Don’t fear the Coronavirus – just be prepared. You can be ready for this!
Let’s take a deep breath and realize that there are many actions that are within our control. There is much we can do to protect our health and the health of our loved ones.
Washing your hands well is an excellent defense. It’s a good idea regardless of the current global viral threat level – common sense stuff we should be doing normally.
The best secondline defense is supporting your immune system, which is good defense against most viral agents, not just COVID-19. Supporting your immune system is accomplished through a number of tasks, but it’s not hard:
Eat a diverse set of foods daily, including root vegetables, leafy green veggies, and fruits. “Eat the rainbow” applies here, to ensure a wide variety of nutrients and to decrease risk of food sensitivities. If possible, purchase local, no spray or organic, non-GMO foods, focusing on whole foods rather than processed foods. This helps to build biodiversity in the gut and supports the delicate lining inside the digestive system.
…but, refrain from foods that create distress in your body. Listen to your body. Do you get bloated or gassy after eating certain foods? Do certain foods cause you indigestion? Try to minimize substances that you know your body doesn’t appreciate.
Exercise – As opposed to using this as an excuse to lock yourself inside and binge Netflix, get outside in fresh air – walk, jog, ride a bike, garden in the sun, dance – get your body moving in ways that bring you joy. If you find walking “boring”, try listening to a podcast or an audiobook while walking, or call a friend. This will help get many of your systems moving (lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory, etc).
Reduce Stress – More easily said than done with every news-cycle. ANY reduction in added stress to your immune system is helpful in allowing your body to perform more fully. Sleep well and laugh often.
Stay hydrated – A good calculator for how much to drink is take your body weight in pounds and divide it by 2. That’s the recommended number of ounces you should be drinking. For example, for a 150 lbs person, that will be 75 ounces of water a day. That’s a little bit more than half a gallon of water.
See my interview with Channel 10 news.
If you are struggling with a chronic health condition or you have a compromised immune system, consider getting more focused individualized support to make sure your system is not overtaxed, and to make sure it is working for you, not against you.
Peak inside my family’s medicine cabinet and learn about immune system superheroes!