Last week, a concerned mom asked me what she could do to be prepared for the potential of the coronavirus coming. Once I saw the CDC reports I understood the widespread panic that may be felt by those who had been watching the news. In doing a quick search of the coronavirus I noted that there have been other viruses in the past such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome 2012) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2003) that also affected the respiratory system (lungs). This winter alone we have seen so many people with other types of upper respiratory illnesses that I wanted to talk to you about what you can do to boost your health and keep it strong so your body can fight off any potential infection.
Stay hydrated! Water is necessary for every single cell in our bodies to function. It also assists in filtering out waste, bringing in nutrition and keeping cells plump and working properly. Good hydrators are spring water, filtered water, herbal teas, coconut water, vegetable/chicken/beef stocks and broths.
Eat a rainbow of different vegetables. The more colors the better. Each color has different nutrients that we need to be healthy. Eat only real foods grown or raised in nature and not created in a lab. Since food supplies the building blocks for each cell of our body, when we feed our cells junk, we get junky cells. Our immune system is created from the food we eat so to have a strong immune system we must have strong building blocks.
Rest is so important. Adults need between 7 – 9 hours per night to ensure the body recalibrates and regenerates properly. There are many studies that show the effects of sleep deprivation and getting less than 7 hours is simply not enough to support the body’s recovery from day to day stress. To improve your sleeping, limit your screen time of TV/computer/phone in the evening to keep the blue light from interfering with your circadian rhythm. Plan your sleep by setting a bedtime and a waketime to ensure you’re getting the sleep you need. Check out Wise Traditions Podcast #214: Why Can’t I Sleep for some great tips!
Practice mindfulness, meditate, pray or whatever helps you quiet the mind and focus on things that are positive for you. Keeping the mind focused on the positive and what you have control over and letting the rest go will do you more good than you can probably believe. Worry and stress challenge our body and immune system. Quieting the mind helps to strengthen it. Did you know that Dr. Donald Londorf has a meditation CD available in our office? If not, ask Nikki or Lauren at the front desk for how you can get a copy!
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. This minimizes the number of droplets in the air after a cough or sneeze. The droplets in the air linger and move through a room which is why others can be affected after someone coughs or sneezes.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water. This is the most effective way to minimize the spread of germs… no matter the germ. When I worked in an office environment with lots of other people, I kept a jar of hand cream with an immune protective essential oil (Thieves by Young Living or On Guard by DoTerra) added to it for additional protection and to ensure my hands were moisturized after washing because soap can be drying.
Brush your teeth and tongue twice per day. Change out your toothbrush every three months. So many germs remain lurking on a toothbrush, they are meant to be changed. If you don’t remember when you changed your toothbrush or the brush head on your electric toothbrush, now is a great time to get a new one! Removing the debris between your teeth with floss will minimize the food remnants from gathering unwanted bacteria thus supporting your health as well.
Move your body. Take a walk, get on your bike, bounce, dance around the living room… no matter what, moving your body moves your lymphatic system and this part of your body requires you to do a little movement to keep it moving. This is important because when the lymph gets sticky, you feel congested or stuffy and can possibly experience brain fog.
Sauna… we cannot say enough good things about using a sauna. An infrared sauna will warm you up from the inside out, stimulate circulation, get your lymph flowing, support your detoxification pathways, support your nervous system and your immune system, and simply make you feel all warm and happy. We love the one in our office and we offer individual sessions and packages for you to enjoy as well. Just schedule your time at the front desk, sit back, and relax. The sauna does all the rest!
LAUGH and do things that bring you joy! They have said that laughter is the best medicine. Watch funny shows… the ones that get a good belly laugh. Laughter relaxes the body, reduces the stress response, boosts immunity, can combat depression and relieve pain! https://chopra.com/articles/6-reasons-why-laughter-is-the-best-medicine; https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200504/laughter-the-best-medicine
What to avoid? Processed and unnatural sugars along with packaged and refined foods. These non-foods create inflammation which leads to a depressed immune system. Studies have shown that eating processed sugars will depress the immune system essentially “freezing” it for 5 hours after eating the sugar. If a person is eating processed sugars for each meal plus some snacks and/or beverages, then the only time the immune system can fully function would be in the wee hours of the morning. Good news is that some recent studies have found that the body might actually need some form of sugar when fighting a viral infection. Good sources would be local raw honey or dates so if you are fighting a viral infection, go ahead and add some honey to your herbal tea! https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/does-sugar-weaken-the-immune-system; https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/09/glucose-inflammation/498965/
After reading this article on WebMD,
https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus#1, and after listening to a few local medical doctors in the local Rochester area, the recommendations seem to be the same for this virus as with any other virus. The symptoms begin in the same way as other viruses but if they don’t go away in a few days, you should seek testing from your doctor to determine the type of virus you have. If you do in fact have the coronavirus, you will need to get plenty of rest, eat healthy, stay hydrated, and stay home.
There are a few supplements we generally recommend that enhance the immune system for prevention such as Standard Process Immuplex, Congaplex, and Echinacea Premium. These supplements work very well in adults and children to not only build immune health but to support you when dealing with an immune challenge like a virus or bacteria. We actually have many more immune strengthening supplements and herbs that can be provided with a Nutrition Response Testing evaluation in order to know what would be exactly right for you.
Stay hydrated! Water is necessary for every single cell in our bodies to function. It also assists in filtering out waste, bringing in nutrition and keeping cells plump and working properly. Good hydrators are spring water, filtered water, herbal teas, coconut water, vegetable/chicken/beef stocks and broths.
Eat a rainbow of different vegetables. The more colors the better. Each color has different nutrients that we need to be healthy. Eat only real foods grown or raised in nature and not created in a lab. Since food supplies the building blocks for each cell of our body, when we feed our cells junk, we get junky cells. Our immune system is created from the food we eat so to have a strong immune system we must have strong building blocks.
Rest is so important. Adults need between 7 – 9 hours per night to ensure the body recalibrates and regenerates properly. There are many studies that show the effects of sleep deprivation and getting less than 7 hours is simply not enough to support the body’s recovery from day to day stress. To improve your sleeping, limit your screen time of TV/computer/phone in the evening to keep the blue light from interfering with your circadian rhythm. Plan your sleep by setting a bedtime and a waketime to ensure you’re getting the sleep you need. Check out Wise Traditions Podcast #214: Why Can’t I Sleep for some great tips!
Practice mindfulness, meditate, pray or whatever helps you quiet the mind and focus on things that are positive for you. Keeping the mind focused on the positive and what you have control over and letting the rest go will do you more good than you can probably believe. Worry and stress challenge our body and immune system. Quieting the mind helps to strengthen it. Did you know that Dr. Donald Londorf has a meditation CD available in our office? If not, ask Nikki or Lauren at the front desk for how you can get a copy!
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. This minimizes the number of droplets in the air after a cough or sneeze. The droplets in the air linger and move through a room which is why others can be affected after someone coughs or sneezes.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water. This is the most effective way to minimize the spread of germs… no matter the germ. When I worked in an office environment with lots of other people, I kept a jar of hand cream with an immune protective essential oil (Thieves by Young Living or On Guard by DoTerra) added to it for additional protection and to ensure my hands were moisturized after washing because soap can be drying.
Brush your teeth and tongue twice per day. Change out your toothbrush every three months. So many germs remain lurking on a toothbrush, they are meant to be changed. If you don’t remember when you changed your toothbrush or the brush head on your electric toothbrush, now is a great time to get a new one! Removing the debris between your teeth with floss will minimize the food remnants from gathering unwanted bacteria thus supporting your health as well.
Move your body. Take a walk, get on your bike, bounce, dance around the living room… no matter what, moving your body moves your lymphatic system and this part of your body requires you to do a little movement to keep it moving. This is important because when the lymph gets sticky, you feel congested or stuffy and can possibly experience brain fog.
Sauna… we cannot say enough good things about using a sauna. An infrared sauna will warm you up from the inside out, stimulate circulation, get your lymph flowing, support your detoxification pathways, support your nervous system and your immune system, and simply make you feel all warm and happy. We love the one in our office and we offer individual sessions and packages for you to enjoy as well. Just schedule your time at the front desk, sit back, and relax. The sauna does all the rest!
LAUGH and do things that bring you joy! They have said that laughter is the best medicine. Watch funny shows… the ones that get a good belly laugh. Laughter relaxes the body, reduces the stress response, boosts immunity, can combat depression and relieve pain! https://chopra.com/articles/6-reasons-why-laughter-is-the-best-medicine; https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200504/laughter-the-best-medicine
What to avoid? Processed and unnatural sugars along with packaged and refined foods. These non-foods create inflammation which leads to a depressed immune system. Studies have shown that eating processed sugars will depress the immune system essentially “freezing” it for 5 hours after eating the sugar. If a person is eating processed sugars for each meal plus some snacks and/or beverages, then the only time the immune system can fully function would be in the wee hours of the morning. Good news is that some recent studies have found that the body might actually need some form of sugar when fighting a viral infection. Good sources would be local raw honey or dates so if you are fighting a viral infection, go ahead and add some honey to your herbal tea! https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/does-sugar-weaken-the-immune-system; https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/09/glucose-inflammation/498965/
After reading this article on WebMD,
https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus#1, and after listening to a few local medical doctors in the local Rochester area, the recommendations seem to be the same for this virus as with any other virus. The symptoms begin in the same way as other viruses but if they don’t go away in a few days, you should seek testing from your doctor to determine the type of virus you have. If you do in fact have the coronavirus, you will need to get plenty of rest, eat healthy, stay hydrated, and stay home.
There are a few supplements we generally recommend that enhance the immune system for prevention such as Standard Process Immuplex, Congaplex, and Echinacea Premium. These supplements work very well in adults and children to not only build immune health but to support you when dealing with an immune challenge like a virus or bacteria. We actually have many more immune strengthening supplements and herbs that can be provided with a Nutrition Response Testing evaluation in order to know what would be exactly right for you.
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