Consider Proactive with This Pandemic

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Tuesday, April 28, 2020. History continues to be in the making concerning the Coronavirus also known as COVID-19. Of note, I recently read a column by Author Julia Blum, who asserts the word for virus in Hebrew is the same as plague. This could be considered then a plague inviting the world to give God, the King and Ruler of the universe, our attention. He is conveying something. It is up to each of us to hear that something!

Meantime, "Natural News" online offers the following to help us boost immunity, esp in our diet. Please share this post with a friend.
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The following are eight vitamins and minerals that play important roles in immunity enhancement.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most widely known immune-boosting micronutrients. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects against pathogens. It also stimulates the production of antibodies and white blood cells that prevent disease. Common sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, clementines, lemons and kumquats. But it can also be found in several vegetables including broccoli, kale, spinach, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, bell peppers and cantaloupe. (Related: Chinese doctors study vitamin C for treating coronavirus infections.)
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also a potent antioxidant known to improve immune functions. Higher concentrations of vitamin E are found in immune cells compared to other cells in the body. Several clinical trials have provided evidence to show that vitamin E regulated the number of natural killer cells that prevent viral infections. Additionally, vitamin E deficiency is known to impair immune responses to infection, weaken muscles and increase the risk of chronic diseases. To avoid the effects of vitamin E deficiency, eat plenty of nuts and seeds like almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds and cashews.
Vitamin A
Beta carotene is a plant compound that the body converts into vitamin A, a micronutrient that plays an important role in eye health and maintenance. But vitamin A is also known to enhance immunity by regulating antibacterial and anti-inflammatory immune responses to infectious diseases like tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria and herpes. Foods that contain high amounts of vitamin A include bright vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupe, squash and bell peppers.
Vitamin D
Aside from supporting calcium absorption and bone development, vitamin D also enhances immunity by regulating the body’s antimicrobial response. Vitamin D also activates the body’s inflammatory response to infection, thus reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Meanwhile, damaged immune cells have also been shown to react positively to high concentrations of vitamin D. Common food sources of vitamin D include mushrooms, eggs, raw milk, salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines and whole-grain oats.
Folate
The B complex vitamin known as folate aids various body functions including immunity, metabolism and DNA synthesis. In particular, folate facilitates cell growth and development. Therefore, it can also accelerate wound healing and stimulate tissue repair. Folate is also known to increase the production of antibodies that identify disease-causing pathogens. Common sources of folate include leafy greens, beans, legumes, avocados, broccoli, asparagus, bell peppers, beets and nuts.
Iron
Iron is a fundamental component of hemoglobin, a protein molecule that transports oxygen throughout the body. But iron also boosts the immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells that combat pathogens and prevent infection. Additionally, iron can inhibit the growth of bacteria and induce cell cycle arrest and programmed cell death of cancer cells. Foods such as beef, chicken, oysters, beans, cashews, broccoli, kale and whole-grain oats contain high amounts of iron.
Selenium
As an antioxidant, selenium reduces inflammation and prevents cellular damage caused by free radicals, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Selenium also has powerful antiviral effects against respiratory infections like influenza and asthma. In high concentrations, it can also inhibit the spread of cancer cells. Selenium can be found in a variety of foods including beans, nuts, legumes, fatty fish, unprocessed dairy products, fruits, plain yogurt, whole grain oats, mushrooms, seeds and barley.
Zinc
Zinc has powerful antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the risk and duration of respiratory tract infections like common colds, flu and pneumonia. High concentrations of zinc have also been shown to improve natural killer cell activity. Excellent sources of zinc include pork, beef, chicken, beans, nuts, unprocessed cheese, raw milk and plain yogurt.
A healthy immune system can reduce the risk of contracting infections like colds, flu and COVID-19. Enhance immunity by increasing the intake of essential vitamins and minerals that aid immune functions. Additionally, adopting a healthy lifestyle that involves regular exercise and proper nutrition can significantly boost the immune system.

May the presence of Yaweh be with us today and always. Thanks for dropping by!

Mellow Rock
David C. Russell, Author

Thoughts During Our Pandemic 2020

Hello Grafted In reader,

This season of life is one that will be etched in our brains, memory, mind, being, for probably the rest of our natural life.

Think for a minute how some words and phrases have changed in your and my lifetime:

- Remember the Armour Hotdog jingle from the '70s? In the type of kids mentioned who like this brand are, big kids, little kids, kids who play on rocks, fat kids, sissy kids, even kids with chickenpox love hotdogs, Armour Hotdogs.

Would that work in our astute age of political correctness?

- Occupations formerly held by males: mail-man, gas-man, milk-man, newspaper boy or girl, etc.

- Words describing state of being: most notably queer or gay.

We call our current pandemic, The Novel Coronovirus. A compound word, not something named after someone or something.

No I am not remonstrating but just remarking on change.

Some of you may be keeping tabs on me by checking my Facebook Page, David C. Russell, Author. Would you tell others they can keep tabs on me there, too?

In terms of faith practice and Torah, some of us are observing the "counting of the omer" which is the period of time between Passover and Shavuot or Pentecost.
There is a prayer that is said to mark each day of the fifty-day period. I close with this prayer:

"Blessed are you, Lord our God, Master of the universe,
who has sanctified us with your commandments,
and commanded us to count the omer.
Tonight is day ## of the omer.

We count the omer to be cleansed of our encrustations of evil and our contaminations.

The presence of YHVH be with us now and always,

Mellow Rock
David C. Russell, Author