The War Against Viruses: How the Science of Optimal Nutrition Can Help You Win

In March 2020, the World Health Organization designated the viral disease COVID-19 a pandemic. Dr. Aileen Burford-Mason’s new book, The War Against Viruses, explains how we can help reduce the risk and severity of COVID-19 infection. But it goes beyond this, showing how staying well in general, and avoiding winter colds and flus in particular, is possible with optimal nutrition. 

When operating efficiently, the immune system represents biological teamwork at its best: a symphony of protective cells and biomolecules acting together to rapidly recognize potentially harmful microbes and eliminate them. The orchestration of this complex system depends on a continuous and ample supply of essential components—vitamins, minerals, beneficial fats and other nutrients—to function properly. But a growing body of research shows that the nutritional content of our food has sharply declined over the course of the last century. As the use of high-yield industrial farming practices has increased, so the nutritional content has decreased. 

The War Against Viruses shows how without a rounded intake of essential nutrients our immune response may be compromised, especially during emergencies. The book provides evidence-based advice on how to recognize gaps in our nutritional arsenal. Dr. Burford-Mason creates a personal supplement regime that can overcome potential dietary shortfalls by strengthening our immune response to infection, thus helping to reduce the potential for lethal illness. 

AILEEN BURFORD-MASON, PhD, is an immunologist and an expert in evidence-based nutrition. She was formerly assistant professor in the department of pathology at the University of Toronto’s faculty of medicine. While maintaining a busy Toronto practice in nutrition, she also teaches health-care professionals how to use diet and nutritional supplements in clinical practice. She has written two bestselling books on nutrition and health, The Healthy Brain and Eat Well, Age Better. The War Against Viruses draws on Dr. Burford-Mason’s unusual combination of areas of expertise—the intricacies of the immune system and evidence-based use of diet and dietary supplements for the prevention and treatment of disease.