COVID-19 Update: News from The Institute For Functional Medicine

RVAchironeuro • April 20, 2020

Hello again:

I think it is important for everyone to be up to date with news and information about this pandemic we are living through, which is why I am sending the latest news from the Institute for Functional Medicine where I study and have a membership. This link even includes a Webinar that is worth listening to if you want a deeper dive into the reasons and rationales for their approach. There is also a link to a two-page list of supplements with dosages and benefits. You will see that it is pretty much like the one I published several weeks ago with two exceptions, one of which I did not know about.

They talk about Elderberry being beneficial, however, I still feel that this herb requires caution in that those with autoimmune issues should not take it for very long (less than 2 weeks) as it can aggravate autoimmune conditions. Also, taken later in a viral illness, there is the possibility that it can aggravate the immune storm. While there are no papers or human studies that validate my concerns, it is plausible and worth the caution.

The one supplement that I was not aware of that is antiviral is PEA. I do know that it takes magnesium to assist in activating this supplement, that it helps reduce pain and is tied into the endocannabinoid system (like CBD oil), and I have never used or recommended this product so I have no idea of how effective it is. If anyone tries it, please let me know your experience.

Here is the link for information on natural supportive care approaches from 3 medical doctors that practice functional medicine and who are also educators:

Bottom Line:

Stay informed, and be pro-active by reducing your lifestyle risk factors that they mention in the webinar, such as blood sugar issues, weight, sleep, stress etc…these are all things we have gone over before, so if you need ideas then please go to my blog section on my website and use the search function.

By Mark Smith March 23, 2026
Health News Update: How To Fight Inflammation and Chronic Disease 3.23.26 Hello again everyone: You might wonder why I keep focusing on food…so here are some of the reasons: food choices are the leading cause of death in the U.S. and spreading around the world. Poor food choices lead to inflammation which slowly destroy health. It is that simple, plain, and clear and backed by research. The next question: how do we fight back? Introduction The positive impact of food on health was postulated by the ancient Hippocrates, father of modern medicine with his famous quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” [1]. In the 21st century, scientists have focused on the effect of nutritional habits in diseases. Nowadays, it is well documented that food plays a noteworthy role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD), metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, and cancer [2–5], as it correlates with others with the lipid pattern, the blood pressure, and the endothelial function. The scientists examine the effect of nutritional habits on disease emergence and progression in both individual nutrient intake and dietary patterns models. Worldwide, two dietary patterns are usually compared—the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the Western diet (WD) [3,6]. The Mediterranean diet reflects the food culture of most Mediterranean countries based on olive oil consumption, seasonal fresh vegetables, cereals, and plants in balance with low consumption of meat [7]. The Western diet, on the contrary, is dominated by high-fat dairy products processed and red meat [8]. However, discordance in the different MD patterns and consumed food doses had been recognized. Without any doubt, those discrepancies could confine and restrict our knowledge on the health benefit mechanisms of the MD [9]. Due to the above, the medical community along with nutritionists and dieticians take a keen interest in MD and its traits [7]. https://www.academia.edu/45378994/biomedicines_Mediterranean_Diet_as_a_Tool_to_Combat_Inflammation_and_Chronic_Diseases_An_Overview?email_work_card=view-paper food choices can fight inflammation and chronic disease Bottom Line: This is a 2020 paper and since then literally hundreds of papers on the MD have emerged showing how the food plan lowers inflammation and the risk for developing multiple chronic illnesses. Even still, lots of research needs to be done to elucidate the many mechanisms of how food impacts our system and how to optimally individualize dietary recommendations. At this point, our best strategy to prevent and/or recover from any chronic condition is to eat as clean and natural as possible. It has become rather obvious that the further away from a natural diet we get, the sicker we become. On top of that, I have yet to see a full recovery from any health issue without the foundation of a predominantly plant-based, unprocessed, whole foods approach…which is why I keep posting about this subject. All the best to you and yours!
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