Now that COVID-19 has been invading the world, it is becoming everyone’s center of attention. Adopting the correct state of mind is essential. Do not panic, do not get anxious; but, follow the preventive measures. One of the most important goals you need to focus on is boosting your immune system. Here are nine effective measures to help you cope better with this COVID-19 era.
1- No Crowding!
First of all, any outing to a crowded place is a risk. This also applies to stores where a positively infected person may have shopped earlier. Stores, supermarkets, banks and pharmacies ought to keep sanitizing everything. We are talking about something called deep cleaning where everything on shelves and all surfaces are disinfected with the right chemicals.
2- Sanitize and wash
Make sure you have handy an alcohol-based sanitizer. Sanitizers do not eliminate the need to wash your hands thoroughly following the 20 second rule! Now is the time to learn the lyrics of your favorite song!
3- Stay home!
Yes, everyone is advising everyone to stay home. But, there are still those who think they have the strongest immune system. This normally is the young generation’s response to all risky behaviors. It is normal; but, there are many ways to convince all those who are still careless why staying home is important. One of them is that there may not be enough treatment for all those who need it. Another one is that while they may have strong immune systems, now is surely not the time to give it a test drive. Finally, one person with a strong immune system may cause the severe sickness or even death of someone else with a pre-existing medical condition.
4- Listen to your body’s reactions
Stress leads to physiological changes in the body. Listen to your body. Now may be the best time to forget about your restricted food diets: add proteins to your meals, cut down caffeine and sugars. Eat well! Please, do not under-eat. This goes for most women and young people who want to still fit in their size 0 dresses after this is over. Eating well does not mean getting obese. You just need to eat the right types of nutritious food.
Having a headache may not always mean tension, it could also be the result of not eating for the last 4 hours. Sometimes, your headache may be the result of accumulated toxins in the liver. In that case, have some green leaves like spinach, kale, lettuce, rocket leaves, green thyme (green zaatar), broccoli, green beans, celery, mloukhieh and others. Eating green vegetables will help your body’s alkilinity and acid levels get balanced. They also help cleanse the liver and bring many minerals to the bloodstream. Eating a lot of sweets and sugars will exhaust your liver.
You may also want to cut down alcohol for that and add a couple of lemon drops to your water. And, before I forget, roasted nuts and chips are not considered food.
5- Do not drain your Lymphatic system
Being stuck at home will make you feel drained and exhausted because your restricted movement is letting your lymphatic system become laid back! One super simple way to get it pumped up is running and jumping! Jump ropes, jump the stairs, run in the house, jog in place, dance,… When you move, you are helping your lymph get stimulated and push out the toxins. If you have stairs at home, you may want to walk them down for few minutes. For those who do yoga, go for it! If you are not familiar with it, get yourself a good beginner yoga video on Youtube. Why not?
6- Multivitamins may be needed!
If you think that you are not eating well, take a multivitamin supplement! If you are not exposed to the sun daily, take some Vitamin D pills.
7- Get some Sun!
Get exposed to the sun and fresh air! Balconies are a great place to read a book, watch a movie, do meditation, sit mindfullnessly!
8- Food for boosting the immune system.
When the immune system is functioning well, you have the right power to defend your body against invading viruses and toxins. There are key remedies that can optimize your immune system and limit inflammation. These include:
– Yogurt and Sauerkraut:
These are rich in prebiotics and probiotics. This means that they contain good alive bacteria that are normally found in the gut. Asparagus, artichoke, onions and garlic also contain prebiotic.
– Antifungal food:
These can help fight yeast infections, and include kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, arugula, brussels sprouts, radishes, and coconut oil. They can balance your gut bacteria and boost your immune system.
– Antimicrobial food:
These help strengthen the immune system and are whole grains, mushrooms, barley, rye, oat, ginger, and garlic. What do these do? Not only do they boost the immune system; but, they also speed wound healing, stimulate blood circulation, and have anti-infective effects.
– Antioxidants and Vitamins:
These include Squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, cantaloupe, melons, lemons, oranges, and green leaves.
– Hydrating Food
Your body needs water. Some food can also help quench the body’s thirst like cucumbers, melon, celery, and lettuce.
– Oily Fish
These include Salmon, Mackerel, Tuna, Trout, and Sardines. If these are not handy, take an omega-3 supplement .
– Other Food
There are many other food that can boost your immune system. These include dates, berries, olive oil, bee pollen, vinegar, pickles, and raw nuts.
9- Herbs and Spices for boosting your immune system
Herbs have a wide range of actions when it comes to the immune system. You need to focus on three types to make sure you have the best response. So, to keep the story short, this is the list:
- Ginseng
- Astragalus
- Echinacea
- Thyme
- Black Seed (Nigella)
- Nettle
- Oregano
- Green Tea
- Turmeric
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Nutmeg
