Immerse Yourself in French Culture at Home | French Culture

https://frenchculture.org/books-and-ideas/11279-immerse-yourself-french-culture

Immerse Yourself in French Culture at Home

During this time of confinement at home due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, our seasoned staff of culture professionals has been scouring the Internet to prepare a curated list of some of their top choices for experiencing French and Francophone culture virtually.

From museum tours to opera and ebooks, there's something for culture fans of all stripes in our list below, which includes both individual experiences and aggregate best-of lists. Note that it is non-exhaustive and evolving, so check back in a couple of days for new content. 

Choose your own (at-home) adventure below!  

If you like to dress up and drink champagne…

Photo by Pawel Bukowski

Philharmonie Live
From Haydn to Debussy or Boulez, the Paris Orchestra to the Arts Florissants ensemble and the wonderful concerts recorded during the Jazz à la Villette festival, there are a lot of options to choose from… More than 900 indeed!

France Musique Concerts
The French radio station France Musique has hundreds of classical, symphonic, chamber music, & jazz concerts to please all of the music lovers out there! 

If you want to dance in your PJs… 

What the France
Listen to the most exciting new music of the French music scene thanks to What the France, a series of playlists created by Le Bureau Export. 

Numeridanse
Numeridanse is a multimedia dance platform. It offers free access to a unique video database of filmed performances, documentaries, interviews, dance videos, and more. Each genre and style is showcased here: butoh, classical ballet, neo-classical ballet, baroque, Indian, African, flamenco, contemporary, traditional dances, hip-hop, tango, jazz, circus arts, performance, etc.

Circus
The Centre national des arts du cirque (CNAC) is a higher education and research establishment created in 1985 at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture. Nearly 400 artists from 35 different countries have graduated from Cnac and are now major players on the international contemporary circus scene. Cnac.tv offers archived videos of performances by contemporary circus artists that span several years.  

If you need to time travel somewhere calm… 

Photo by Kari Shea

Arte Concert
Tune on Arte concert website and enjoy hundreds of concerts recorded live. 
(For copyrights reasons, note that a few of the videos might not be accessible from the US.)

Visit the Lascaux Cave
Back in time –  to put things in perspective: an exclusive virtual visit of the Lascaux prehistoric cave.

Stop by the Paris Opera
Launched by the Paris Opéra in September 2015, 3e Scène proposes a collection of original video works (documentary, fiction, etc.) by artists from different backgrounds, including Jonathan Litell, Clemence Poesy, Thierry Thieu Niang, Danielle Arbid, Clément Cogitore, and Ramzi Ben Sliman. The short films related to the Paris Opera offer an active dialogue with a viewership from around the world. 

Travel with the Ile en île Youtube Channel
Escape your narrow dwelling by exploring the multimedia readings, poetry, performance and interviews of Ile en île. The website and youtube channel was launched in 1998 to promote French langage authors from islands across the world––the Caribean, Mediterranean, Pacific and beyond.

If you are feeling nostalgic for smoky clubs and bourbon drinks...

Photo by Zachary Nelson

Tune in to TSF Jazz
Celebrating its 20-year anniversary, the French radio station TSF Jazz has a wonderful program of live performances, live programs, and podcasts to choose from.  

If you can't contain your love of drama... 

Photo by Vladimir Ivanov

Enjoy the performing arts from the Festival d'Avignon
Since 2016, France Culture has been coming to the courtyard of the Musée Calvet for 10 days to present a program that defends the idea of a living culture that is shared by all generations. It is a celebration of the spirit for viewers and listeners that supports the idea that literature, theater, and musicals can change our lives or profoundly inspire them.  

If you spend more time at The Met than in your apartment… 

Photo by Robert Bye

Best Online Museum Collections
Over the past decades, for conservation and insurance purpose, major museums have created online databases of their collections. Thanks to the progress of the digital age, most museums are providing a free access online to their whole collection. What was once only available to curators and art historians is now readily available. Take opportunity to dig into these unknown treasures and create your own favorite selection:

Contemporary Art Collections on Videomuseum
67 collections – 36,713 artists – 397,279 artworks – 388,141 pictures: this is how many many public collections and artists are available online (including those of the Centre Pompidou, Musee Picasso, CNAP and a design platform...). Videomuseum is a French consortium of museums and other public structures managing modern and contemporary art collections.
 
National Heritage Ancient Collections
The POP platform created by the French Ministry of Culture is gathering all digital content related to French national heritage and ancient collections in one place in order to make it accessible to a large audience. 

For example, the image of the Mona Lisa used at the top of this article is part of one of these culturally benefical opportunities that you can experience at home. The Louvre presents the museum's first virtual reality experience "En tête-à-tête avec La Joconde," in partnership with HTC VIVE Arts and Emissive, which will bring to life the story of the Mona Lisa, da Vinci's most famous masterpiece. Just download the free app –– no need for VR equipment –– and see this iconic piece of art like you never have before!

Available on: Viveport

To take a closer look at Google's virtual experiences of the Musee d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, and the Grand Palais, too!

If virtual reality sounds better than reality...

Photo by Paul Stollery

Visit the Château de Versailles
You can wake up at Versailles with this creative VR experience. This virtual visit will bring you to unexpected rooms and angles of the castle.

VR Documentaries by Targo
From Rebuilding Notre Dame, to Experience the Overview Effect with an Astronaut, to In the Air with the Skydiving World Champion... If you own a VR headset, you can watch original documentaries by Targo and for free on VR streaming platforms.

The Dawn of Art: A Virtual Journey Inside Chauvet Cave
Atlas V in partnership with Novelab, Google, and SMERGC have released a new VR experience called The Dawn of Art voiced by Daisy Ridley from the new Star Wars Saga. 

Phallaina, a Graphic Novel App
Download for free, the first scrolling graphic novel, Phallaina.  Follow the story of Audrey, a young girl who suffers from hallucinatory fits during which she sees whales. 

Games by ARTE
Besides being the European cultural TV channel, ARTE has co-produced and published several interactive experiences and video games including Type:Rider, Homo Machina, The Wanderer: Frankenstein's Creature and Vectronom. Play for free a prequel to Alt Frequencies. 

 If you're a film buff… 

Photo by Annie Spratt

The Best French Comedy Series to Binge on Netflix
Nothing is better than a good TV show to help us cheer up and escape our current reality. Several of the best French comedy shows of the past few years are available on Netflix. From a Cold War spy parody to a talent agency comedy, there is something to suit all tastes.

Germaine Dulac and Women in Film History
Hear an extended conversation with Germaine Dulac scholar and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee professor Tami Williams, Columbia University professor Jane Gaines, and Rutgers University professor Sandy Flitterman-Lewis as they discuss Dulac's pioneering artistry, her films' political context, and her pivotal place in the history of cinema.

Up and Coming Filmmakers 
During a Directors Dialogue, Mati Diop discusses Atlantics, a Main Slate selection at the 57th New York Film Festival, presented by Film at Lincoln Center. Moderated by Dennis Lim.

300 documentaries available online
IDFA, the world's largest documentary film gathering, decided to make over 300 films from its prestigious collection available online, for free. Among them, many French productions: Human by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, A French laundry by Elisabeth Vogler, Guaxuma by Nara Normande, etc.

If you're a bookworm who has all day to read (or listen)… 

Photo by Jaredd Craig

145-Hour Marathon Audiobook of Proust's In Search of Lost Time

If you're looking for a companion while reading, or for someone else to do the heavy lifting for you, check out the many audiobook options here and here (including Proust's famous series). 

Classic E-Books
Gallica, the free online library of the Bibliothèque nationale de France holds more that 5 millions documents and is full of treasures, including digital versions of many classics. Here is a list of 150 classics that you can download on your computer, from Molière to to Victor Hugo to Alexandre Dumas and Balzac.

Readings by Much-Loved Actor Guillaume Gallienne
Actor Guillaume Gallienne announced in February that he would end his beloved radio show of readings, to the dismay of the huge following he had accrued over a decade. "Ca peut pas faire de mal" episodes are available at the link above! 

If you're one of our fans... 

And if you're curious to explore our own programs at the Cultural Services, check out this article, on how to experience French culture from home, where you can listen to The Thing About France podcast with David Sedaris and Gloria Steinem, go behind the scenes with top-tier French authors at Albertine, and more.

Happy New Year!🤷‍♀️

~A.

Peloton: Exodus Edition

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+$389.64 est. tax

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ModernTribe Jewish Gifts

https://moderntribe.com/products/peloton-exodus-edition?variant=39271352434749&currency=USD&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google+shopping

Peloton: Exodus Edition, but why?

Tap to expand

A workout of biblical proportion.

No more wandering around aimlessly searching for a workout class. The Peloton: Exodus Edition kick-starts your cardio just like matzah kick-starts your IBS. Add classes like camel-riding, sea-splitting, synchronized davening and more to your routine and get the most immersive fitness experience right from the comfort of your home or shul.

Sweat. Commiserate. Eat Manna. Repeat.

From escaping Egypt to riding your way into the Promised Land, there's something for everyone. With prophetic instructors and an endless 40-year workout you'll have a commandment over your exercise routine in no time.

Why is this workout different from all other workouts?

THE STAFF WITH THE WOODEN STAFF
Ride your best with live encouragement from Moses and his assistant Joshua or favorites from the Old Testament like Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel and even special guests like Elijah!

THE FOUR CLASSES
One class type would have been enough- Dayenu! Choose from more difficult class levels if you want a bush-worthy burn, or our calmer Israel-lite classes.


ON-DEMAND MANNA
Classes stop before the bread has had time to rise. Earn plagues for completion!


LET MY PEOPLE SCHVITZ
Keep your workout fresh with different themes and music, like the nasal-clearing Hillel Sandwich ride or exclusive Go Down Moses and Dayenu remixes.

~A.

Which COVID-19 Test Should You Use? > News > Yale Medicine

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/which-covid-test-is-accurate#:~:text=Molecular%20tests%20are%20generally%20more,or%20even%20at%20home.

Which COVID-19 Test Should You Use?

Note: Information in this article was accurate at the time of original publication. Because information about COVID-19 changes rapidly, we encourage you to visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and your state and local government for the latest information.

With kids returning to school and many adults heading back to the office or traveling, something as simple as a cough or runny nose might lead to panic—and the need for a COVID-19 test. But because of the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccines, the topic of testing—and which one to use—has fallen off our collective radar. 

A lot has changed since the early days of the pandemic, when people lined up (on foot or in their cars) outside testing sites awaiting their turn at a nasal swab. Whether it's at a pharmacy, urgent care center, or testing site, it's now easier than ever to get a COVID-19 test. You can even buy a kit online or at a drugstore to test yourself—and get results—in your own home.  

In fact, there are so many different options, it can be confusing. If you are traveling and need to show a negative COVID test, which is the best kind to get? Are they all equally accurate? Do some produce results faster than others? And do you still have to get a Q-tip in your nose? 

Some of these questions are easy to answer, while others are more difficult—particularly when it comes to accuracy. That's because all of the tests—and there are hundreds of them, from a growing number of companies and laboratories—are offered through a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA). Therefore, they have not been as rigorously tested or vetted as other medical tests with full FDA approval.

And since the virus is new, all the tests are also new, meaning we have neither a long track record of comparing results, nor a true gold-standard test yet. 

Below, Yale Medicine experts fielded our COVID test questions. 

What are the different types of tests to diagnose COVID-19?

Unlike antibody tests, which look for prior infection, COVID diagnostic tests look for current infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They are broken into two categories: molecular and antigen (more below). 

A summary of their differences

Because the samples are, for the most part, collected in the same way for both, the differences between the two kinds of tests are largely in how they're processed. Molecular tests are generally more accurate and mostly processed in a laboratory, which takes longer; antigen tests—which are sometimes referred to as 'rapid tests'—are processed pretty much anywhere, including in doctor's office, pharmacies, or even at home. You can get antigen test results in about 15 minutes, but they tend to be less accurate.  

Health care providers typically rely on molecular tests, particularly when people have COVID-19 symptoms, whereas antigen testing is often used when quick results are needed or for general screening and surveillance.

Below, we take a closer look at the two categories.

Molecular COVID tests (also called nucleic acid amplification test, or NAAT)

The first test created to detect COVID—and still the most widely used—is a molecular test called PCR (polymerase chain reaction), says Sheldon Campbell, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine pathologist and microbiologist. "PCR and similar tests look for the COVID virus's RNA," meaning genetic material that comes only from the virus, Dr. Campbell explains. "They tend to be quite sensitive, but even among these, they are on a continuum of sensitivity and vary a whole lot."

"Sensitivity" measures how often a test correctly delivers a positive result for people with the condition that's being tested. A test that's highly sensitive will catch almost anyone who has the disease and not generate a lot of false-negative results.

How does the test work? A molecular test looks for genetic material from the virus. The test uses sophisticated chemicals and equipment to reproduce millions to billions of copies of viral-related DNA from even the smallest sample. Because of that, the test is considered highly sensitive, leading to very few false negatives.

How is a sample obtained? Usually with a swab inserted into your nose. There are three different methods for nasal collection: 

• Nasopharyngeal: A health care professional inserts a long swab deep into your nostril to collect fluid from the back of your nose.
• Mid-turbinate: This method, which someone can be coached to do themselves or is done by a professional, involves placing a soft swab straight back into the nostril (less than one inch) to collect a sample.
• Anterior nasal swab: This test, which can either be self-administered and supervised by a trained health care provider, or done by a health care professional, involves putting a swab three-quarters of an inch into the nostril and twirling it around at least four times to get a sample.  

In general, the deeper you go for a specimen, the greater the sensitivity, says Richard Martinello, MD, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist. "But, we've found it's much more comfortable to do mid-turbinate or anterior nasal swabs, and they provide a reasonable degree of sensitivity," he adds. "It's a compromise of sorts, but it does allow us to simplify the collection process." 

Other collection methods include: 

• Oropharangeal (throat) swab: A trained health care provider collects a sample using a swab to the back of the throat. 
• Saliva: You spit into a sterile, leak-proof cap container. For now, this type of testing is only offered at select locations. 

How is the test processed? Most specimens are sent to laboratories. Part of the reason COVID NAAT/PCR tests took so long early in the pandemic was due to inadequate supply plus incredible volume. Though COVID is very much still with us, supply is increased and testing volume is not as high as it was. 

Where can you get one? Molecular tests are offered at pharmacies, doctor offices, and designated testing locations, such as health clinics, as well as locations set up by private or state and local public health systems. 

How quickly can you get results? Because the tests are sent to a lab, it depends on lab capacity. Results are typically available within a range of one to seven days, depending on your location. 

"Usually it's a day or sometimes even less now," says Dr. Martinello. "The Yale New Haven Health System is turning around results within 24 hours for 99.5% of specimens."

How accurate are they? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), laboratory-based tests, such as PCR, have a "generally high" test sensitivity.  

"PCR tests are considered the most accurate available," Dr. Martinello says. "But because these tests are highly sensitive and specific, there is still a risk for a false positive."

But limiting false negatives might be extremely important, especially with the rise of more transmissible variants, like Delta. "It's actually true for those who have—and who don't have—symptoms, but if you do have symptoms, a PCR test is more likely than an antigen test to pick up an infection accurately," says Dr. Campbell. 

Antigen COVID tests

Whereas molecular tests require specialized equipment for processing samples, an antigen test is simpler, because it requires smaller devices that are easy to transport. Their design is similar to, say, a pregnancy test.

How does the test work? Antigen tests search for pieces of protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The sample you provide is treated with a reagent and analyzed on the spot by a health care professional. Unlike molecular tests, these require a higher level of virus in the test sample before the test will turn positive. This means that an antigen test may sometimes lead to a false negative.

How is a sample obtained? As with molecular tests, a sterile swab is inserted into your nose or throat to obtain a specimen (see details above)—although throat swabs may be less common these days.

How is the test processed? The sample is self-applied to a test strip or cartridge. Similar to a home pregnancy test, results show a colored line to signify positive or negative. 

Where can you get one? Antigen tests are offered in pharmacies, doctor's offices, and can be purchased to use at home. 

How quickly can you get results? Results are typically available in 10 to 15 minutes. 

How accurate are they? According to the CDC, antigen test sensitivity varies depending on the time in the course of one's infection, but is considered to have "moderate to high" sensitivity during peak viral load. Compared to molecular tests, antigen tests are more likely to generate false negative results, especially when performed on people who don't have symptoms. 

To offset the decreased sensitivity, the FDA recommends doing serial testing—or taking multiple tests—over several days to improve the chance of catching asymptomatic infections.

ID NOW COVID Test

Complicating things a bit is the availability of ID NOW, a rapid molecular test used by some testing locations, such as pharmacies, that can read results on-site—in about 15 minutes. 

According to the CDC, point-of-care tests (such as those administered at a drug store, including ID NOW), have a "moderate to high" test sensitivity. 

But where does it fit in the molecular vs antigen test result accuracy spectrum? 

"ID NOW is not a completely different thing than PCR, it's just on the lower sensitivity end of the spectrum," Dr. Campbell says. "So, more accurate than an antigen test."

Should I take a home test?

The home tests that give instant results are all antigen. However, there are home kits that require mailing a sample to a lab that use molecular technology. Whereas testing at pharmacies and doctor's offices is typically free or covered by insurance, your insurance company may not cover the cost of a home test, which may cost anywhere from $24 for a set of two to $38 for one.  

For COVID-19, home tests can be useful if you need an immediate answer, Dr. Campbell says. "But the tricky part is that the cost can pile up and people don't always do the test correctly, either," he says. "I would think it's better to have the test done by someone whose job it is to do it, especially if there are free testing locations available." 

Dr. Martinello agrees. "I think it's a good assumption that home tests are not as accurate as NAAT tests you can get at a drive-through or walk-in testing site, but they do improve access to testing," he says.

What type of test should I get?

If you are exhibiting a fever, cough, trouble breathing, or other COVID-19 symptoms, you should get tested, regardless of vaccination status, health experts advise. You should also get tested if you have no symptoms, but know you were recently exposed to the virus. 

Deciding which type of test to get can be a little more complicated. 

"A lot of this depends on access and what is readily available to you. We are thankful to have rapid antigen tests that are easy to find, but if you don't have symptoms, their sensitivity is limited and we know that 40% of people who are contagious with COVID are asymptomatic," Dr. Martinello says. "A NAAT test is more sensitive, but a lot still depends on the quality of the specimen." 

Still, for the diagnosis of people seriously ill (with a presumed case of COVID-19), doctors will generally use a PCR test, because false-negative tests might result in inadequate treatment.  

Travel

If you are traveling, you might be required to get tested, too. The location you are visiting might require a certain type of test and approved testing locations as well. 

Dr. Campbell says a PCR test probably makes the most sense for travel. "You want to detect the virus early, and the PCR test is the most sensitive for that to make sure you are not infectious for your trip," he says, acknowledging that many places require a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before boarding a plane.

School and workplaces

For surveillance, such as at schools or workplaces, antigen tests work well, Dr. Campbell says. 

"Say you are testing kids in a school twice a week in perpetuity. You can do it much more quickly and easily and for less cost if you use antigen tests," he says. "You want to answer the question of if kids are infectious now or not. Would PCR be better in that setting? Yes, but you won't get the answer back in a day necessarily, and you would spend a lot of money to find a few positives."

General peace of mind

Some people might like to do regular COVID tests for peace of mind. Say you are vaccinated but recently attended a crowded event and you are planning to visit an immuno-compromised relative. Preparing for this by ensuring you have a negative COVID test might not be a bad idea, but the timing is important, Dr. Campbell says. 

"If you went to a crowded concert and are worried about COVID, you don't want to take any COVID test—molecular or antigen—the next day. You should wait three to five days after potential exposure," he says. "It's quite complicated. We think that you have to have a fair amount of virus present to be infectious to others, and we know that in the course of infection, the viral load goes up and down." 

Will any of the tests tell me which variant I have?

None of the COVID-19 tests you take, either at home or at a pharmacy, will tell you if you have a variant, such as Delta. Detecting variants requires genetic testing done in a lab. Across the country, a selection of positive COVID-19 samples are sent to specialized labs, where they are anonymously sequenced to identify variants so that public health officials can monitor COVID-19 trends. 

And not all positive specimens are tested; only sample amounts are taken. So, if you hear that 75% of cases in an area are a particular variant, for example, that reflects a computation based on the number of samples tested—and it is just an estimate.

Are there tests that look for COVID-19 and the flu?

Since the symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu are similar, it's helpful to know there are molecular tests you can have that detect each virus using a single sample. In fact, there are even tests that diagnose COVID-19, flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), a virus that causes common cold symptoms, at once. 

Such tests are offered at doctor's offices and clinics and need to be sent to a lab, and should come back in a day or less. These tests will become available closer to flu season, in October.

Even for physicians, COVID-19 testing can be complicated and confusing.

In the end, it's best to remember the basics: get your vaccine, when in doubt wear a mask and social distance, and stay home and away from others if you feel sick, Dr. Campbell says.

Note: Information provided in Yale Medicine articles is for general informational purposes only. No content in the articles should ever be used as a substitute for medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Always seek the individual advice of your health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition.  

Read more Yale Medicine news

~A.

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/12/27/quercetin-an-alternative-to-hydroxychloroquine.aspx?ui=2ecbe2228b13003025ffb655ee4aad3060b0ee9bbcaf26394d56e6e012ece6d4&sd=20120422&cid_source=wnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20211227Z1&mid=DM1069821&rid=1362149619

Quercetin — An Alternative to Hydroxychloroquine, and More

Story at-a-glance

• Quercetin works much like hydroxychloroquine, a drug found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 when used early enough. Both are zinc ionophores, meaning they shuttle antiviral zinc into your cells
• The Front Line Critical COVID-19 Care Alliance's early treatment protocol includes quercetin at a dose of 250 milligrams twice a day, in combination with 100 mg elemental zinc and 500 mg to 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice a day
• Quercetin also has other mechanisms of action that make it useful in the fight against COVID-19. For example, it may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to ACE2 receptor docking. By binding to the ACE2 receptor and the spike protein interface, quercetin inhibits viral attachment and entry into the cell
• Quercetin also modulates NLRP3 inflammasome, an immune system component involved in the uncontrolled release of proinflammatory cytokines that occurs during a cytokine storm
• Quercetin-rich foods include onions and shallots, apples, broccoli, asparagus, green peppers, tomatoes, red leaf lettuce, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, black currants and green tea

The Substack Modern Discontent recently posted an anthology series on the benefits of quercetin,¹ including the finding that it works like hydroxychloroquine, a drug found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 when used early enough.

Part 1² begins with a brief overview of what quercetin is and its basic mechanisms of action. Quercetin is a flavonoid found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as onions and shallots, apples, broccoli, asparagus, green peppers, tomatoes, red leaf lettuce, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, black currants and green tea.

The quercetin content in any given food is largely dependent on light exposure, though, so depending on the country you're in, different foods will top the list of most quercetin-rich. General mechanisms of action of this nutrient include:³

Antioxidant activity — Antioxidants help prevent oxidative damage from harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). Quercetin acts as a free radical scavenger, and its activity can be further enhanced by vitamin C	Anti-inflammatory activity — This is in part responsible for quercetin's cardiovascular benefits
Inhibition of platelet aggregation	Anti-allergy activities (inhibits release of histamine and other allergic substances)
Immunomodulation	Anticancer activity
Antiviral activity — It's been found to reduce replication of many viruses, including HIV, hepatitis C, enterovirus 71, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and SARS-CoV-2, by targeting the proteases in these viruses	Zinc ionophore — Quercetin helps zinc enter your cells. Zinc, in turn, has potent antiviral activity

Quercetin Against SARS-CoV-2

In Part 2⁴ of the anthology, Modern Discontent reviews the evidence behind the recommendation to use quercetin against COVID-19 specifically. As mentioned, zinc has antiviral activity, and quercetin helps shuttle the zinc into the cell. But quercetin also has other mechanisms of action that make it useful in the fight against COVID-19.

Quercetin modulates NLRP3 inflammasome, an immune system component involved in the uncontrolled release of proinflammatory cytokines that occurs during a cytokine storm.

For example, quercetin has been shown to:

Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to ACE2 receptor docking.5,6,7 Computational modeling studies have shown quercetin can bind to the ACE2 receptor and the spike protein interface, thereby inhibiting the two from binding together. By preventing viral attachment, it helps prevent viral entry into the cell. Commenting on one of these studies, Modern Discontent notes:8 "Although [a] computer modeled study,9 the evidence here suggests that quercetin's binding activity to ACE2 is comparable to other standard of care drugs used to treat SARS-CoV-2 (eg. Remdesivir, Lopinavir, Ritonavir)."

Inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production in macrophages.10 (TNF-α is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation, secreted by activated macrophages, a type of immune cell that digests foreign substances, microbes and other harmful or damaged components.)

Inhibit the release of proinflammatory cytokines and histamine by modulating calcium influx into the cell.11

Stabilize mast cells and regulate the basic functional properties of immune cells, thereby allowing it to inhibit "a huge panoply of molecular targets in the micromolar concentration range, either by down-regulating or suppressing many inflammatory pathways and functions."12

Act as a zinc ionophore, i.e., a compound that shuttles zinc into your cells.13 This is one of the mechanisms that can account for the effectiveness seen with hydroxychloroquine, which is also a zinc ionophore.

Boost interferon response to viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, by inhibiting the expression of casein kinase II (CK2)14 — CK2 is an enzyme that is fundamental to controlling homeostasis at the cellular level. There is evidence that it down-regulates the ability a cell has to generate Type 1 interferon when attacked by a virus. It does this by inhibiting retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I),15 which has protein sensors that signal genetic expression of type 1 interferon by identifying the replication of RNA viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. Quercetin inhibits the expression of CK2, which slows the replication of RNA viruses.16 Interferons are a subset of cytokines discovered in 1957.17 These cells are often the initial defense against viruses. There are two types and three forms of interferon. Within Type 1 interferon, there are alpha and beta. Type 2 interferon has the gamma form.18 The different types are based on the function of the cytokine. Type 1 interferons help cells resist viruses. Type 2 aids in responding to infections and cancer growth. The name "interferon" came from the ability of Type 1 to interfere with the virus's ability to duplicate. A cell secretes interferons when a foreign substance, like a virus, is detected. However, the interferon does not function by attacking the virus. Instead, it tells the infected cell and the cells that surround the infected cell to make proteins that stop viral replication. In a nutshell, quercetin stops CK2 from interfering with the action of Type 1 interferon so cells receive the signal to stop viral replication.

Modulate NLRP3 inflammasome, an immune system component involved in the uncontrolled release of proinflammatory cytokines that occurs during a cytokine storm.19

Exert a direct antiviral activity against SARS-CoV20,21,22 — Quercetin's general antiviral capacity has been attributed to three primary mechanisms of action: Binding to the spike protein, thereby inhibiting its ability to infect host cells23 Inhibiting replication of already infected cells Reducing infected cells' resistance to treatment with antiviral medication

Inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease.24

The Front Line Critical COVID-19 Care Alliance (FLCCC) early treatment protocol²⁵ includes quercetin at a dose of 250 milligrams twice a day, in combination with 100 mg elemental zinc and 500 mg to 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice a day.

Quercetin in COVID-19 Medical Literature

In Part 3,²⁶ Modern Discontent reviews some of the clinical trials that have taken place. One COVID-19-specific study²⁷ found that people who took zinc and two zinc ionophores — quinine drops and quercetin — had lower incidence of COVID-19 than the control group. Over the course of the study (20 weeks), only two of the 53 test subjects became symptomatic, compared to 12 of the 60 controls. As noted by Modern Discontent:²⁸

"Although this didn't test quercetin in isolation, the study does suggest that over-the-counter, easily accessible compounds may be extremely beneficial in fighting against COVID, especially when taken as a prophylactic."

In another trial,²⁹ 76 outpatients who tested positive but had only mild symptoms were given 1,000 mg of Quercetin Phytosome® (quercetin in sunflower phospholipids that increase oral absorption 20-fold) per day for 30 days, in addition to standard care (analgesics, oral steroids and antibiotics). Another 76 patients were given standard of care only.

In the quercetin group, only 9.2% of participants went on to require hospitalization, compared to 28.9% of patients who received standard of care only. According to the authors:³⁰

"The results revealed a reduction in frequency and length of hospitalization, in need of non-invasive oxygen therapy, in progression to intensive care units and in number of deaths.

The results also confirmed the very high safety profile of quercetin and suggested possible anti-fatigue and pro-appetite properties. QP [Quercetin Phytosome®] is a safe agent and in combination with standard care, when used in early stage of viral infection, could aid in improving the early symptoms and help in preventing the severity of COVID-19 disease."

Quercetin was also featured in two scientific reviews published in 2020.³¹ The first, published in in the Integrative Medicine journal in May 2020,³² highlighted quercetin's promotion of SIRT2, which inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome.

The second review article,³³ published in the June 19, 2020, issue of Frontiers in Immunology, highlighted quercetin's usefulness as a COVID-19 treatment when used in conjunction with vitamin C. The vitamin C recycles oxidized quercetin, producing a synergistic effect. It also enhances quercetin's antiviral capacity.

Food as Medicine

With the advent of processed foods, many important nutrients have been lost or minimized in the average person's diet. Quercetin, being found in fresh fruits, vegetables and berries is one of them. Unfortunately, while essential vitamins and minerals are generally recognized for their importance, antioxidants such as quercetin are often overlooked, and sometimes labeled as "pseudoscience" or "fad" supplements. As noted by Modern Discontent:

"The great number of benefits that these compounds contribute to humans cannot be overstated ... An argument can be made that not only could quercetin prove beneficial to our health, but an absence of it may prove detrimental in the long term."

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it's the importance of basic health and a healthy immune function. In this regard, a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables can go a long way. Nutritional supplements also have their place, especially in situations like a pandemic.

Summary

In conclusion, Modern Discontent provides the following summary of findings:³⁴

• "There's evidence that quercetin may work similarly to hydroxychloroquine — It seems that quercetin may operate as both an immunomodulator and a zinc ionophore. Its use as an over-the-counter anti-allergic supplement as well as its use for asthma indicates an ability to affect the production of histamine and cytokines ...

• Quercetin has plenty of other benefits — ... Antioxidants ... are some of the most well studied compounds, with possible anti-cancer, pro-heart and pro-organ benefits. Add on possible antimicrobial properties and it becomes hard to argue that this is nothing more than a possible fad supplement.

• Although limited, there is some evidence that quercetin may be effective against SARS-CoV2 — Computer models and in vitro studies suggest that ACE2 receptors and the main protease of SARS-CoV2 may be good target candidates for quercetin ... the limited number of studies suggest quercetin may be effective, especially if used early on or as a prophylactic.

• Dietary quercetin is the main source of quercetin, and its deficiency in modern diets may be contributing to our health problems — Quercetin is primarily sourced from colorful fruits, vegetables, teas ... all foods that many of our ancestors would have consumed on a regular basis ... Modern 'enriched' foods tend to supplement with additional vitamins and minerals, but may miss out on other plant-derived compounds that have played a substantial role in our diet.

Similar to reduced sunlight exposure and the need for increased vitamin D supplementation, we may need to look at possible supplementation of overlooked compounds such as polyphenols. Sourcing these compounds from real foods would prove the most beneficial, but in groups of people who may not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, quercetin and polyphenol supplementation may be useful.

This would include people with alternative diets such as keto, who may avoid high carb fruits, and thus may be missing a key nutrient in their diets.

Quercetin has plenty of benefits, and for those who may be missing out on it in their diet they may want to look into sourcing it with supplementation. Don't take this as a prescription or recommendation, but an argument to examine your own health and see what you may be lacking ..."

+ Sources and References

~A.