a0prevention and building immune resilience<\/strong><\/a>. The $1.9 trillion\u00a0COVID relief package<\/strong><\/a>, for example, lacked any acknowledgement or attempt to address COVID using nutritional strategies that are well supported by the science. According to the government\u2019s own figures, millions of Americans\u00a0are deficient<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in a variety of key nutrients. Research shows that micronutrient inadequacies may impact long-term health, increasing risk for diseases like\u00a0cancer<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0cardiovascular disease<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0type 2 diabetes<\/strong><\/a>, and yes,\u00a0COVID<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n As the authors note, \u201cTo be fully protected in the present pandemic and against future pandemics, both tactical\/reactive responses to survive the immediate threat and strategic\/proactive responses to prevent the problem and damage from re-occurring are required.\u201d \u00a0The fact that there are an estimated<\/strong><\/a>\u00a01.67 million viral species yet to be discovered, with\u00a0631,000-827,0000 of them having zoonotic potential<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(a disease transmitted from animals to humans), underscores the pressing need to address the underlying causes of our vulnerability to these diseases.<\/p>\n This is what natural medicine is all about: addressing root causes rather than surface manifestations. We must keep this in mind and fight for our ability to use natural therapies to stay healthy, naturally.<\/p>\n\n
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