Food as Medicine

SPIKE PROTEIN | DIET & LIFESTYLE Let Food Be Thy Medicine

Nature is rich in its ability to cure

By Dr. Yuhong Dong

Since ancient times, botanicals and herbs have been traditional tools used by people around the world for health care.

Nearly 85 percent of the world’s population continues to rely on botanicals as the primary source of health care products, according to the 2015 U.N. Global Sustainable Development Report.

At least 40 percent of the compounds currently approved for synthetic drugs in the pharmaceutical market come from plants or are natural products based on microorganisms. Nature’s contribution to our human species is significant.

Polyphenols

Polyphenols are organic chemicals found in plants that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties and can have effects similar to autophagy by initiating the process of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, a natural and essential process that’s initiated when cells are too old and need to be eliminated.

The following foods are rich in dietary polyphenols: • Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG): from tea leaves • Oleuropein: extract of olive leaves • Punicalagin: the most abundant polyphenol in pomegranate • Apigenin: commonly found in vegetables, fruits, herbs, and chamomile tea • Resveratrol: from fresh vegetables and fruits • Pterostilbene: a resveratrol derivative • Curcumin: found in curry Catechin, a tea extract, is a natural antioxidant that accounts for about 75 percent to 80 percent of the polyphenol content of tea and is one of the sources of tea’s bitterness.

Curcumin, derived from turmeric, is an important component of curry. Curcumin has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

An article published in Scientific Reports – Nature studied these two components and found that curcumin binds to the receptor-binding domain of spike proteins and that catechin binds to amino acids near the receptor-binding domain, thus blocking spike proteins from binding to the ACE2 receptors and blocking spike proteins from entering cells.

These two ingredients can inhibit viral invasion of cells at the body’s first natural immune barrier, guard the cell’s gateways, and offset the strength of the virus.

Carpenter’s Herb

Carpenter’s herb (Prunella vulgaris) has long been considered an effective medicine for liver health.

In 2021, a study by Canadian infectious disease researchers was published in the Public Library of Science: General. It proved that the water-soluble extract NhPV of the natural plant carpenter’s herb can inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 virus and block it from infecting cells.

Some other herbs, such as pine needles, emodin, neem, and dandelion leaf extract have been found to have similar effects.

Spirulina: ACE Inhibitor

Spirulina, a blue-green algae, is generally available as a dietary supplement in pharmacies and some supermarkets. Spirulina is high in protein, lipids, vitamins, and essential amino acids, as well as minerals and many bioactive substances.

Not only spirulina, but many other algae-derived active compounds are widely used because of their antioxidant-rich, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing properties. They’re so beneficial that NASA and the European Space Agency designate them as musthaves for astronauts.

In the March 2021 issue of The International Journal of Applied and Basic Nutritional Sciences, one article was dedicated to evaluating the prospect of spirulina and other algae-derived Curcumin, derived from turmeric, has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Catechin, a tea extract, is a natural antioxidant and is one of the sources of the bitterness of tea.

85%

OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION

continues to rely on botanicals as the primary source of health care products, a report states.

40%

AT LEAST 40 PERCENT OF

the compounds currently approved for synthetic drugs in the pharmaceutical market come from plants or are natural products based on microorganisms.

Spermidine is prominently found in aged cheese, wheat germ, nuts, soybeans, mushrooms, broccoli, apples, and pears.

Genistein has effects in preventing thrombotic occlusion in blood vessels. It is found predominantly in soy products. nutraceuticals as a supplement to help combat a COVID-19 infection.

Given that bioactive compounds derived from spirulina contain substantial amounts of natural ACE inhibitors, antioxidants, and antiviral compounds, the use of spirulina will serve to comprehensively bolster the immune system by a long shot.

When spirulina was given to 40- to 65-year-old healthy men, their levels of interferons produced by immune cells when stimulated by IL-12, an agent associated with activating the Th1 immune pathway, were much higher than levels from the control group. That means that spirulina as a supplement can effectively boost the natural immune system of the human body in a holistic fashion.

Source spirulina carefully, since it can be prone to heavy metal contamination.

Terpene Nutrients Can Help Activate Autophagy

In an article published in the journal Aging in 2021, Russian scientists mentioned that terpenes extracted from Siberian fir trees could effectively activate autophagy.

After treating cells with terpenes for 24 hours, the percentage of cells containing autophagosomes (garbage bags) or autophagolysosomes (garbage processing stations) both increased significantly compared to the control group, and the number of autophagosomes contained in a single cell also increased.

Terpenoids are the main components of many plant essential oils. Essential oils are also widely used in aromatherapy. For instance, citrus peel and peppermint essential oil can help improve mood and spirit.

According to statistics, the total number of known terpenoids exceeds 22,000, and they’re one of the most important sources for the development of new therapies.

Flavanoids to Inhibit Platelet Aggregation

A major component in green tea, EGCG is believed to actively inhibit platelets in humans. EGCG targets multiple pathways to achieve this role.

Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is an inhibitor of platelet aggregation and has effects in preventing thrombotic occlusion in blood vessels. It’s found predominantly in soy products.

Genistein’s primary mechanism at least includes inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by collagen and antagonistic effects for thromboxane receptors.

Spermidine to Boost Mitochondrial Function

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine that, like resveratrol, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It preserves mitochondrial function and has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease and prolong lifespan.

Spermidine plays a central role in cellular homeostasis and self-repairing mechanisms that promote macroautophagy/autophagy via directly inducing phagosome–lysosome fusion, helping induce eIF5a, which, in turn, induces genes to start autophagy (ATG3 and TFEB) and improve mitochondrial respiration.

The polyamine pathway is highly conserved from bacteria to mammals.

Spermidine is prominently found in aged cheese, wheat germ, nuts, soybeans, mushrooms, broccoli, apples, and pears.

A staff member works at a Spirulina laboratory in Bangkok on June 24, 2013.