- The Cold War, where schools frequently practiced nuclear bomb raid drills and fears of nuclear holocaust were prevalent.
- Fears of the “population explosion” bringing on worldwide famines and devastation.
- Fears of Global Warming destroying our world as we know it.
- …and now, the threat of a “novel” virus which has become a global epidemic.
These are just some historical highlights. Even in calm times, after listening to news, you have plenty of reasons to be stressed. Each generation has at least one great stress to live through, and this epidemic pales in comparison with some.
Chronic stress is not just spoiling your mood, and probably your own health — it may also impact your offspring that haven’t even been conceived yet!
Epigenetics
DNA sequences in genes operate in segments. Many of these sequences are inactive — they are “turned off”. The DNA can express itself differently based upon the environment the cell experiences and the various communications it receives. These new expressions are an attempt to better handle the current environment. The longer that environment remains, or the harsher the impact, the more the cells settle into their new expressions. Those expressions may not be desirable…
The National Academy of Sciences studied the DNA methylation of the IGF2 gene six decades after prenatal exposure to a major famine, compared with those who did not go through the famine. Although this stressor was experienced at a very early age, the gene expression in their latter years was still showing the impact!
There is evidence that “transgenerational inheritance” actually occurs. Scientific American published research of offspring of Holocaust survivors, finding that the offspring had lowered levels of cortisol, making them more susceptible to anxiety disorders. Other studies of parents going through times of famine show that they may have children who tend to gain and hold weight more readily. An article in MIT Technology Review noted two studies where abuse of chemicals in mothers before conception of a child impacted the development of that child.
A study of the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that chronic stress experienced by parents effected changes to their reproductive systems in ways that affected their baby’s brain development. Specific changes to the protein and small RNA content of sperm were directly observed.
In other words: stress can be passed on!
The far-reaching implications of stress
Stress has immediate effects on us. Digestion is stalled, the body avoids long term healing in favor of short term emergency preparation, and we are more prone to infections. As the stress continues, our bodies adjust to the “new normal” and we feel anxiety even when not currently worrying about the virus, our jobs, or another stressor. And finally, the stress impacts our next generation.
If you aren’t working on reducing your stress for your own sake, how about reducing it for your children’s’ sake?
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Question: have you or someone in your family contracted the COVID-19 virus? If you are worried about the possibility of contracting the virus, rather than the reality of having done so, how is that helping you?
For now, most of us statistically have little to fear. Even for those who eventually contract the virus, the statistics of having a bad result are very small. But if we manage to suppress the immune system by fear and worry, now we increase our chances of the very thing that we fear. Life itself is an exercise in risk. All sorts of things can happen to us on any day, but rarely do. As we hear stories about the virus, listen to news broadcasts highlighting the worst statistics available, and ponder what could happen if we get the virus, we just build chronic stress into our bodies.
A great counter to depression and worry is to do something. Right now.
Dr. Nemec Comments:
When you secrete stress hormones the best reaction is to move. Do something. If a lion is coming towards you your body secretes adrenaline and other stress hormones — for what reason? To think, to ponder, or to MOVE? If you run, those hormones do not damage you; if you do not move they do damage you. So take actions steps, not in fear, but in believing you can become healthy — not worrying about when you are going to get sick. Remember the facts, which we sent in the last newsletter: after exposure to this virus your immune system has overcome it in 7 days, and if you had any symptoms they would be gone in 14 days. So let us all work on health and not on disease.
Also our most powerful product for immune function to counter viruses is Immune Maintenance Drops. These have enabled HIV patient to reduce their viral load from 2 million to 100,000 in 6 weeks. Since COVID-19 is a virus, this is the most important product for the next four months. I am suggesting every one take the “Exposed” dosage for the next four months.
AT HOME AND LONG TERM IMMUNE HEALTH
1. Immune Maintenance Drops (formally oxygen drops)
- Maintenance Level – 10 drops held under the tongue for 5 min, 3 times a day
- Sick / Exposed – 10 drops held under the tongue for 5 min, 6 times a day
2. Immune Boost
- Maintenance Level – 2 dropperful under tongue for 1 min, 3 times a day
- Sick / Exposed – 2 dropperful under tongue for 1 min, 6 times a day
3. IV Vitamin C
- Maintenance Level – 1 tbsp, 1-2 times per day
- Sick / Exposed – 2 tbsp, 3 times per day
