The COVID-19 (coronavirus) is officially a pandemic according to the World Health Organization (WHO), meaning it is causing infections worldwide.
Even if no one you know is directly affected keep in mind that all of our neighbors are not as fortunate as we may be. If you have access to healthcare, clean water, fresh food, and a safe home, you are one of the fortunate members of society and it’ll be easier to protect yourself and your family, as well as those in your community who do not have access to these things.
On Instagram today I shared a few things I’m doing to protect our family. In addition, here are a few other simple things you can consider to help boost your immunity.
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Nose breathing. Your nose serves many functions, one of which is reducing your risk of colds. It's your first defense against viruses and bacteria—but only when you breathe through it. The microscopic hairs located inside your nose, called cilia, work with mucous to trap pathogens. Keep those nasal passages clear with a saline spray too!
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Wash your hands. Scrub, scrub, scrub well and often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after being out in public, coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. And don’t forget your thumbs! This soap is one of my favorites.
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Amp up your vitamin C. It’s more effective to take vitamin C in lower doses over time - dosing it out throughout the day, so try taking about 500 mg before each meal (NOW Foods is a great option).
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Catch those ZZZ’s. Adequate sleep has been shown to help strengthen your immune system. Make sure you’re resting up, getting at least 7-8 hours each night to stay healthy.
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Try at-home options. Regular exercise is great for keeping all parts of your body running well, but you may be wary of gyms at the moment. Now is the perfect time to try some at-home options and still get your sweat on. Tone It Up and Melissa Wood Health both have great libraries of workout videos to try. And I would highly recommend these videos of my all-time favorite yoga instructor, Steve Ross (yoga flow and meditation). I attended his studio, Maha, from 2001 to 2018 when he sold it. He brought so much love and levity to his practice, I’m sure you’ll love it too.
Last but not least, you know I’m always an advocate for a well-balanced diet to keep you healthy and feeling your best. Check out the recipes tab for meal and smoothie ideas. You might also want to see how I stocked our fridge during a recent bout of the flu at the Leveque household. The biggest thing I want you to take away from all this is that there are really easy things you can do to protect yourself that also happen to be great for your health beyond dealing with COVID-19.
