Superstars of optimal wellness

Reducing the risk of viral illness

by Barb Jarmoska

The risks associated with exposure to a respiratory virus can go far beyond misery and discomfort, loss of income and the assault on your sinuses, bronchioles and lungs. According to a case analysis published in the European Heart Journal, risks of heart attack and stroke are significantly elevated for one month following a respiratory infection. U.K. researchers identified 11,200 adults who suffered a first heart attack and 9,200 with first strokes. They matched these to controls over a 10-year period and gathered data on respiratory infection diagnoses in the year before heart attack or stroke.

Overall, the risk for either was doubled within 1 week after infection, with risk being highest in the first 3 days. Given the findings, the authors conclude: The benefits of reducing respiratory infection by prevention and treatment may be substantial.

Sounds like a well-justified, common sense conclusion. How can such prevention and treatment be accomplished? I suggest adding Host Defense to your daily supplement program and keeping Blockade on hand in your medicine cabinet. These science-based medicinal extracts are your first line of defense against exposure to the viruses that can cause respiratory illnesses, colds and flu.

Host Defense is a powerful combination of mushroom extracts that was studied by the National Institute of Health in its post-9/11 germ warfare research project. The goal of the study was to determine the potential of over 200,000 different natural and pharmaceutical agents to provide protection in case of a bio-terrorist attack. Only 10 (a mere .00005% percent) of the formulas tested offered protection against SARS, bird flu, anthrax, polio and small pox. One of the ten viable formulas was the Host Defense combination of mushroom extracts found on the shelves at Freshlife. If these medicinal mushrooms are able to protect you against such virulent and deadly viruses, just think what power they have against colds and flu! To use a computer analogy, taking Host Defense can be compared to providing new software and more memory to your immune system, enhancing your ability to respond to a wider array of pathogens, including viruses.

Blockade is a lozenge that dissolves in the mouth and has a mechanism of action that is very different from – and very complementary with – Host Defense. ViraBloc™, the active extract in Blockade, acts to block viruses from entering human cells, therefore preventing them from replicating. When a virus gets into your nose, mouth or lungs, it targets specific cells in your body and attaches to them in very specific ways. Once inside the cell, the virus multiplies rapidly. The viruses escape the cell and enter your bloodstream seeking to attach to more cells. The bioactive molecules in Blockade seek out viruses, bind to them and create a coating around them. This coating prevents the virus from docking onto and thus entering other cells. This gives the body’s immune system more time to go into high gear and take the virus out of commission.

Unlike Host Defense, Blockade is not intended for daily use. Take one or two Blockade lozenges daily at the very first sign of a cold, flu or other so-called “envelope virus” respiratory infections. This winter, reduce your risk of both respiratory infections and their serious cardiovascular complications with the 1-2 punch of Host Defense and Blockade. Ask any of the Freshlife Wellness Coaches for a CD explaining the mechanism of activity employed by these safe and effective herbal formulas.