by Andrea Sary (Author)
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames your lungs' air sacs (alveoli). The air sacs may fill up with fluid or pus, causing symptoms such as a cough, fever, chills and trouble breathing. Pneumonia is a debilitating condition that affects many regardless of age. Mainly though, it impacts the elderly and those with underlying conditions. It is an opportunistic infection waiting until the body is weakened by virus, malnutrition or other means. There are many nutrients that have antimicrobial efficacy if taken in large enough doses. Many of the recommended daily doses of nutrients are the minimum required to prevent one specific condition. However, this is rarely a condition for which the immune system needs to be primed and activated when infection strikes. Bringing together research, the authors show how nutrition can be used to combat viral and bacterial infections responsible for pneumonia and address some of the knock-on effects of this common respiratory infection including blood clotting and heart failure. It is a useful and insightful resource that should be kept with the recommended nutrients especially as increasing antibiotic resistance means that alternative forms of treatment are a priority.