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Sadly, we’re hearing more about strokes and blood clots lately. Apparently, this is a rare but possible concern with COVID-19. 

It is disheartening because, at first, researchers thought this virus stayed in the lungs. But now we know it can affect all human tissues and organs. 

A research study led by doctors at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin found that some patients admitted to their hospital experienced abnormal clotting, and that this was the main contributing factor to their death. 

In those patients, they identified hundreds of tiny clots in the lungs. This explains why oxygen levels drop so quickly and so dramatically in the most severe cases of the disease. 

Clotting in your blood matters. You want it to clot, so you don’t get a paper cut and bleed to death. But you don’t want it to clot so much that the debris forms an obnoxious piece of gunk that ends up blocking blood flow to your brain, heart or lungs. 

There’s a healthy balance that’s in-between both extremes, and we call the balance “homeostasis.” 

Blood health can be manipulated by foods, spices and drugs. Clots do not happen to everyone who gets the virus; in fact, some people don’t even know they’ve been exposed or infected! 

So, as you read this article, please know that my intention is not to provoke fear or anxiety; it is to offer sensible advice, so you can improve your blood health. Furthermore, I am not suggesting any of this as a treatment for COVID-19 or any coronavirus.

Your diet and immune system

Since the immune system resides in the intestinal tract for the most part, your diet is what instantly changes your gut microflora and your ability to fight. 

The foods and spices listed below are some of those that have natural anti-clotting properties. However, certain foods listed below will interfere with your PT/INR levels and medications. That’s why people who take anticoagulants may want to avoid these foods and spices, or ask a doctor first if they’re okay for them to consume. 

These foods are not listed by strength. In fact, they are in no particular order:

Dried spices 

• Paprika

• Cayenne pepper

• Chilies

• Thyme

• Garlic

• Cinnamon (contains coumarin, a powerful blood thinning agent)

• Curry powder

• Dill

• Ginger

• Oregano

• Curry Powder

• Turmeric

Foods

• Ginger (fresh, sliced)

• Dill (fresh)

• Peppermint (fresh)

• Beets (high in nitrates) 

• Walnuts (high in vitamin E)

• Salmon (omega 3 fatty acids)

• Cherries 

• Berries (blueberries, strawberries, cranberries)

• Chocolate (due to flavonol)

• Citrus (oranges, tangerines)

If you join my online community at suzycohen.com, I can email you a comprehensive version of this article with more foods. 

In the meantime, if you’re worried about the health of your blood and your bone marrow (where your blood cells are made), then consider including the foods and spices above, as long as they don’t interfere with your medication or health conditions.

They will greatly improve your immune system and the creation of immune cells that fight for you. It’s simple to upgrade your diet (or expand it) to include one of two new foods or spices listed above every week. A healthy diet is your best bet for a healthy immune system, which is what fights for you.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. 

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com.