'Facts about Covid-19'

If I'm honest, while I've enjoyed the slower pace of these Covid_19,  I've actually felt a bit sad.

Everyone is experiencing these times differently and the 'slowness' is a gift however I find the uncertainty & a sense of a loss of freedom - saddening.

It's on my heart, especially having just recognised our Anzacs and all that they stood for and did for our freedom.

The inability to 'hug' loved ones or those going through difficult times ... is wrong.

Touch is one of our most basic human needs - especially during a crisis.  It's something I miss greatly.  

Covid-19 - a lifestyle issue.

What I'm sharing in this post may be contrary to your belief or what's being reported in mainstream.  Yet in my personal experience and scientific knowledge of  what is healthy, it offers some answers amongst the many questions I have.  So if you've also had your questions I hope it helps and if not, at least offers another perspective to consider.

'A healthy lifestyle is the key to warding off the most serious and fatal cases of Covid-19' ~ Dr Aseem Malhotra, Cardiologist.  

This isn't being reported in mainstream media, yet the research of Dr Malhotra & others is coming out.

While the number of fatalities is devastating it seems hard to imagine lifestyle could be so preventative.

Cardiologist and Author of the Pioppi Diet, Dr Aseem Malhotra, in European Scientist publication last week links the consumption of ultraprocessed foods, the 60% rate of overweight and obesity in the UK and the US with the severity of illness from COVID-19.  Calling obesity—and metabolic syndrome more generally—the “elephant in the room” amid the scramble to prevent more deaths'  (and in Italy 1 in 10 or 10% of population and 1 in 2 men are overweight).

He says that the 'message needs to be loud and clear... that to reduce morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 people need to be getting the message right now to be cutting out the ultraprocessed junk food,”  “Eat real food, protect the NHS, and save lives'.

And the following;

'Improving our metabolic health could help ward off future medical, economic and social calamities from whatever pathogen next comes down the pike'?  ~  New York Times, April 20. 2020

'Poor diet is now the leading cause of poor health in the USA and the cause of more than half a million deaths / year' ~ 'Report of the 50th Anniversary of the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition & health', March 2020

fyi characteristics of metabolic disease include; excess fat around the middle, hypertension (high blood pressure), high blood sugar etc. conditions that suppress the immune system and increase the risk for infection, pneumonia and cancer.

As a generalisation, as a race of people we have never in our history been sicker.  As described in a previous post, 'What's happening to our kids?''

There is more chronic illness, obesity, cancer, auto immunity than ever.  It's not going away, rather each year it escalates globally.

We have more sterile / 'cleaner' water, sterile / 'cleaner' environments, more easy food available, more conveniences, more medications & more vaccinations than we've ever had.

Why then as a race are we not thriving?

• 10 million people died from Cancer globally in 2018 alone (an increase of 10% over 2 years)
• There are 1 in 56 children (1 in 37 boys)  in USA with Autism in 2018 - an increase of 15% over 2 years. There are approximately 74 million children (under the age of 18 in the USA) - so around 1.3 million children with autism in USA!  With 77 Million cases worldwide i.e. 1% of the global population.
• About 1 in 6 (17%) of children aged 3–17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability, as reported by parents, during a study period of 2009-2017.  These included autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, blindness, and cerebral palsy, among others.  https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html) i.e. 12.6 million children.
• There are 80 different types of autoimmune conditions  - all reportedly on the rise annually.
• Mental health issues are the leading cause of disability globally.

Despite countless global charities and millions of dollars raised to support cancer research annually, we are getting sicker (generally).  Does that not mean the current 'health' model is also sick?  

In comparison, perhaps Covid-19 is the least of our worries.

Lifestyle Matters

Within weeks, even days of changing food and lifestyle choices, we feel better, can dramatically change our health and our predisposition to dis-ease, which is also the premise of epigenetics, (i.e. genes are switched on and off depending on the influence by environmental factors).

A healthy lifestyle is not just a protection against covid-19 it's to protect against most, if not all illnesses and dis-ease.  BUT who's talking to this publicly?  The Government?  Corporations?  The media?  I've heard very few in mainstream - with a predilection to dispensing fear and panic and the stress that goes along with it.   Why is mainstream media not sharing just a bit of the good news that's happening in Sweden or the success rates being seen using Vitamin C or oxygen therapy?

And most healthy lifestyle choices are FREE!  Almost certainly THE reason they don't get the 'airplay' they deserve - there is little if any corporate financial gain to be made from adopting a healthy lifestyle.  The pharmaceuticals industry is one of the biggest globally.

All of the above aside, we need not worry about it, because we don't have to wait for public policy or the media to change, because it's not about them,  it's about us and we can change ourcellves today.  It's up to us, noone else.

IF we choose.

Natural beauty.  Western Australia's South West, image @katiemitchellphotography

Some 'facts about Covid-19'.

I've been seeking independent research and came across this report, 'Facts about Covid-19'  'fully referenced facts about Covid-19, provided by experts in the field, to help readers make a realistic risk assessment'  It appears independent.

It's comprehensive, quoting a wide range of scientists, professors and more.   Below are a few highlights from the report, (fyi you can  view the whole report here).

I've had many questions myself in regard to the pandemic and try to search out any good news, (which also shows my own bias).  But I find it interesting to hear other reflections and perhaps you will too.

For details view the full report.  

Overall;

• Normal overall mortality;  in the US is about 8000 people / day, Germany about 2600 &  Italy about 1800 people / day.
• Annual influenza mortality in the US is up to 80,000, (current deaths from covid are at 54,500 so far) in Germany and Italy up to 25,000, (current deaths in Italy 26,000) and in Switzerland up to 1,500  people per winter, (current deaths from covid 1,600), with the curves flattening in each European country, (source; Worldometer).

Could the the cure (lockdown & isolation) actually be worse than the disease?  

"The oldest woman in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen died last week at the age of 109. She survived the „Spanish flu“ of 1918, was not corona-infected and „for her age she was doing very well“. The "corona isolation“, however, had 'very much affected her' She faded without the daily visits of her family members.

The leading cause of disability world wide is mental health.  I believe I'm mentally and physically strong but have still felt sad, I can't imagine what it must be like for those in nursing homes, living on their own or suffering mental health concerns.

"In the US state of Indiana, calls to the mental health and suicide hotline  have increased by over 2000% from 1000 to 25,000 calls per day due to the lockdown and its economic impact"

In France, there are more and more  reports of suicides  out of fear of the coronavirus or out of fear of having infected someone with the coronavirus.

The world has been watching what happens in Sweden, where like Japan and South Korea, a different model has been adopted with no lockdown and relaxed measures. From the report;

• A direct comparison between the UK (with lockdown) and Sweden (without lockdown) shows that the two countries are  almost identical in terms of case numbers and deaths per population.
• The latest figures on patients and deaths show that the epidemic is coming to an end in Sweden, (as in many European countries according to Worldometer).
• Compared to other countries, the Swedish population may now benefit from higher immunity to the Covid19 virus, which could better protect them from a possible „second wave“ next winter.
• It is likely that by the end of 2020, Covid19 will not be visible in the Swedish overall mortality.
• The Swedish example shows that "lockdowns“ were medically unnecessary or even counterproductive in a relatively healthy population, as well as socially and economically devastating.

Anders Tegnell, Health Minister of Sweden, has also said their data shows 'children neither get it or spread it'. Their schools remained open.

Is the data accurate & are we hearing all of it?

• The overall lethality of Covid19 is between 0.1% and 0.4% and thus up to twenty times lower than initially assumed by the WHO.
• Professor Isaac Ben-Israel, argues that according to current findings, the corona epidemic is over in most countries after about 8 weeks, regardless of the measures taken. He therefore recommends to lift the "lockdown“ immediately.
• The British statistics professor David Spiegelhalter shows that the risk of death from Covid19 corresponds roughly to normal mortality and is visibly increased only for the age group between approx. 70 and 80 years.
• A US study comes to the conclusion that the new corona virus has already spread much further than originally assumed, but causes no or only mild symptoms in most people, so that the lethality rate could be as low as 0.1%, which is roughly equivalent to seasonal flu. However, due to the fact that the disease is more easily transmitted, the cases of the disease in New York, for example, occurred in a shorter time than usual.
• A doctor from the US state of Montana explained in a speech how death certificates for suspected Covid19 cases are being manipulated due to new guidelines.
• Stanford professor of medicine John Ioannidis concludes in a new study that the risk of death from Covid19 for people under 65 years of age, even in global "hotspots“, is equivalent to the risk of a fatal car accident for daily commuters driving between 9 and 400 miles.
• A study conducted by the Medical University of Vienna concluded that the age and risk profile of Covid19 deaths is similar to normal mortality.
• "Healthy children" who allegedly died of Covid19, but who later often turn out not to have died of Covid19, were in fact  seriously ill.
• The German-American epidemiology professor Knut Wittkowski argues in a new interview that the Covid19 epidemic is already declining or even "already over“ in many countries.

It's conflicting to what's being reported in mainstream.  Why?  I don't know.  But if you're curious, do your own research / investigation with independent journalism.   There are many sources unearthing new data that's not being reported, and strangely some of it is quickly being censored?

The conflict of interest.

As we know the WHO (World Health Organisation) is leading the pandemic response, and one of its largest funders is Bill Gates, ex founder of Microsoft along with GAVI - the vaccine alliance (also funded by Bill Gates).  However, Bill Gates whose charitable foundation is primarily supporting vaccination programs & contributes to GAVI, puts the WHO in a serious position of conflict.

How could the WHO advocate existing drugs, nutrient therapy that's almost 100% effective or lifestyle choices that are mostly free, when two of their biggest funders advocate pharmacy / vaccination?

Bill Gates investment is deep and committed e.g. '...Mr. Gates appeared on “The Daily Show” and said his foundation would fund factories for the seven most promising potential vaccines', New York Times.

This conflict in information raises many questions for me;

• Why does mainstream media continue to fuel the fear when there is also good news with existing drugs, nutrient therapies & lifestyle choices?  And revised data that could ease some of the stress and fear that in itself fuels dis-ease?
• What will happen when the next virus comes along, next year or later this year?  Do we do the same 'lockdown' again? Despite the incredible importance micro-organisms, even pathogens all have in strengthening and protecting our immunity?
• What is the exit strategy for  Covid19?  There are huge payouts being made but I don't hear Governments talking about getting 'back to normal' or when?  I realise it's difficult to know, however given the incredible success we've had in Australia at keeping numbers low, what's the (draft) plan?  And when?
• What happens to the vaccine developed for covid-19 when the we know viruses quickly mutate and change within weeks?   Will it be redundant?
• Is what we've been told about what we need to be healthy, wrong?
• After many years of trying to produce a vaccination for corona virus they've never been able to safely produced one, how will they produce one safely now?  Human trials are beginning in the UK this coming week.
• What right does Bill Gates have to say, 'normalcy only returns when we've largely vaccinated the entire world population'?  Is this what we're waiting in lockdown for, a vaccination?
• Why is Bill Gates saying the entire world i.e. 7.8 billion people will need a vaccination, when already most countries are coming out of the pandemic and the large majority of people will have natural immunity?  And why would children be included when it appears they're not carriers?
• There is a direct link between a healthy lifestyle and food and milder symptoms.  Why aren't Governments removing 'junk' or 'ultra processed' foods or taxing them and promoting (or enforcing) a healthy lifestyle at relatively little cost?

I've shed light on conflicting data and information, which I also wonder why there is so much data not being shared or in conflict?  Who is the most disadvantaged in ongoing lockdowns?  And WHO stands to benefit?

In Summary

So many questions and I don't expect answers, but there is good news in that countries are coming out of Covid-19, the large majority of the population exposed i.e. over 90% are building immunity naturally and a healthy lifestyle makes an important difference.

I also know THE best thing I can do right now is to keep nourishing myself and my family, strengthening our immunity, learning all the incredible lessons that are coming at me in these strange ISO times, to keep enjoying the natural beauty of this amazing world we live in and give out some massive HUGS when it's over.

Note:  I'm not anti medicine, Bill Gates, vaccinations etc. I am just curious and perhaps a bit suspicious (where there's money to be made) about the motives of those in power, the health of our natural world and my children's future.

And if you want to join me on an incredible journey of health freedom, join me in Our Happy Children - in times of Covid!  A 28 day online program for busy families who want to thrive - for life!   We start Monday, May 4th and are already gathering.  I can't wait.  Details https://www.katebarnesschool.com/p/our-happy-children