Uncategorized
Long COVID: a range of diets are said to help manage symptoms – here’s what the evidence tells us
From low histamine to anti-inflammatory diets, people on social media have been touting a variety of eating patterns to help manage long COVID.
Share this:
Most people who contract COVID recover within a few weeks. But for some people, symptoms can develop later, or persist for a long time after the initial infection. A recent review of the evidence on long COVID suggests the condition affects at least 65 million people around the world, occurring after at least 10% of COVID infections, and affecting all age groups.
Common long COVID symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulties with memory and concentration (“brain fog”). Symptoms can worsen with physical or mental exertion. We’re still learning about long COVID, and treatment options are very limited.
Recently, some people, for example on social media, have been talking about a variety of diets as ways to manage long COVID symptoms. But what are these diets, and what does the evidence say?
This article is part of Quarter Life, a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.
You may be interested in:
What’s it like being a young person with long COVID? You might feel like a failure (but you’re not)
Smartwatches could help detect and track COVID – here’s what the research shows
The anti-inflammatory diet
The process by which the immune system protects us from harmful pathogens is called inflammation. But too much inflammation can be a bad thing. Scientists believe that many of the symptoms associated with long COVID arise from chronic inflammation.
We know that some foods can promote inflammation, while studies have shown that components of certain foods may have anti-inflammatory effects.
So an anti-inflammatory diet involves avoiding foods that elicit inflammation, such as fried foods, refined carbohydrates, sugar, red and processed meats, and lard.
Instead it focuses on foods that reduce inflammation, such as tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables, nuts, fatty fish and fruits such as strawberries and blueberries. These foods are high in antioxidants and compounds which help protect against inflammation.
If you’re looking for a diet that closely follows the tenets of anti-inflammatory eating, consider the Mediterranean diet. Following a Mediterranean diet means eating lots of fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and healthy oils. This diet is rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, and has an anti-inflammatory effect in the gut.
Researchers have suggested the Mediterranean diet may have benefits in reducing the severity of a COVID infection in the short term, as well as in addressing longer-term symptoms.
The low histamine diet
Histamine is a compound released by cells, often in response to an injury or an allergic reaction. If we have hay fever or are stung by a bee, we might take an antihistamine.
Histamine can lead to inflammation and can be a problem when we can’t break it down properly, and levels get too high. Symptoms when this happens can include headaches, diarrhoea, wheezing and fatigue.
Many of these symptoms are similar to those reported with long COVID. Some scientists have proposed that the increased inflammatory responses seen with long COVID could be caused by increased histamine release by dysfunctional immune cells, which we’ve seen before with other conditions.
A low histamine diet involves restricting the intake of food and drinks considered high in histamine for several weeks, before gradually reintroducing them to test tolerance. These include alcohol, fermented foods, dairy products, shellfish, processed meats and aged cheese, as well as wheat germ and a range of fruit and vegetables.
However, there appears to be lack of consensus on which foods are truly high in histamine. And as the foods are wide ranging, this can be a tricky diet to implement without potentially causing nutritional deficiencies.
Although some people have reported an improvement in their symptoms by following a low histamine diet, there have been no studies published in this area. Given the lack of evidence and the associated challenges, elimination of dietary histamine is not currently recommended for long COVID.
The plant-based diet
Plant-based eating refers to diets where the majority of energy is derived from plant foods, such as vegan and vegetarian diets. Plant-based diets are beneficial to markers of inflammation and may favourably alter immune function.
More specifically, a well-balanced plant-based diet is high in fibre, antioxidants, good fatty acids and a range of vitamins and minerals, which positively affect several types of cells implicated in immune function and may exhibit direct antiviral properties.
For example, compounds called polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables may improve the functionality and activity of natural killer cells, an immune cell that patrols the body recognising abnormal cells.
Though some long COVID sufferers have touted the benefits of a plant-based diet, its usefulness to alleviate long COVID symptoms has not yet been examined in clinical trials.
Nevertheless, evidence from studies done before the pandemic suggests a plant-based diet may benefit some conditions that can also affect people with long COVID – including fatigue, headaches, anxiety, depression and muscle pain.
Read more: COVID and your gut: how a healthy microbiome can reduce the severity of infection – and vice versa
Take-home message
Some diets, such as a low histamine diet, are not currently backed up by enough data when it comes to the management of long COVID.
But a varied Mediterranean diet or well managed plant-based diet can provide certain nutrients which have positive effects on immune function and may protect against chronic inflammation. That said, more research is still needed as to how these diets may affect long COVID.
If you’re considering changing your diet to manage long COVID symptoms, it’s best to consult your GP first to ensure you can do so safely.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
depression pandemic treatment clinical trials oil
Uncategorized
“What’s More Tragic Is Capitalism”: BLM Faces Bankruptcy As Founder Cullors Is Cut By Warner Bros
"What’s More Tragic Is Capitalism": BLM Faces Bankruptcy As Founder Cullors Is Cut By Warner Bros
Authored by Jonathan Turley,
Two years…
Share this:
Two years ago, I wrote columns about companies pouring money into Black Lives Matter to establish their bona fides as “antiracist” corporations. The money continued to flow despite serious questions raised about BLM’s management and accounting. Democratic prosecutors like New York Attorney General Letitia James showed little interest in these allegations even as James sought to disband the National Rifle Association (NRA) over similar allegations. At the same time, Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors cashed in with companies like Warner Bros. eager to give her massive contracts to signal their own reformed status. It now appears that BLM is facing bankruptcy after burning through tens of millions and Warner Bros. cut ties with Cullors after the contract produced no — zero — new programming.
Some states belatedly investigated BLM as founders like Cullors seemed to scatter to the winds.
Gone are tens of millions of dollars, including millions spent on luxury mansions and windfalls for close associates of BLM leaders.
The usual suspects gathered around the activists like former Clinton campaign general counsel Marc Elias, who later removed himself from his “key role” as the scandals grew.
When questions were raised about the lack of accounting and questionable spending, BLM attacked critics as “white supremacists.”
Warner Bros. was one of the companies eager to grab its own piece of Cullors to signal its own anti-racist virtues. It gave Cullors a lucrative contract to guide the company in the creation of both scripted and non-scripted content, focusing on reparations and other forms of social justice. It launched a publicity campaign for everyone to know that it established a “wide-ranging content partnership” with Cullors who would now help guide the massive corporation’s new programming. Calling Cullors “one of the most influential thought leaders in American public life,” Warner Bros. announced that she was going to create a wide array of new programming, including “but not limited to live-action scripted drama and comedy series; longform/event series; unscripted docuseries; animated programming for co-viewing among kids, young adults and families; and original digital content.”
Some are now wondering if Warner Bros. ever intended for this contract to produce anything other than a public relations pitch or whether Cullors took the money and ran without producing even a trailer for an actual product. Indeed, both explanations may be true.
Paying money to Cullors was likely viewed as a type of insurance to protect the company from accusations of racial insensitive. After all, the company was giving creative powers to a person who had no prior experience or demonstrated talent in the area. Yet, Cullors would be developing programming for one of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world.
One can hardly blame Cullors despite criticizism by some on the left for going on a buying spree of luxury properties.
After all, Cullors was previously open about her lack of interest in working with “capitalist” elements. Nevertheless, BLM was run like a Trotskyite study group as the media and corporations poured in support and revenue.
It was glaringly ironic to see companies like Warner Bros. falling over each other to grab their own front person as the group continued boycotts of white-owned businesses. Indeed, if you did not want to be on the wrong end of one of those boycotts, you needed to get Cullors on your payroll.
Much has now changed as companies like Bud Light have been rocked by boycotts over what some view as heavy handed virtue signaling campaigns.
It was quite a change for Cullors and her BLM co-founder, who previously proclaimed “[we] are trained Marxists. We are super versed on, sort of, ideological theories.” She denounced capitalism as worse than COVID-19. Yet, companies like Lululemon rushed to find their own “social justice warrior” while selling leggings for $120 apiece.
When some began to raise questions about Cullors buying luxury homes, Facebook and Twitter censored them.
With increasing concerns over the loss of millions, Cullors eventually stepped down as executive director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, as others resigned. At the same time, the New York Post was revealing that BLM Global Network transferred $6.3 million to Cullors’ spouse, Janaya Khan, and other Canadian activists to purchase a mansion in Toronto in 2021.
According to The Washington Examiner, BLM PAC and a Los Angeles-based jail reform group paid Cullors $20,000 a month. It also spent nearly $26,000 on meetings at a luxury Malibu beach resort in 2019. Reform LA Jails, chaired by Cullors, received $1.4 million, of which $205,000 went to the consulting firm owned by Cullors and her spouse, according to New York magazine.
Once again, while figures like James have spent huge amounts of money and effort to disband the NRA over such accounting and spending controversies, there has been only limited efforts directed against BLM in New York and most states.
Cullors once declared that “while the COVID-19 illness is tragic, what’s more tragic is capitalism.” These companies seem to be trying to prove her point. Yet, at least for Cullors, Warner Bros. fulfilled its slogan that this is all “The stuff that dreams are made of.”
Uncategorized
Biden reaches ‘tentative’ US debt ceiling deal: Report
United States President Joe Biden has urged the United States Congress to “pass the agreement right away.“
Amid growing concerns…
Share this:
United States President Joe Biden has urged the United States Congress to “pass the agreement right away.“
Amid growing concerns of a potential default by early June, United States President Joe Biden and House majority leader Representative Kevin McCarthy have reportedly reached an “agreement in principle” to raise the federal government’s multitrillion-dollar debt ceiling.
According to a May 28 report from Reuters citing two sources familiar with the negotiations, the “tentative” agreement to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling was reached after a 90-minute phone call between Biden and McCarthy on May 27.
Since publication time, Biden has confirmed via Twitter the existence of an “agreement in principle," explaining that it will prevent the U.S. from facing a “catastrophic default.“
Biden noted that “over the next day,” the agreement would go to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. He urged both chambers to “pass the agreement right away.“
Earlier this evening, Speaker McCarthy and I reached a budget agreement in principle.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 28, 2023
It is an important step forward that reduces spending while protecting critical programs for working people and growing the economy for everyone. And, the agreement protects my and…
Meanwhile, McCarthy also took to Twitter to confirm the agreement in principle, alleging that Biden “wasted time and refused to negotiate for months.“
Reuters reported that while “the exact details of the deal were not immediately available,” an agreement has been made to limit the U.S. government’s spending for the next two years, excluding expenses related to national security.
“Negotiators have agreed to cap non-defense discretionary spending at 2023 levels for one year and increase it by 1% in 2025,” a source familiar with the deal said.
Related: Debt ceiling crisis: Best practices to navigate this market
This comes only weeks after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned of a default risk as soon as June 1 if the debt limit isn’t suspended or raised, urging Congress to “act as soon as possible.“
Additionally, The U.S. Congressional Budget Office published a report on May 12, emphasizing that if the debt limit remains unchanged, there is a significant risk “that at some point in the first two weeks of June, the government will no longer be able to pay all of its obligations.“
In recent times, several analysts have shared a similar view that raising the debt ceiling could see more capital inflow into Bitcoin (BTC).
On May 17, MacroJack, a former Wall Street trader, warned his followers in a tweet that the U.S. debt ceiling talks are “all show.“
He emphasized how important it is to own hard assets as the dollar will be “printed into oblivion,” while stating that Bitcoin is the “fastest horse in the race.“
Meanwhile, Jesse Myers, chief operating officer of investment firm Onramp, reminded his 50,100 Twitter followers of what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that “Bitcoin was the winner during the last round of stimulus.“
He proposed the idea that history might repeat itself if the debt ceiling were to be raised, as it would prompt the Federal Reserve to print more money.
#7 - When the debt ceiling is lifted & credit-contraction leads to economic crisis...
— Jesse Myers (Croesus ) (@Croesus_BTC) April 25, 2023
They will have to print money on a massive scale.#Bitcoin was the winner during the last round of stimulus pic.twitter.com/DqhuLikQXr
Update on May 28, 2023, at 03:15: This article has been updated to include United States President Joe Biden's tweet.
Magazine: Visa stablecoin plan, debt ceiling’s effect on Bitcoin price: Hodler’s Digest, April 23-29
bitcoin btc pandemic covid-19Uncategorized
Biden reaches ‘tentative’ US debt ceiling deal: Report
United States President Joe Biden has urged both the United States House and Senate to "pass the agreement right away."
Amid growing…
Share this:
United States President Joe Biden has urged both the United States House and Senate to "pass the agreement right away."
Amid growing concerns of a potential default by early June, the United States President Joe Biden and Republican Kevin McCarthy have reportedly reached an "agreement in principle" to raise the federal government's multi-trillion dollar debt ceiling.
According to a May 28 report from Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the negotiations, the "tentative" agreement to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling was reached after a 90-minute phone call between Biden and McCarthy on May 27.
Following the publication of this article, Biden has since confirmed via Twitter the existence of an "agreement in principle," explaining that it will prevent the U.S. facing a "catostrophic default."
Biden noted that "over the next day," the agreement will go the U.S. House and Senate. He urged both chambers to "pass the agreement right away."
Earlier this evening, Speaker McCarthy and I reached a budget agreement in principle.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 28, 2023
It is an important step forward that reduces spending while protecting critical programs for working people and growing the economy for everyone. And, the agreement protects my and…
Meanwhile, McCarthy also took to Twitter to confirm the agreement in principle, alleging that Biden "wasted time and refused to negiotate for months."
Reuters reported that while "the exact details of the deal were not immediately available," an agreement has been made to limit the U.S. government's spending for the next two years, excluding expenses related to national security.
"Negotiators have agreed to cap non-defense discretionary spending at 2023 levels for one year and increase it by 1% in 2025" a source familiar with the deal said.
Related: Debt ceiling crisis: Best practices to navigate this market
This comes only weeks after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned of a default risk as soon as June 1 if the debt limit isn't suspended or raised, urging Congress to "act as soon as possible."
Additionally, The U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published a report on May 12, emphasizing that if the debt limit remains unchanged, there is a significant risk "that at some point in the first two weeks of June, the government will no longer be able to pay all of its obligations."
In recent times, several analysts have shared a similiar view that raising the debt ceiling could see more capital inflow into Bitcoin (BTC)
MacroJack, a former Wall Street trader, warned his followers in a tweet on May 17 that the U.S. debt ceiling talks are "all show."
He emphasized how important it is to own hard assets as the dollar will be "printed into oblivion," while stating that Bitcoin is the "fastest horse in the race."
Meanwhile, Jesse Myers, chief operating officer of investment firm Onramp reminded his 50,100 Twitter followers of what happened during the Covid-19 Pandemic, stating that "Bitcoin was the winner during the last round of stimulus."
He proposed the idea that history might repeat itself if the debt ceiling were to be raised, as it would prompt the Federal Reserve to print more money.
#7 - When the debt ceiling is lifted & credit-contraction leads to economic crisis...
— Jesse Myers (Croesus ) (@Croesus_BTC) April 25, 2023
They will have to print money on a massive scale.#Bitcoin was the winner during the last round of stimulus pic.twitter.com/DqhuLikQXr
Update on May 28, 2023, at 03:15: This article has been updated to include United States President Joe Biden's tweet.
Magazine: Visa stablecoin plan, debt ceiling’s effect on Bitcoin price: Hodler’s Digest, April 23-29
bitcoin btc pandemic covid-19
US Corporations Are Filing For Bankruptcy At The Fastest Pace Since 2010
“Glut Of Inventory” Hits Hamptons As Rental Demand Cools
Biden reaches ‘tentative’ US debt ceiling deal: Report
Biden reaches ‘tentative’ US debt ceiling deal: Report
“What’s More Tragic Is Capitalism”: BLM Faces Bankruptcy As Founder Cullors Is Cut By Warner Bros
-
Government9 hours agoPresident Biden & House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Agree On Tentative Debt Deal To Avert Default
-
International6 hours agoIn This “Age of Funemployment,” Is a Recession Possible?
-
Uncategorized13 hours ago
Biden reaches ‘tentative’ US debt ceiling deal: Report
-
International8 hours agoCostco Shares Some Really Good News For Shoppers
-
Uncategorized17 hours ago
Biden reaches ‘tentative’ US debt ceiling deal: Report
-
Government3 hours ago‘Kevin Caved’: McCarthy Savaged Over Debt Ceiling Deal
-
Government6 hours ago
“Hard Pass”: Here’s What’s In The Debt Ceiling Deal Republicans Are About To Nuke
-
Government4 hours agoDebt ceiling negotiators reach a deal: 5 essential reads about the tentative accord, brinkmanship and the danger of default