Stay Well: Protect Your Immune System!
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened everyone’s concerns for health and safety. It is only natural to wonder what we can do to stay safe. Unfortunately, there are also those who will prey on our concerns and take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.
To be clear, there are no supplements, vaccines, foods or pills that will boost your immune system and prevent you from getting the coronavirus. Beware of claims that you see on the internet, emails and texts. Do not fall prey to these scams!
The good news is that there are steps you can take to support your immune system, to stay in the best possible health and fight exposure to the virus.
First, wash your hands and wash them often.You may be tired of hearing it, but hand washing is truly the first line of defense. Did you know that saying the Lords Prayer takes exactly as long as the CDC recommends you wash your hands? Wash and Pray!
Next, manage your stress. Anxiety can trigger your flight-or-fight stress response and release a flood of chemicals and hormones into your system that can weaken your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to viral infections and illnesses. Take a deep breath, get outside in your neighborhood and walk, exercise, laugh, maintain social connections, meditate- do whatever it takes for you to lower your stress response. It’s ok to reach out for help. Contact Linda or Nicole (emails at bottom of this e-newsletter) for resources available to you.
Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones while also stimulating the production of endorphins, your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. So, move more to manage stress. It doesn’t matter what type of exercise, how long or how fast you go- just move, preferably outside in the sunshine if possible.
Eat a healthy diet. It is tempting to reach for comfort or junk food. That’s ok sometimes. But on a regular basis, fill your plate with foods that support your immune system:
-Carrots, kale, apricots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, spinach and cantaloupe for beta carotene
-Oranges, strawberries, red and green peppers, cabbage and broccoli for Vitamin C
-Beans, lentils, nuts, cereal and seafood for zinc
-Milk, eggs, cottage cheese, nuts and meats for protein
-Whole grains, bananas, onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, artichokes and beans for prebiotics
Remember to fill half your plate with vegetables and fruits and consume a varied diet!