THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN C

Long gone may be the days when our biggest concern was getting scurvy from severe lack of vitamin C; However, our immunity health and wellness in general is more important now than ever.

Did you know? Vitamin C is a water-soluable vitamin that must be obtained from your diet or supplements. It can be found naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables including oranges, strawberries, kiwis, spinach, broccoli, bell peppers and kale. The recommended daily intake of vitamin C for women is 75mg and 90mg for men.

TIP: A vitamin C supplement is a great, easy way to help boost your vitamin C intake if you struggle to reach your daily recommended amount.

Luckily for you, nearly* all of our LIFEAID products contain vitamin C (in the form of ascorbic acid, one of the most bioavailable & readily absorbed forms of vitamin C). Fun fact: IMMUNITYAID actually contains 20x the amount of vitamin C in one orange!

Each blend also offers additional clean ingredients and nutrients for your mind and body, plus the refreshing taste of vitamins you'll actually enjoy drinking! Discover them all and shop online at LIFEAIDbevco.com. (We'll ship your order right to your doorstep.)

*Note: LIFEAID HEMP Balance Blend is currently the only product in the full family of LIFEAID functional beverages which does not contain Vitamin C.

C O N C L U S I O N

During a time when all of our systems could use a little added immunity boost, it's important to include vitamin C in your daily nutritional goals. With the numerous benefits of vitamin C that we now know, this powerhouse vitamin is clearly no longer just a pirate's cure for scurvy! So whether the foods you eat naturally provide you with enough vitamin C or you need to supplement, be sure to keep vitamin-C-packed foods and/or supplements stocked in your home as a healthy part of your daily diet.

All images courtesy of LIFEAID and UnSplash  |  Additional sources: Healthline.com & VitaVibes.com
Please note: LIFAID products and this information is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any disease.


> > > Stay well.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN C Long gone may be the days when our biggest concern was getting scurvy from severe lack of vitamin C; However, our immunity health and wellness in general is more important now than ever. Did you know? Vitamin C is a water-soluable vitamin that must be obtained from your diet or […]

Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman 

Many of us have made the transition to working from home during this global crisis and while some people are old hats at this type of work environment, some of us will need to drastically change our mindset on how work can work for us. It can be tempting to feel frustrated or lacking when we see other #WFH folks who seem to have it all together, but don’t fret! Keep in mind that everyone has their own personal way that works best for them when it comes to working from home. 

Check out these tips to help improve your working-from-home balance and productivity! 


C O N C L U S I O N

One of the more important things to keep in mind during this period is that your job might not transition easily into working from home and it’s important to realize that. It’s okay to have moments of frustration. Utilize the guidance from your co-workers and bosses to help you navigate your way through this unprecedented time. We should lean on each other, feel free to ask questions, communicate more than usual and, don’t forget, give yourself a break here and there. It’s important to remember that you’re not necessarily working from home-you’re at home trying to work and there is a large difference. Hopefully you are well on your way to feeling more comfortable in this new work environment.  

All images courtesy of: @iona.codes


 

About the Author:
Georgia native Tiffany Ammerman is the thru-hiker and CrossFitter behind the travel blog The Goodish Traveler. She spends the majority of her time traveling, eating sushi and searching for hiking trails. When she's not blogging, Ammerman can be found training at CrossFit LaGrange and teaching art to kids.

You can follow her adventures on Instagram: @the_goodish_traveler or her website: TheGoodishTraveler.com

 


> > > Stay well.

 

Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman  Many of us have made the transition to working from home during this global crisis and while some people are old hats at this type of work environment, some of us will need to drastically change our mindset on how work can work for us. It can be tempting […]


Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman 

Staying motivated to continue on your fitness journey during a shelter in place order can be difficult, especially if you’ve been doing the same body weight exercises in your living room for the past four weeks. Staying active can not only give your immune system a boost but it can also provide an emotional lift during a time when our day-to-day life has changed dramatically.

If you’re looking for some ideas to help amp up your fitness motivation, check out these helpful tips:

♦ Create a Schedule For Yourself

Having a structured day and a dedicated schedule can help you feel more productive, focused and willing to take on some fitness. Knowing that you have carved out some time in your day for your workout not only gives you a mental and emotional break, but it can also help you to feel reinvigorated for future workout sessions.

Participate in Weekly Fitness Challenges

There are so many CrossFit boxes, Jiu-Jitsu schools and yoga studios on social media who are offering up their services free of charge to help get people moving. Look up some fun fitness related challenges that’ll get you logging some miles or videoing your daily burpees. Posting your progress on social media so your friends can virtually participate along with you or cheer you on can help you to feel encouraged to continue. 

♦ Commit to the Mindset

It can be easy to be in the doldrums right now, but if you’re wanting to amp up your motivation, commit to the mindset that you’re going to get moving and get going. Being your own biggest cheerleader right now is so important for mental health. Sometimes just pledging to the process can be enough to make you feel inspired to get moving again. That also includes committing to a realistic and healthy fitness schedule that is right for you. 

♦ Find a Workout Buddy

Whether it’s your dog, your partner or your friend over video chat, having someone else who is relying on you can give you the extra push to get out and get going. It might require a little extra planning and creativity, but working out with a friend can really make you feel connected and inspired to continue your training. Don’t leave them hanging! 

♦ Try New Things

If you’re normally into HIIT workouts or prefer a slower paced yoga routine, now is the time to experiment with different types of fitness! It can be easy for our preferred workout to become deeply ingrained in our day to day routine pre-quarantine. Now that our schedule has been shaken up and you might not be feeling the same motivation without your gym buddies, try to use this time to find fun, new hobbies you might not have given yourself the chance to explore previously. 

♦ Take Rest Days

It may seem counterintuitive, but giving yourself some time to rest and recover can give you more motivation for future fitness and less burn out. You’ll feel ready to tackle your next vinyasa flow with vigor and energy! Maintaining rest days or active recovery days can give structure to your workout schedule as well as providing a physical and mental health balance in our lives. 

C O N C L U S I O N

Keep in mind that this isn’t a normal moment in any of our lives and it’s important to be kind to yourself during your training periods in quarantine. This isn’t a time to compare your fitness to others but rather an opportunity to explore, get creative and enjoy your own, personal workout journey.  So, find some cool fitness challenges and call your favorite workout buddy over video chat and get moving!

All images courtesy of: @j_straty


 

About the Author:
Georgia native Tiffany Ammerman is the thru-hiker and CrossFitter behind the travel blog The Goodish Traveler. She spends the majority of her time traveling, eating sushi and searching for hiking trails. When she's not blogging, Ammerman can be found training at CrossFit LaGrange and teaching art to kids.

You can follow her adventures on Instagram: @the_goodish_traveler or her website: TheGoodishTraveler.com

 


> > > Stay well.

 

Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman  Staying motivated to continue on your fitness journey during a shelter in place order can be difficult, especially if you’ve been doing the same body weight exercises in your living room for the past four weeks. Staying active can not only give your immune system a boost but it […]

The LIFEAID LIFT program is now live at LIFEAIDlift.com!

LIFEAID is giving $15 cash, from every 24-can purchase made by consumers at LIFEAIDlift.com, directly to their designated local gym or business. BONUS: Members will save $5 OFF/case! Simply visit LIFEAIDlift.com for more details.  

SHARE the link with others to help give back to the local gyms & businesses we call 'home.'

We're all in this together. Stay strong.

www.LIFEAIDlift.com

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7-Day Income Ignition Program

Successful entrepreneur and speaker Bedros Keuilian wants to help show you how to quickly pivot your business and start profiting again, after being hit hard by the economic disaster caused by COVID-19. Watch his introduction video for more information.

Learn about Keuilian's program here.

How to Move Your Business Online in 48 Hours

Mike Bledsoe and The Strong Coach team have put together this FREE guide that will provide you with the exact steps, resources and software suggestions to help make the process of setting up your online coaching business a breeze!

Check out the FREE guide here.

"To move forward you have to give back."
—Oprah Winfrey

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Eating a Keto Diet May Give Some Protection Against the Flu

While the connection between a healthy diet and immune system health has long been established, a recent study has found a possible link between the Keto diet and improved immunity.

Read the entire article here.

LIVE! The Strong Coach & FITAID Help Gyms Navigate Business During This Pandemic 

Mike Bledsoe (The Strong Coach) and Aaron Hinde (co-founder of LIFEAID) will be hosting a LIVE Zoom call this week, providing helpful tips & information to get gym owners through this difficult time. For full details, click the link below.

Sign up to access the FREE Zoom call here.

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AH

HindeSight  |  No. 34

The LIFEAID LIFT program is now live at LIFEAIDlift.com! LIFEAID is giving $15 cash, from every 24-can purchase made by consumers at LIFEAIDlift.com, directly to their designated local gym or business. BONUS: Members will save $5 OFF/case! Simply visit LIFEAIDlift.com for more details.   SHARE the link with others to help give back to the local […]

What we feed our bodies affects its ability to resist and fight-off disease. Inadequate nutrition can compromise our body’s defense and its response to foreign invaders, while conscious dieting can optimize its ability to resist disease. It’s therefore important we be mindful of our diet to ensure that our bodies have the tools needed to heal and recover.

Diet can be broken up into several basic categories. The following food groups and types are excellent sources of nutrients that directly support the immune system.

Water

As simple as it sounds, water is an essential part of our well-being. Sticking to water as opposed to diuretic beverages like alcohol, coffee, and sugary drinks is ideal. Hydration is especially important during winter and early spring, as colder and drier weather can leave the respiratory lining susceptible to infection.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables offer countless benefits to our body. These are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that our body needs to function and keep our organs healthy. They are nutrient dense, meaning that they offer more nutrients per calorie than most other foods.

Fiber from fruits and vegetables promotes a healthy digestive tract, where they act as prebiotics. This is extremely important! Our gut plays a key role in the absorption of nutrients and in supporting the immune system. A healthy gut allows the body to reap the full benefits of the nutrients consumed.

Berries

Berries are packed with antioxidants that protect our body from all sorts of wear and tear. Antioxidants work by neutralizing free radicals, reactive molecules that would otherwise react with important micro-biological structures and render them useless.

Berries are also abundant in phytochemicals (“plant-” chemicals), which are becoming more and more recognized as important to our health. Examples of phytochemicals includes flavonoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, sulfides, thiols, and many many more. Phytochemicals are the most effective when consumed in their natural form, not as a supplement.

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are a good source of healthy (poly-unsaturated and mono-unsaturated) fats. Examples include plant-based oils (liquid at room temperature), omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to immune support and function, eliciting a supporting effect on phagocytic cells like neutrophils and macrophages. Nuts and seeds are also packing with energy and are phytochemicals, making them a no-brainer when it comes to immune support.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” is a miracle worker when it comes to immunity. Adequate levels of vitamin D ensure that we have strong bones and a strong immune system. Supplementing with vitamin D has been found to lower the likelihood of upper respiratory tract infections as well as shorten the illness. Vitamin D also has antioxidant properties that protect with oxidative damage and has a stabilizing effect on mood.


>>> Stay well.

Original post by Santa Cruz Core on March 26, 2020 ⋅ Written by Jaimi Jansen What we feed our bodies affects its ability to resist and fight-off disease. Inadequate nutrition can compromise our body’s defense and its response to foreign invaders, while conscious dieting can optimize its ability to resist disease. It’s therefore important we be mindful […]

www.LIFEAIDlift.com

With so many gym doors forced to close, we started the LIFEAID LIFT program to support our local gyms & businesses, helping our community get through this current crisis, together.

BOX OWNERS, earn some cash and save your members money! Simply share this link: www.LIFEAIDlift.com

Your gym will receive $15 cash for every 24-can purchase made by your loyal members or customers under your gym's name at LIFEAIDlift.com! We ship their orders directly to them and send you the cash*. It's a win-win.  (*Verified accounts will be paid out every two weeks via PayPal.) Program valid only for the temporary duration of your gym or business' mandatory closure.

GYM MEMBERS, now you can purchase discounted cases ($5 OFF/case) when you shop at www.LIFEAIDlift.com. Plus, we'll give $15 cash back (for every 24-can case purchase) directly your gym. Remember to SHARE the link, SHARE the love!

This is a great way for those who are working out at home to be able to stock up any of our immunity and recovery boosting LIFEAID blends—chock full of vitamins—while supporting the gyms and businesses we call 'home,' so we can return to them once the dust settles.

We're so grateful for our community. Let's stay strong together!

Your LIFEAID family is humbled and grateful to be able to give back and financially lift up those in need during this difficult time. Please contact our team if you have any questions about the LIFEAID LIFT or how to get started: (888) 558-1113.

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Share on social: #LIFEAIDlift


> > > Stay strong.

www.LIFEAIDlift.com With so many gym doors forced to close, we started the LIFEAID LIFT program to support our local gyms & businesses, helping our community get through this current crisis, together. BOX OWNERS, earn some cash and save your members money! Simply share this link: www.LIFEAIDlift.com Your gym will receive $15 cash for every 24-can purchase made […]

Later this week, LIFEAID will be launching its LIFEAID LIFT program.
Watch your inbox for additional details!

“Our gyms have been so supportive of our brand, making FITAID the #1 Workout Recovery Drink in America. Now we want to give back and provide monetary assistance to them during this time of turbulence and financial uncertainty. We’re all in this together.”
—Orion Melehan, LIFEAID CEO and co-founder

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The Guest Show Podcast: Aaron Hinde Discusses How to Thrive During This Time of Uncertainty

On this episode of the Guest Show, co-founder and president of LIFEAID Beverage Company, Aaron Hinde comes on to talk about the uncertainty presented by the COVID-19 outbreak and how you can steer your business through it.

Aaron's life story takes him through all the ups and downs that entrepreneurs face and this episode presents his actionable advice that you can use now to get through this.

Listen to this episode here.

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FREE COURSE
from Nutritional Coaching Institute

As part of the LIFEAID family, Nutritional Coaching Institute is giving you FREE access to one of their best-selling online courses (worth over $2,000). Also, be sure to check out their gut-health course. Get started today!

Learn more about the gut-health course here.

Learn more about the FREE NCI Level-1 course here.

"If we picture ourselves like magnets ... If everybody is throwing out the same polarity—and it's fear—then the people who throw out confidence, certainty and calm are going to be like the super-magnets, attracting everybody to them."
—Dr. Sean Pastuch

LIFEAID Employees Find Positivity in Social Distancing

During this dark time for many, the entire team at LIFEAID Beverage Co. is shedding a light on the brighter side of social distancing.

Read the blog here.

Debunking 4 Popular Immunity Myths

Dr. Nick, MD, talks all-things immunity and sets the record straight about a few commonly misbelieved notions.

Read the article here.

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AH

HindeSight  |  No. 33

Later this week, LIFEAID will be launching its LIFEAID LIFT program. Watch your inbox for additional details! “Our gyms have been so supportive of our brand, making FITAID the #1 Workout Recovery Drink in America. Now we want to give back and provide monetary assistance to them during this time of turbulence and financial uncertainty. […]


While this has been a time of uncertainty around the world, one thing is certain: social distancing is leading many of us to a revolutionary time as a society, we're witnessing a 'closening' of relationships. People are reflecting on what matters most in their lives, surrounding themselves with the people they love (even if only via FaceTime), appreciating nature, embracing new hobbies, making time for healthy habits, and just taking life at a slower pace in general. The LIFEAID team shares how they are practicing social distancing and embracing all the good things that have come out of this otherwise difficult time.

Wishing everyone health & calm.
—Your LIFEAID family

Aaron (President & co-founder)

Aaron & his family

Destiny (Email marketing)

Sabine (Accounting)

Hannah (Graphic design)

Hannah, practicing yoga at home

Karis (Field marketing & social media)

Karis & fur friends

Claudia (Operations)

Ashley (Sales)

Katie (Social media)

Katie, in her home office

Orion (CEO and co-founder)

Orion & daughters in Santa Cruz

The biggest blessing for me during this crazy time of uncertainty has been how much quality time I get to spend with my two beautiful daughters. It's a perfect reminder to us all—never take these moments for granted, they are just waiting to shine through amidst all the chaos.
—Orion Melehan, LIFEAID CEO and co-founder

Need another good excuse to move your body?
LISTEN & DANCE TO DJ ORION'S HOUSE ARREST MIX HERE!


> > > Stay healthy.

While this has been a time of uncertainty around the world, one thing is certain: social distancing is leading many of us to a revolutionary time as a society, we’re witnessing a ‘closening’ of relationships. People are reflecting on what matters most in their lives, surrounding themselves with the people they love (even if only […]

Special guest Dr. Nick, MD—the "Fittest Doc"—sits down with Aaron Hinde D.C. (president and co-founder of LIFEAID) to debunk some common myths about the Coronavirus. The two doctors also share important facts, health tips and suggestions to stay healthy and protect our community during this time. Watch the interview now to learn more about COVID-19, including how practicing gratitude & mediation are beneficial to help boost your immune system! (35:45)

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:


Full transcription of the audio recording from the interview with Dr. Nick, MD, and the co-founder of LIFEAID Aaron Hinde, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

Aaron Hinde: Hey, doc, how's it going?

Dr. Nick: (0:01) Hello. Hi, how are you, Aaron?

Aaron Hinde: (00:03) Looking good, doing well. Thank you. Thanks for taking the time today. And thank you, everyone, for joining. We've got an interesting conversation with Dr. Nick from SteadyMD, @thefittestdoc on Instagram, and Dr. Nick and I have had a chance to hang out together, and I can tell everyone on the line right now, he absolutely is the fittest doc as you can see from the image there on the phone. So what did you just squat the other day? You almost did a 500-pound squat, right?

Dr. Nick: (00:35) Yeah, 485 successfully, and 500-pound fail.

Aaron Hinde: (00:39) Oh, man. Congrats. That's amazing. That's amazing. Well, I can speak from experience, being in the healthcare field for 10 years myself and meeting hundreds of docs, you definitely are the fittest doc. So keep up the good work.

Dr. Nick: (00:53) I'm pretty sure Julie Foucher is, but this is a Coronavirus talk so--

Aaron Hinde: (00:58) We'll give you the fittest male doc. How about that?

Dr. Nick: (01:00) Okay.

Aaron Hinde: (01:02) So today, we're going to talk about something very topical, very much in the media. Everybody's talking about it; everybody's very concerned about it; which is the Coronavirus. So we wanted to get an authority figure like yourself, somebody educated in medicine to kind of set the record straight. There's just a lot of fear mongering going on right now in the media and misinformation being spread. So wanted to set the record straight. So why don't you just tell everybody, what is a coronavirus? How does it spread? Is there something we should be afraid of here?

Dr. Nick: (01:40) So Aaron, first of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on this. But essentially, coronaviruses are actually pretty common human viral infections. They were initially identified in the 1960s, and they commonly spread person-to-person. There are, in total, seven coronaviruses that can infect people. Amongst them, there are actually two common what are known as alpha coronaviruses, two common what are known as beta coronaviruses. These common variants are among the viral infections that cause the common cold. Additionally, there are also MERS Coronavirus, SARS, that, you know, everybody heard about a couple years back. That is a coronavirus variant. And now, this coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is also known as SARS Coronavirus too. So this is what's called a novel coronavirus, and that essentially implies that is a coronavirus that, in the past, was not known to infect human beings. And as I stated earlier, it's currently known as, specifically, COVID-19. So these last three, MERS, SARS, and COVID-19, are notable because they were initially relegated strictly to animals. They subsequently evolved and are now capable of making people sick.

Aaron Hinde: (03:28) So they made the jump, so to speak, from animals to humans.

Dr. Nick: (03:32) Absolutely.

Aaron Hinde: (03:34) Similar to how we anticipate AIDS first started in an animal population and--

Dr. Nick: (03:39) Sure, sure. Absolutely. So in terms of spread kind of between people and how that happens-- So it is currently thought that this is a primarily respiratory droplets exposure spread virus. So it may be possible, yes, that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or an object that the virus has been on and then touching their mouth, touching their nose, touching their eyes. But currently, it is not thought that that is the main way that the virus spreads. Also, there is currently no evidence to support the suspicion that COVID-19 can be spread through transmission of food. So I know that some people have concerns about certain-- whether it's items coming in from China or other places exposed to COVID-19 or food, people seem to have a concern about that. And insofar as we've currently seen, that is not a concern. There's nothing, essentially, as of right now, to support that from an evidence-based standpoint.

Aaron Hinde: (05:01) No, I appreciate you clearing that up. So what type of symptoms would someone expect to get? How long is the incubation period? What symptoms would develop? And how could you mitigate the spread of COVID-19?

Dr. Nick: (05:19) So currently, the incubation period - which I know a lot of people have heard so far, for COVID-19 is thought to be 14 days- oftentimes, it can actually-- symptomatically, people can start showing symptoms within three to six days in general. At least for that two-week period, at least for 14 days right now, it's thought to be the incubation period. Symptomatically, when patients do start to experience symptoms, actually, that implies that all patients experience symptoms, and that's not entirely true. So essentially, as of right now, the range of infected patients is all the way asymptomatic - no symptoms at all - to fever, to kind of symptoms of an acute respiratory illness, including but not limited to cough, difficulty breathing, to myalgias, which are essentially--

Aaron Hinde: (06:23) Muscle pains.

Dr. Nick: (06:23) --tenderness and kind of-- Exactly, muscle pain, to fatigue, to what's called an ILI, and influenza-like illness, and at its most severe, currently, COVID-19 has presented in a small but important population with severe pneumonia, with kind of respiratory failure and, in some people, with septic shock. So it has a wide variety of presentations, and given the current death rate, the current death toll, rather, of this, it can absolutely be presumed that a number of individuals have this asymptomatically. There have already been a number of cases of recoveries all around the world, so yeah.

Aaron Hinde: (07:17) There was one estimation that the reason that kids are not contracting this symptomatically, say, is because they've already got some form of the coronavirus or one of the seven type of mutations that you discussed earlier in school, and so they already have some built-up immunity. Is there any truth to that?

Dr. Nick: (07:40) Yeah, you know, that's an interesting thought. In terms of what is known from the CDC, in terms of what is known by the governing health bodies, there's currently no known data specifically regarding-- as such, I can't comment on that with any amount of certainty.

Aaron Hinde: (08:02) Sure, sure. Now, I have read from the WHO that the mortality rate, the death rate with this is significantly higher than, say influenza or the common-- People of the common cold, as high as three and a half percent. Now, when I read that, my first thought was, "Well, they're taking known cases, meaning you have to be symptomatic enough to go in and get treatment, and then three and a half percent of those people are dying." But we've also read - and please clarify this - that up to 80% will be mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic, so much so that they're not even going to seek medical treatment. So it appears to me that, when this all plays out, that three and a half percent is going to be way on the high side, and this could easily come in well under 1% or even a tenth of a percent because of the number of asymptomatic people that will never seek treatment as a result.

Dr. Nick: (08:57) Yeah, Aaron, so what you're speaking on there is what's called a case fatality rate. So originally, when this first hit, the data coming out of China, coming out of approximately 70,000 in China, estimated that the case fatality rate was 2.5%. However, just this week, the WHO, the World Health Organization, released their own figures and their own numbers, saying that the number was 3.4%. So they actually-- I mean, the percentage according to them was actually a little bit higher. And that number was computed looking at the number of confirmed cases and then case fatality within that. However, as you noted - and I think that's a very notable observation that you made - there are likely thousands and thousands of people who are infected, and as I noted earlier, who are infected and asymptomatic. And if you look at the map here, the numerator and the denominator of figuring out the case fatality rate, people who are walking around infected and asymptomatic, and furthermore, those who stay asymptomatic over the course of their infection and completely recover from it? Those people, if they were counted, would change the denominator--

Aaron Hinde: (10:22) Significantly. Significantly.

Dr. Nick: (10:23) Absolutely. So as such, I think that, essentially, as more testing kits become available worldwide and they become more widespread, we will be able to accurately calculate how many people are infected and the case fatality rate. But essentially, if you want to look at it compared to other infections, flu is estimated at a case fatality rate of .06 to .1%, kind of depending on the year and the impact of the flu for that year. SARS was calculated at about 10%, and MERS Coronavirus was calculated at about 30, 34%.

Aaron Hinde: (11:05) Gotcha. Okay. That's good information. And just to put things in perspective, I read the 2017-2018 flu season, about 35 million Americans got some form of influenza in that flu season. We're talking about, worldwide, so far, 110,000 cases of Coronavirus worldwide that have killed approximately 3,500 people as of this morning. And put that in more perspective: 26,000 die every day in this country from-- worldwide - I'm sorry - from cancer; almost 50,000 from cardiovascular disease. 3,000 people die a day from mosquito bites, believe it or not.

Dr. Nick: (11:47) Wow. Did not know that.

Aaron Hinde: (11:49) Yeah. Okay, so let's talk about your immune system. We had a question I saw come through: does seasonality come into effect here? As things warm up, we always see the common cold, influenza cases go down, I think because we're getting more vitamin D exposure. But would love to have your thoughts on that. Would you expect to see some seasonal adjustment here?

Dr. Nick: (12:13) You know, that is another thing that I think would be irresponsible any healthcare practitioner to comment as of now, because insofar as I know, Aaron, there is no absolute data speaking on COVID-19 and its uniqueness. As I stated - right? - this is a novel coronavirus. So given that we simply don't have enough data to state with certainty that this is something that, over the summer, will decrease.

Aaron Hinde: (12:46) Because there are so many people that are asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic that have a possibility to contract this, what is the difference between the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic group? In your estimation.

Dr. Nick: (13:02) How so?

Aaron Hinde: (13:03) I'm just saying, why would I get severely sick and somebody else not be symptomatic at all? Does that have to do with how well our immune system is functioning or--?

Dr. Nick: (13:15) I understand. So one could argue that that absolutely plays a part. With the data that has come out of China thus far, rather, there is absolutely a male predominance. There seems to be a male predominance with this, though I will disclose that that was likely biased by the fact that men in that cohort in China were very commonly smokers and had chronic lung disease. But otherwise, the people who seem to be hit the hardest, at least from the data coming from China, are immunocompromised. So those who are post-transplant, have cancer, even something like diabetes and the elderly who chronically live in a state of immunocompromised compared to the younger and healthy. Paradoxically, at least for now, insofar as I know, there have not been any diagnosed cases in children younger than nine years old. So it seems that, at least for now, from what I've observed, children seem to be relatively spared.

Aaron Hinde: (14:34) Great, that's good to hear. What can we do to boost our immune system? And there's a lot of-- Let's start with exercise. There's differences in opinion. "Should I go to the gym? Should I not go to the gym? Should I do low-impact, easy exercise, or should I go more CrossFit style, high impact? High intensity, I should say."

Dr. Nick: (14:59) So exercise, I think-- From the research that I've seen, exercise is no different on the body than any other stressor. So I think a better question here is how does stress affect the immune system? And how I would answer that is that it very much depends. So transient stressors, such as those associated with work, with family, or even exercise, absolutely have been shown to be associated with a bolstering and strengthening of the immune system. Unfortunately, more chronic, consistent stressors, those that are not remitting in nature such as a chronically stressful job or home life or even persistent non-transient states of anxiety, especially those of the untreated type, tend to absolutely cause a persistent inflammatory state physiologically, and with that, a persistent depression of our own ability to fight off infection.

Aaron Hinde: (16:10) So those people that are kind of constantly in that fight-or-flight mode, you want to get out of that. I know in my job--

Dr. Nick: (16:16) Absolutely.

Aaron Hinde: (16:16) --obviously here at LIFEAID can be pretty hectic on a daily basis. And as a part of my morning routine, being very clean with my diet, practicing breath work, meditation, making sure I get really good sleep, staying hydrated right when I wake up in the morning and throughout the day. Do you practice any of that? How does that tie in, do you think, to your overall immune function?

Dr. Nick: (16:45) Yeah, so I think that those type of activities absolutely benefit immunity. Essentially, those are what I like to call mindfulness techniques, right? And they have absolutely been shown-- Kind of one of my favorites with my patients is cognate immunity and CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, has absolutely been established for quite some time now in that it can positively affect mood with that, and essentially cause a lessening of mental stress and anxiety. And then, obviously, that will obviously positively affect our immune system. So kind of personally, what I try and do for myself is practice gratitude. I have a gratitude journal that I try to write in when I wake up in the morning. And something that I've been getting into more recently that I used to be into in high school and then fell out of it, was meditation. And I definitely think that's something that's definitely beneficial for us in the long run.

Aaron Hinde: (17:54) It's funny: we're discussing ways to reduce chronic stress and therefore boost your immune function, yet in most-- And a lot of people know, I don't have a television. I don't listen to typical radio, and just don't subject myself to newspapers and all that. So I'm not into the hype and hysteria that is being kind of forced on people right now. But all of that is very fear-driven, creating this chronic stress response, which is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing for our immune system. It's very ironic to me.

Dr. Nick: (18:33) That's paradoxical.

Aaron Hinde: (18:34) It's very paradoxical.

Dr. Nick: (18:35) Absolutely.

Aaron Hinde: (18:37) Let's get into supplementation. Do you take any specific supplements yourself for immunity? And do you think vitamin C, vitamin D, echinacea, these types of things are worthwhile?

Dr. Nick: (18:51) So personally, Aaron, I do not. I do not take any supplements, simply because I eat a whole foods-based diet. As you stated earlier, you're very good about your diet. I think that, when you are eating a whole foods-based diet, it becomes redundant. Now, let's back up: I'm not saying that, if you take certain supplements while eating a whole foods-based diet, that there's anything bad with that. In fact, essentially, your kidneys will excrete that. So at most, taking these supplements could be wasteful because you could quite literally pee them out. You could excrete them. But I think that, essentially, if you're on a whole foods-based diet, you don't need that. Now, otherwise, there are kind of some non-traditional therapies used for the common cold including echinacea, vitamin C, zinc. For those three that I just mentioned, there is really no solid evidence that either of those effectively treat the common cold. However, there absolutely is some data that show that a significant decrease in illness duration can be had if you are taking vitamin C before the onset of symptoms.

Aaron Hinde: (20:17) I've been on a diet ever since this thing hit of about five IMMUNITYAIDs a day--and after the fourth one, my pee goes totally bright yellow. So I think I need to cut it back just a little bit. [chuckling]

Dr. Nick: (20:30) Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, hey, you're just peeing it out. It's still helping you, but you have to keep in mind that your body can be saturated. Sure.

Aaron Hinde: (20:39) Absolutely. Absolutely. Let's talk about the gym. In Italy, we read this morning on Morning Chalk Up that they forced closure of the CrossFit gyms in Italy. I reached out to many of my friends, gym owners here in the US. They're all open and they say they're as busy as they've ever been. So there's really a mixed viewpoint here on what's going on outside of this country and so far in the US. Should people stay at home? Go to the gym? What do you think?

Dr. Nick: (21:11) So I think-- So if we're talking about CrossFitters specifically, here's our problem, my problem included, right? That most CrossFitters hate missing the gym, right? When you're kind of at that place where it's a habit of yours and you don't want to not go. So I think it needs to be clear and communicated with people who are sick in any manner, especially if you have a fever and cough, myalgia, essentially the signs and symptoms that we mentioned earlier, that is absolutely paramount that you not be in the gym. That you stay home, essentially self-isolate, simply to keep others safe. As I mentioned earlier, the people who are hardest hit by this are those who are immunocompromised for whatever reason, and unfortunately, insofar as-- or rather, even though you may know your own comorbidities, you may know what health issues you have, you have no idea what other people in the gym have. So people in the gym may live with type 2 diabetes, for example, and live in a state of persistent immunocompromise. As such, you are absolutely exposing them to literally infection and potentially, the escalation of that. So I think that keeping sick people out of the gym is important. Additionally, in terms of kind of gym owners-- At my gym personally, at my CrossFit gym, we are providing sanitary wipes. This is here in Denver, Colorado, at CrossFit [Andrea?]. They provide sanitary wipes, and the coach, every single hour, when you're done using your equipment, is encouraging people to take the Clorox wipes and wipe down your equipment. And yeah, that's something that I've noticed at least myself in recent times a lot of gym-goers have been doing.

Aaron Hinde: (23:17) So if you're feeling symptomatic stay home, not necessarily just for yourself, but for other people who may be immunocompromised that you don't even know about at the gym. Make sure you wipe down your equipment. Basic stuff, right? Wash your hands. What do you think about hand-washing versus the antibacterial pump stuff?

Dr. Nick: (23:40) Sanitizer?

Aaron Hinde: (23:40) Hand sanitizer, yeah. One way or the other?

Dr. Nick: (23:43) They're both efficacious. I mean, if the hand sanitizer has a high enough level of alcohol - which, I mean, most hand sanitizers that you can buy in the store absolutely do - they're both efficacious. They both work. Hand-washing, if you're going to do that, the minimum recommended time is 20 seconds. This'll probably be a little bit nerdy, but kind of going through med school and scrubbing and going into surgeries, it's commonly stated that you want to get under your fingernails. And kind of the best way to do that as you're washing your hands is to do something like this: with the soap and the water and your hands, with all your fingernails, essentially, make sure to lather it and wash well. But yeah, the other things that you mention are absolutely recommended. At this point, I would not recommend that anybody cough into their hands or sneeze into their hands; I would recommend rather that you cough into your elbow and essentially-- if you do have to cough into your hands or sneeze into your hands, then make sure that you wash your hands immediately afterward. If you do need to-- I remember just the other day-- This literally happened the other day, Aaron: I was at CrossFit, and the workout had-- It was a barbell workout, so I needed to tape my thumbs, so I tape my thumbs, and just before 3, 2, 1, Go, I felt an eyelash in my eye. So I literally ran to the bathroom, took off the tape on my thumbs, washed my hands. Only after I washed my hands did I stick my finger in my eye, get rid of the eyelash - because I'm not doing a workout like that - and then proceed to join the class again. So you can absolutely touch your nose, touch your mouth, touch your eyes, if you feel that you need to. But do not do so before washing first.

Aaron Hinde: (25:39) Yeah, no, great piece of advice. So solid question back to the vitamin C: any recommendation on dosage, how much vitamin C per day?

Dr. Nick: (25:49) Yeah, so the specific study that I referenced earlier looked specifically at dosages of 200 milligrams and above, so at the bare minimum, that's what I recommend.

Aaron Hinde: (26:03) Great. Have you changed your own travel habits, or what would you recommend people that have travel schedules--?

Dr. Nick: (26:12) So essentially, listen: if people absolutely feel that they need to travel, then travel. But ultimately, I would recommend that people do not-- There are a couple places that are absolutely recommended against at this point, and that's China; that's Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea. And essentially, absolutely avoid those areas. But if it's, for whatever, reason, absolutely mandated, do so. If you have to do so, I would absolutely recommend avoiding close contact with anyone whom that you are aware has a fever and a cough or other respiratory symptoms.

Aaron Hinde: (26:59) Gotcha. Gotcha. Now, I read that this particular virus has an R0 of two to three, and R0 basically means, when you're infected, how many people would you be expected to infect, right? So if I was infected, then two to three other people would be infected as a result of me. I haven't done the math or looked at any of the math, but it seems like that could spread fairly quickly. And again, we've already stated, fortunately, most people will be minimally symptomatic if not asymptomatic. At what point do we reach herd immunity? Could you talk to herd immunity at all and what that means and at what point does this kind of become like the common cold, where, okay, you might get it on a seasonal basis, but it's not that big of a deal?

Dr. Nick: (27:54) Aaron, I have to apologize: I just got a call and this got interrupted. So I need to pick up the question part of that. Would you say the question again?

Aaron Hinde: (28:01) Yeah, so I was talking about, as it spreads - and we'll continue to see an uptick in cases because of the R0 being two to three - we're going to reach a certain saturation point or something around herd immunity. I've read somewhere, potentially around 60%. After that happens, any estimate on how quickly that could happen, and then what happens after that? We get symptoms; we've been exposed to this virus. Will those symptoms just kind of run their course typically? Or is this something that we need to be concerned about every year now?

Dr. Nick: (28:40) So essentially, that R0 that you mentioned? That's not what I've heard. There's still-- Like I said, right? This is a fast-moving story. As such, I do think it pays to be receptive to the CDC and information that's coming out from the governing health bodies. But essentially, as of right now, from what I've heard, COVID-19 R0 is approximately-- is anywhere from one to three. And that kind of changes, right? Depending on how many people are infected, both symptomatically and asymptomatically. Measles' R0-- Measles is essentially one of the most virulent infections that anyone can get, and the R0 for Measles is 15 to 20.

Aaron Hinde: (29:31) Oh, wow. Okay.

Dr. Nick: (29:32) Yes, right? So just keep that in mind.

Aaron Hinde: (29:33) In perspective, yeah.

Dr. Nick: (29:35) Absolutely. Absolutely. The R0s for influenza? Now that, we know for absolute certain, right? And that is 1.3. So given what I stated earlier, that the R0 of COVID-19 is between one to three, arguably, this could either be less infectious or more infectious than influenza. But it is absolutely not as infectious as other things such as Measles.

Aaron Hinde: (30:01) Good. That's very helpful, put in perspective. Anything else that we haven't covered that you think that the public needs to know regarding Coronavirus?

Dr. Nick: (30:13) No, other than that-- I think that it's obvious that this puts infection at the forefront of everybody's thoughts. But I think what is important to realize and important to know is that there are many other-- As I stated earlier, there are many other variants of Coronavirus, as well as rhinovirus as well as adenovirus as well as everything that kind of causes common infection that is spread to society commonly. The things that are notable that most healthcare practitioners are saying, the simple things: wash your hands; keep your hands away from your mouth, from your nose, from your eyes; cough into your elbow; stay out of work; stay out of the gym if you're sick; all of those things are-- these are-- if you kind of step back and look at them, they're basic. They're very basic. But they are very effective, right? And unfortunately, people, because they're so basic, tend to be dismissive of them, when in reality, they are--

Aaron Hinde: (31:25) Most effective.

Dr. Nick: (31:25) The most effective, yeah. They're step one. So I would just recommend that everybody kind of keep basic sanitary protocols in mind, and yeah, that's pretty much it.

Aaron Hinde: (31:36) Doc, last question, and again, really appreciate your time today. Why do you think this particular virus has gotten so much media attention and hysteria?

Dr. Nick: (31:48) Because it's new and because it's unknown and because it's novel as I stated earlier. When something is entirely novel, when you have any novel coronavirus like MERS, like COVID-19, like SARS, you essentially-- if something is novel, there is no immunity to it on a population scale, right? And as such, it can-- depending on the R0s, it can be very virulent or it cannot be virulent. But essentially, I understand there's a lot of fear. I think what I don't agree with on a fundamental basis is that there's a-- It seems that there's not a lot of evidence-based knowledge being perpetuated and spread about it, or spread on it rather. So a source that I always recommend is the CDC and the CDC website. Anyone can go there, not just doctors. But it is absolutely a great source for information, one, a source of information that is without the hysteria and anxiety that we are commonly seeing these days on television and elsewhere.

Aaron Hinde: (33:08) So avoid the news; go to CDC's website for the latest and greatest; wash your hands; be smart; don't transmit this thing around; stay home if you've got any symptoms going on whatsoever. Doc, really appreciate your time. Doctor Nick from SteadyMD, where can people find out more if-- Quickly tell us what is SteadyMD, and if we wanted to engage your services, how could we do so?

Dr. Nick: (33:34) So SteadyMD is a novel - here we go - is a novel service that has-- started many years back, way before my time with them. But it essentially advocates for a personal relationship with your physician as opposed to going to the doctor like so many of us do these days, and either, A, having a different doctor every single time you come, or B, having your doctor rush you with your appointments despite the fact that you just waited 30 days or even more to see the doctor, and you probably have a lot of built-up anxiety about whatever you're coming in for, and you only-- You get into the room with the doctor and they seem to be rushing you in a five or ten-minute appointment. So SteadyMD gets rid of that by being membership-based. You pay a small fee monthly, and then you can get in contact with your doctor however many times you want with no copays, no waits. You message your doctor; you call us; you video chat us; whatever you'd like, and we're there for you, to attend to kind of whatever your medical needs as well as preventative. I've probably given [inaudible] my mindset towards the lifestyle changes. I am very big on the preventative side of medicine and preventing the diseases of kind of lifestyle, of chronic metabolic diseases that unfortunately is prevalent in society. So yeah, that's what SteadyMD is all about. You can check it out and read more about SteadyMD at www.steadymd.com. And there's a frequently asked questions page that will answer a good amount of people's questions.

Aaron Hinde: (35:26) Awesome. Well, check out SteadyMD, connect with Doctor Nick at @thefittestdoc on Instagram. I am Aaron Hinde, president and cofounder here at LIFEAID Beverage company, with FITAID. Thank you all for your time. Doc, thanks a lot for setting the record straight here. Appreciate it. Take care.

Dr. Nick: (35:44) Yep, take care.

[outro music]


You can follow both Dr. Nick, MD, and Aaron Hinde on Instagram at:
@thefittesdoc | @aaronhinde 
Stock up on IMMUNITYAID now at LifeaidBevCo.com:


For more information and updates on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the CDC, visit: www.CDC.gov 

♦ Special guest Dr. Nick, MD—the “Fittest Doc”—sits down with Aaron Hinde D.C. (president and co-founder of LIFEAID) to debunk some common myths about the Coronavirus. The two doctors also share important facts, health tips and suggestions to stay healthy and protect our community during this time. Watch the interview now to learn more about […]

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Special guest Dr. Nick, MD—the "Fittest Doc"—sits down with Aaron Hinde to debunk some common myths about the Coronavirus. Plus, learn how practicing gratitude & mediation are beneficial to help boost your immune system!

Watch the interview on YouTube here.

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HindeSight  |  No. 32

. 29 Healthy Recipes to Boost Your Immunity Eating Well shares some delicious & healthy recipes—that are also quick and easy—to help keep your immune system firing on all cylinders right now. Read the full article now. . ‘Fittest Doc’ Answers the Question: Are You at Risk for Coronavirus? Special guest Dr. Nick, MD—the “Fittest […]