One of the most important things you can do to avoid and fight COVID 19 is to strengthen your own immune system. Start by avoiding anything that could be hurting your brain and body, and weakening your immune system.
Here are six things to stop doing right now…
Being Sedentary
Start moving! A sedentary lifestyle often leads to increased cholesterol and high blood pressure. Your heart and immune system work together to combat disease. Exercise daily to keep your heart, brain and body healthy.
Drinking Alcohol
Did you know that alcohol is a toxin, and that it causes inflammation in your body? And can kill brain cells? When you drink, your decrease your immune system’s ability to fight off harmful bacteria and put yourself at greater risk of getting sick. To prevent all of that, you should avoid drinking alcohol.
Smoking
Smoking makes you more susceptible to lung infections like pneumonia and the effects of COVID 19. To improve the function of your immune system you definitely need to stop smoking.
Letting Stress Overwhelm You
One person in three feels “very stressed” in their daily life. That’s under normal circumstances and these days are anything but normal, aren’t they? There’s the risk of getting sick with COVID 19. There’s the possible loss of jobs and wages, the inability to pay the rent or mortgage and the isolation. There’s the not knowing how long all of this will last.
Stress is very detrimental and harms our body’s ability to fight infection. For a healthy immune system you must learn to manage the stress in your life, even life as we are living it now.
Eating Processed Foods
Anything that comes in a box, a can, or the freezer section of the store must be checked and double checked to be sure no sugar or salt has been added. Change your diet for the better by making it mostly whole food. Cut the processed food you take in, and you’ll reduce the inflammation in your body.
Avoid sugar as much as possible. It hurts your metabolism and contributes to chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Chronic diseases increase your risk of infection including viral illnesses like COVID 19.
Not Getting Enough Sleep
People who don’t get enough sleep get more sick more often. What’s enough sleep? Seven to nine hours. I know — you sleep four or five hours a night and you feel fine. Maybe you do feel fine but you will feel even better if you start sleeping seven to nine hours on a regular basis. Your brain will function better, your memory will improve and your immune system will function optimally.
Right now you can start managing your stress, exercising regularly and sleeping for an adequate period of time. All will contribute to improved immune function. Remember that your best defense is good hygiene. Wash your hands frequently and limit, as much as you can, your exposure to viruses and bacteria.
Thank you
You’re welcome, Mrs B.