My COVID experience and battle plan

At the very beginning of the lockdown back in March I contracted the COVID Virus when it appeared to be at its most potent. It caught me after an intense period of hard work that left me feeling run down. This is often the way. Whenever we are tired and run down our immune response is vulnerable to viruses and infections. The COVID virus affected my breathing to the point where on several occasions, I was struggling for my breath for a few hours each time. Once I simply walked up my stairs at home to fast, which set off a three hour episode of bad breathing difficulties. The whole virus experience was extremely unpleasant and left me extremely tired and run down for weeks.

Although I am now back to full fitness and coaching many clients, I am aware many people are still struggling to fully recover which is why I have written this blog. I also feel confident to share this, because unlike many that write similar blogs, I have actually had the virus when it was probably at its most potent and fully recovered from it.

Recovery for me is training every day, coaching clients, writing into the late hours and leading a very active life on top of raising 3 children of ages 4, 5 and 11 alongside my lovely partner Samantha. I need my health!

Whilst many of us are waiting around for the COVID 19 vaccination as the ultimate panacea for the normalisation of life as we once knew it, there is plenty we can do to create great health and immunity. You won’t get this vastly promoted by the media or the pharmaceutical industry and by now, I’m sure you can work out for yourself why this is. Once again, remember the vast majority of people are catching COVID 19 mildly and have no long term issues, even so, others that normally have other health complaints or are elderly can and have died, which is all the more reason to eat well and put into practise health enhancing lifestyle habits.

Our obsession with vaccinations and drugs has lulled us into a false sense of security, that has left many people lapse on the very things that should be at the forefront of health before vaccinations and drugs. Namely nutrition, herbs, sunlight and physical activity.

To put it bluntly, poor human health is profitable.

Or, for human health to be profitable, must have a pharmaceutical outcome.

The U.K. government are heavily taking and acting on advice from the Imperial College in London which is part funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. This institution appears at times to have a greater say over other well established long term respected advisors for the government. Just last week the Imperial College are all over mainstream media claiming you can get the COVID virus a second time as the antibodies within the body disappear over time. Yet, someone who I hold huge respect for and has high level connections on such matters, claims this is simply not true. This week we are lurching into a second lockdown based on a health dossier and the government will not release the official report.

Due to the nature of my work, I have spoken and heard of Doctors, Coroners, high level hospital officials all being pressurised to label as many deaths and diagnosis as possible with COVID.

With such incongruence, conflicts of interest, hypocrisy and self serving agendas taking place, there is only really one option.

Own your own health.

Like other viruses, we can carry the COVID 19 virus for life. 95% of us carry the herpes virus and 90% of us in the West carry the Epstein Barr Virus which triggers glandular fever.

Poor nutrition, stress, poor sleep, lack of exercise and sunlight are the real enemies and not the virus. Place your focus here first and foremost and you are doing everything you can to take charge of your health and your life. If not, you can be certain someone else will do it for you.

By taking control of your own health, wonderful things can follow this in every area of your life and there has never been a better time to act than now.

I have placed the action plan below into 8 points but I must stress, this is for information purposes only and everyone should seek expert advice for trying something similar to the plan below.

1. Mainstream media fast.

Yes this is number 1 for good reason. You will never get the full truthful picture from the media. Fear is its staple and fear lowers immunity, creates stress and leaves you vulnerable. The aim of these fear orientated messages is to steer you to a desired result and opinion of those that control it. Give it a wide berth most of the time and try watching/listening once a week if you must but even then do not take it as a voice of truth but simply to inform you of any rules and regulations that have arisen and of any relevant world news.

2. Nutrition.

Viruses love and thrive on carbohydrates and sugar. Diets based on fat, protein and fibre are unfriendly to an invading virus. Sugar is the super demon of modern society and is largely responsible for our catastrophic decline of human health and in turn, its reliance on drugs and vaccines. Sugar is big business though, so it’s up to us to eliminate it as much as possible from our diet. If anyone has the COVID virus or at risk from catching it, they should eliminate sugar entirely.

One of the most powerful things I did to tame the virus was a zero sugar diet. I literally ate only protein and fat for 14 days and the results were incredible. Organic grass-fed beef, eggs, wild salmon and fish were what I ate with various supplements to help combat the virus which I shall cover shortly. This also eliminates any other plant and grain-based irritants to the gut such as Lectins, Oxalates, Goitrogens, Phytic acid, Gluten, Glycoalkaloids, Cyanogenic Glycosides, Protease Inhibitors, Flavonoids and Saponins. These are in a whole host of common plant based foods, nuts, fruits and grains that are promoted as healthy and regular foods to eat. What we have forgotten though is that large quantities of these foods eaten all year round is unnatural to us and a habit of recent human history. It wasn’t supposed to be this way and the implications of such habits are starting to unfold.

As an example, Dr Stephen Gundry’s work on Lectins is outlined in his excellent book ‘The Plant Paradox’, and describes how the regular eating of certain plant foods can cause serious health issues. His book covers the hidden dangers of many plant foods out how they can potentially harm the body. The example of well-known vegan personal development coach Tony Robbins and his potentially life threatening heart issues described within is particularly revealing. However, despite the excellent advice in this book, I went further and eliminated all fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains for 14 days and I’m glad I did.

Author of ’12 Rules for Life’ and controversial speaker Jordan Peterson, has spoken of his experience on the carnivore diet and how powerful it has been in alleviating his depression and many other benefits. Ultimately, I don’t believe we have to put ourselves in any camp of eating methodology but they can all benefit us periodically throughout the year, a month or even a week. This is what I have taught for years with great results.

On the second stage I ate lectin free foods which you can see in the list below, still keeping to an ultra low diet in sugar.

Oils: Olive oil, Coconut oil, Avocado oil.
Sweeteners: Stevia
Nuts and seeds: Macadamia, Walnuts, Pecans, Hazelnuts, Chestnuts, Flaxseed and hemp, Brazil nuts.
Wild fish: Wild Alaskan Salmon, Halibut, Tuna, Sea bass, Sardines.
Fruit: Avocado, Lemons and limes.
Vegetables: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Book shot, Cabbage, Watercress, Lettuce, Kale, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Celery, Onions, Leeks, Chicory, Raw Carrots, Artichokes, Raw Beets, Radish, Coriander, Asparagus, Garlic, Spinach, Fennel, Parsley, Basil, Mint, Seaweed, Mushrooms.Olives Sweet potato.
Meat: Free range chicken, Grass fed beef, Turkey, Wild game,Venison, Duck, Lamb, Prosciutto.
Eggs: Free range organic

Foods to avoid

Dairy – These foods create mucus and can cause low to high grade inflammation. The last thing you want with a virus attacking the lungs is to amplify the issue with mucus forming foods. Dairy isn’t a natural food despite being accepted as one.
Gluten Grains – Gut and immune system aggravating glutens, lectins, Oxalates and more are within the gluten grains that are primarily wheat based. Modern wheat can be up to 80% gluten in comparison to its original 20%!

Avoid: All alcohol and high levels of caffeine!

Eat twice per day.

Read anything about ancient tribes and cultures and you will normally observe how they ate no more than twice a day or less. There is wisdom in this ancient diet. Two good meals per day within a 10 hour window means the stomach gets 14 hours a day to rest, heal, clean and restore normal acidity. The promoting of eating regular small meals throughout the day to regulate blood sugar levels is a myth born out of modernity and easy living.

Saturated fats protect the lungs.

Remember not so long ago the medical industry attacked all fats and labelled them collectively as bad? Well, as we know they were very, very wrong. Mary Enig Ph.D claimed there is a case to be made for having as much as 50% of fats in your diet as saturated. Saturated fat looks vital for protecting the lungs. For correct lung function, the airspaces of the lungs should be coated with a thin layer of a lung surfactant, which has a fat content of 100% saturated fatty acids. Replacement of these fats potentially causes breathing difficulties. Having a problem on top of another viral problem is certainly not desirable.

3. Supplements

– (Always seek advice with an expert before embarking on a supplement program, especially if you have a medical condition)

These high doses are for a short term only for the onset of a virus.

Vitamin C: 5-6 grams or more per day. (Diarrhoea is a sign you have reached tolerance level) I was taking 10 grams a day without any issues.
Iodine: 25mg a day
Vitamin D: Upto 50,000IU daily.
Vitamin A: Upto 100,000 IU daily.

High absorption and potency multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.

4. Chinese Herbal Medicine.

One approach to the virus that has been successfully applied in Wuhan and other areas of China is Chinese Herbal medicine. A specific combination of 20 herbs has been devised from traditional Chinese medicine that has had more success than any other approach so far. This success, according to my Chinese Doctor friend means no deaths from COVID for those that took the herbs! He is a man I have known for decades, a Chinese Olympic committee advisor and someone I trust.

I took the exact prescription as used in Wuhan and they were without doubt a highly effective treatment. They have clearly been a life saver for many. I do not know the precise ingredients but any well established Chinese herbalist has probably kept up to date with the developments of the virus and can prescribe this recipe.

In addition to the herbs, I was recommended strong fresh grated ginger tea with lemon.

5. Exercise, but not too hard too often

Although not fully understood why, too much regular intensive exercise can lower the immune system. Exercise is good for us but we should try not to crawl out of the gym after every session. I always tell people to keep the super intense sessions to no more than once or twice a week. As one Olympic medalist told me “Most of the time, always save some energy for the next days session.” Regular exercise is good for the cells and boosts immunity but to much can have the opposite effect.

If you contract the virus, do not exercise at all but focus on meditation and more healing exercise such as Chi Gung.

6.Sleep.

Although sleep has many benefits, it’s connection to boosting immunity are well documented. Regular poor sleep can leave you 3 times more likely to picking up infections. In addition, inflammation, cell damage and disease recurrence are far more likely. Sleep is essential in keeping our immunity strong and the ability to fight a virus. I have very young children, so getting enough sleep has been an issue for me but taking a short nap during the day is a good habit to get into and utterly essential if you are battling or recovering from the virus.

7. Meditation & Breathing exercises.

Mediation and Chi Gung have shown to improve immunity, create energy and stimulate the rest and digest parasympathetic nervous system. Being able to relax and stay calm whilst ill is underrated in terms of recovery. Anyone that has heard my own experience with Chi Gung as a young man will know I was once extremely ill with chronic fatigue syndrome. It was Chi Gung and meditation that were ultimately the main aspects for me in regaining my health. They also encourage you to use correct diaphragm breathing which will be extremely useful against any virus that may restrict this by attacking the lungs. Also, use this period of meditation to visualise yourself better, in full health and doing the things you love. Really feel it. What the mind can see and physically feel, has already been experienced.

8. Sunlight

As well as releasing the feel good hormone Serotonin, sunlight causes a persons skin to create vitamin D (see also supplements) Vitamin D regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorous and facilitates normal immune system function. It fights disease and decreases chances of heart disease and developing the flu. In addition, it combats depression and weight gain. Getting outdoors every day is important. Vitamin D aside, simply being in nature can facilitate healing. Japanese studies have shown that even hospitals that have trees visible from ward windows, enable patients to recover far more quickly than hospitals without the visibility of trees and nature.

In finishing, I must by law mention that this article is for information purposes only and anyone that makes changes to their diet or wants to take nutritional supplements should seek the advice of their doctor.

References for this article:
*The Plant Paradox by Dr Stephen Gundry
*The Tim Ferris Blog – 7 Reasons to eat saturated fat with Michael Eades
*What doctors don’t tell you – Battle COVID Article by Dr Sarah Myhill