In a recent review of research papers on the symptoms associated with post-viral infection with SARS CoV-2 coronavirus – what is commonly now known as “long-COVID” – researchers have estimated that with 755 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, and a conservative estimate that ~10% of infected go on to develop long-COVID, there are more than 75 million people suffering with symptoms of long-COVID globally.

Symptoms of long-COVID look a lot like other conditions associated with viral infections and microbiome disruptions, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, but the scale of the long-COVID pandemic is truly staggering (see full list of symptoms in the graphic below).

Most commonly, symptoms include brain fog, shortness of breath, post-exertional malaise, disrupted immune system (sometimes suppressed leading to an increase in colds/flu – and sometimes overactive leading to allergies, food intolerances, and other auto-immune problems).

Luckily, many patients respond well to natural interventions that restore microbiome balance, reestablish gut integrity, and “prime” immune system function back up/down to normal. I’ve written about many of these interventions in Mental Fitness and teach them in detail in my online Mental Wellness Coach Certification, including specific strains of probiotic bacteria, targeted structures of prebiotic fibers, and phytobiotic plant extracts that can all improve signaling across the Gut-Brain-Axis to help people feel better.