Influenza outbreak and vegetable intake

Residents I look after at the retirement homes are being started on prophylactic antivirals due to inflenza outbreaks.  I wondered, other than the customary precaution (Flu shots, keeping warm, hand washing, avoid sharing cups) to prevent transmission, if there is any information on ways to help combat the influenza outbreak using nutrition.  Little research off the internet disclosed the following:

One study “screened 13 different flavonoids from various flavonoid groups to identify the most potent antiviral flavonoid against human influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). The 3-hydroxyl group flavonoids, including 3,2᾿dihydroxyflavone (3,2᾿DHF) and 3,4᾿dihydroxyflavone (3,4᾿DHF), showed potent anti-influenza activity.”

Another study “demonstrated the following arrangement for their anti-influenza activities: nepitrin (2) > 6-hydroxyluteolin 7-O-β-d-glucoside (1) > homoplantaginin (3). The potent inhibitory activities of these flavonoids against influenza suggested their potential to be developed as novel anti-influenza drugs in the future.”

Yet another study found “that some flavonoid compounds possess an ability of anti-influenza virus, one of which is hesperidin. Hesperidin potentially inhibited influenza virus production in A549 cells and MDCK cells. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the anti-influenza virus activity of hesperidin. Our data demonstrated that hesperidin enhanced cell-autonomous immunity by modulating MAP kinase signaling pathways via up-regulating p38 and JNK activation while down-regulating ERK activation.”

These findings supports the importance of flavinoids in our plant-based food groups in our diet as promoted by the:
1. new Canada Food Guide (>50% plant-based), 
2. the World Health organization’s  Nutrition Fact Sheet (400 grams per day of non-starchy vegetables and fruits) & 
3. the Basic Meal Plan in the Canadian Diabetic Association Guidelines (50% vegetables).

My meals begin with 5 oz of non-starchy vegetables and my favorite beverage this winter is orange peels steeped in hot water.  Orange peels are rich in hesperidine - besides having antiviral properties, also a potent anti-inflammatory.

For my patients in retirement / nursing homes, my usual recommendation or standing order is 5 oz of non-starchy vegetables three times a day.

What causes alopecia areata.

I worked volunteer clinic tonight.

A patient new to Canada presents with alopecia areata.  I told him there is no medicine for it; and it is a symptom of a poor immune system with 3 potential root causes.

1. Deficiency of essential nutrients.
2. Exposure to non-physiologic substances
3. Suppressed immune system from chronic stress.

I asked him how he would rate his diet.  After consideration, he said, “50%”.

I asked him if he knows what a 100% diet looks like?  He replied, “no”.

I shared with him the critical importance of the multitude of flavinoids present in a daily dose of 400gram of non-starchy vegetables.

He then confided in me that he has been eating mostly processed food.

He then asked me if I can renew his stomach acid reflux medication.  I shared with him the perspective that the reflux symptoms are a way his body is informing him when he is eating the wrong foods.  I encourage him to stop the medication and respond to his symptoms by stopping all processed foods.

I then shared with him a scientifically proven way  called BAM to manage stress and encouraged him to learn more.

He and his wife both thanked me and left more informed.

The tree, my cat Marley and I

Nature spoke to me this morning at breakfast.

The tree:
It stands erectly and reaches broadly into the sky to breath air through its leaves and absorbs water and nutrients through its roots.
It does not feel pain when it’s pruned for it has not pain sensors; instead it may grow with more vigor.
It also does not suffer fear of pruning next season for it has no brain.
It simply lives.

Marley:
She breath.  She drinks water.  She eats.
(She also use the litter box, grooms, purrs, sleeps and bathe in the sunshine)
Unlike the tree, Marley does not have to and won’t take any abuse.  She does not like her nails clipped and we respect her rights.  Once I stepped (accidentally) on her and experienced the painful reality of all of her claws.  Unlike the tree,  Marley and I both can feel pain.  The pain taught us well.  For a long time we chose to keep a respectful distance from each other.
So such pain was a good thing... I think.. at least from Marley’s perspective.
I don’t think Marley suffers worries.  At least she does not seem to “worry” about when we might “abandon” her again to go on vacation.
She seems to enjoy herself and live in the moment.

I:
Like Marley and the tree, I breath.  I drink water.  I eat. (and do bunch of other things)
Like Marley, I also feel pain. Pain is in the present moment.  It may be avoided chemically with medication or substances often followed by pain of withdrawal and significant physical side effects such as pain from opioid mediated constipation and abdominal pain from chronic cannibis usage.  Pain is the way my body tells me what to do or not do.  For example I may have feet pain or back pain if I don’t keep an erect posture; kidney stone pain if I don’t drink 2 liters of water per day;  infection related, inflammatory, heart attack or cancer pain if I don’t eat enough flavinoids; shoulder or knee pain if I don’t allow my body to recover from routine wear and tear.  I have leaned to appreciate my pain for it keeps me healthy and out of trouble.
Unlike Marley, I have thoughts.  For me these thoughts offers moment by moment choices which I must choose from.  If I am not mindful and don’t exercise that choice, I suffer.  If I allow my attention to default to thoughts of regrets from my past and fear of my future, I suffer.  I suffer not from pain of the present rather than what is already past and what I imagine might come.  If I try to block my suffering using medication, substances, food, gambling, keeping busy, self-righteousness and many other substitute; I would have only delayed suffering.  It would be like borrowing from one credit company to pay another.  Eventually, all have to be paid in full.  Principal plus interest.  The persistent avoidance of clearing this suffering debt start as a psychological loop of grasping, quick-fix and shame that gathers energy to become an addiction.   Now I know to accept all things as they are; all things in my past as they were and  all things in my future as they will be.  I choose to be grateful of being alive. I choose to pay attention to the wonder and newness of each present moment.  My techniques is to label thoughts of regret, pride, fear and hope as “thinking” whenever I notice them and redirect my attention back to the present moment that is my breath.  I may also choose to direct my attention away from a present experience of obligatory pain towards a pleasant thought.  I can recall a story from the past and smile.  I create a story in the future and laugh.  I can marvel at the vividness of each moment and be in awe.  My thoughts are pleasure to me.
I also realize that my thoughts are not me.  Like books in my library, they all belong to me but no one book or collection of books define me.  Owning a horror story books does not make me a horrible person.  I have learned to accept these horror story books just as they are - books; for if I tell myself how much I hate these horror story books, I have only managed to add yet another horror story to my collection.  Unlike books, I can’t get rid of my thoughts.  Like books, I can add to my collection of thoughts and perspectives.  The larger my collection of perspectives the more choices I have to choose from to meet the needs each moment presents.  I learn new perspectives by staying in the moment with the curiosity of a beginner’s mind and listen to what’s said and not said and understand what’s seen and unseen.

My new relationship with food: Farmaceuticals, toxified, discretionaries

My new relationship with food.  I see them in three broad categories:
1. Farmaceuticals: 400 grams per day of a wide variety of non-starchy vegetables as recommended by  World Health Organization may contains over 6000 flavinoids with antiviral, antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties.  I see the consumption of these foods to be non-discretionary like sufficient engine oil for proper maintenance of my car, brushing my teeth or prescription pharmaceuticals recommend by my doctor.  400 gram is approximately 15 oz.  I eat 5 oz before each meal three times a day.
2. Toxified foods are processed foods where unnatural substances are introduced by mass farming practices or by manufacturing processes.  These are to be avoided regardless of how pervasively and recursively I am exposed to advertising campaigns that try to reassure me that they are “The Real Thing”
3. Most other foods are to be enjoyed at my own discretion.  Having met most of my farmaceutical needs already, I will more likely eat mindfully, moderately, sensibly, stay healthy and enjoy life!!


I just read that in new document “Health Canada said most Canadians do not eat enough vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and many also drink beverages high in sugars.”  I note the subtle switch in language:  “...vegetable, fruits...”.   Reversed order compare to most prior literatures.
Follow link for difference between vegetables and fruits.
Humanity is waking up to the truth.

https://www.thestar.com/life/2019/01/04/cheesed-off-food-guide-makeover-worries-farmers-as-government-prepares-release.html

Could it be the flavinoids? Since I have been eating 5oz of vegetables three time a day; I have not caught a cold

Could it be the flavonoids?  Since I have been eating 5oz of vegetables three time a day; I have not caught a cold.
Vegetables contain more than 6000 flavonoids.  Scientists are discovering that many of these are essential for our health.  While scientist are working on isolating and figuring out the right dose of each of the thousands of these powerful nutrients and attempting to package them into some marketable miracle cures; I need an approach.  I am of the perspective that one sensible approach to living  is to eat a wide variety of vegetables in the amount of 5oz three times a day in accordance to World Health Organization’s recommendation that is accessible to most of our 7.7 Billion fellow global citizens.  I believe that these fundamental requisite for wellness is accessible to all who has air, water and sunshine that makes the vegetables grow.

Review article.
“Flavonoids, a group of natural substances with variable phenolic structures, are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, bark, roots, stems, flowers, tea and wine. These natural products are well known for their beneficial effects on health and efforts are being made to isolate the ingredients so called flavonoids. Flavonoids are now considered as an indispensable component in a variety of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic applications. This is attributed to their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties coupled with their capacity to modulate key cellular enzyme function. Research on flavonoids received an added impulse with the discovery of the low cardiovascular mortality rate and also prevention of CHD. Information on the working mechanisms of flavonoids is still not understood properly. However, it has widely been known for centuries that derivatives of plant origin possess a broad spectrum of biological activity. Current trends of research and development activities on flavonoids relate to isolation, identification, characterisation and functions of flavonoids and finally their applications on health benefits. Molecular docking and knowledge of bioinformatics are also being used to predict potential applications and manufacturing by industry. In the present review, attempts have been made to discuss the current trends of research and development on flavonoids, working mechanisms of flavonoids, flavonoid functions and applications, prediction of flavonoids as potential drugs in preventing chronic diseases and future research directions.”