Steps You Can Take to Strengthen Your Immune System During the Coronavirus Pandemic

There are steps you can take to strengthen your immune system during the Coronavirus pandemic in addition to following the CDC Coronavirus Disease guidelines.

Strengthen Your Immune System with Vitamins & Minerals

Your immune system works 24/7 to keep you from getting ill by fighting infection. Here are a few key vitamins and minerals that your immune system needs to function optimally:

• Vitamin D3
• Vitamin C
• Zinc*

Boost Your Immune Response With Whole Food

Add flavor and an immune boost to your meals with the following foods and herbs:

• Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables: Load your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal. Be sure to include orange-colored fruits and vegetables which contain unique properties necessary for a healthy immune response.
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Organic Bone Broth: Bone broth contains the amino acid, glutamine and collagen that the lining of your gut needs to stay healthy and enable you to effectively absorb nutrients and keep harmful microorganisms from getting absorbed into your blood stream.

Stay Away from Sweets & Processed Food

Eating foods high in sugar, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates can produce inflammation in your gut, where 70% of your immune system is found. The inflammation produced by these foods negatively affects your body’s immune response. To keep your immune system in fighting shape, choose whole foods, preferably fresh and organic, when making your meals.

Additional Steps You Can Take to Stay Healthy:

• Get Plenty of Sleep
• Reduce Stress
• Stay Hydrated
• Disinfect your smartphone: We touch our smartphones more than 2000 times a day on average which makes disinfecting your smartphone an important part of staying healthy. Apple recommends using a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipe to gently clean the nonporous surfaces of your Apple product.
• Keep Physically Active Outdoors: Regular physical activity increases your immune systems ability to fight off illness, but take your workout outside to avoid exercising in close contact with others.

If you would like more specific information on how you can strengthen your immune system, please contact us today and check out our blog on staying healthy in the winter months.

*Zinc may be contraindicated in individuals taking certain antibiotics. Please consult your healthcare practitioner before taking zinc.

References

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Irwin, M. Why Sleep Is Important for Health: A Psychoneuroimmunology Perspective. Annu Rev Psychol. 2015 Jan 3;66:143-72.

Mäkinen, TM, et al. Cold Temperature and low Humidity are associated with increased occurrence of respiratory tract infections. Respiratory Medicine. 2009. 103(3): 456-462.

Mao, Q-Q et al. Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Foods. 2019 Jun; 8(6): 185.

Mouse HA. Abstract: Prevention and Treatment of Influenza, Influenza-Like Illness, and Common Cold by Herbal, Complementary, and Natural Therapies.. J Evid. Based Complementary Altern. Med. 2017 Jan;22(1):166-174. Epub 2016 Apr 6.

Myles, I. Fast food fever: reviewing the impacts of the Western diet on immunity. Nutr J. 2014; 13: 61

Rahmani, A et al. Active ingredients of ginger as potential candidates in the prevention and treatment of diseases via modulation of biological activities. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2014; 6(2): 125–136.

Schäfer, G et al. The Immunomodulation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Garlic Organosulfur Compounds in Cancer Chemoprevention. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2014 Feb; 14(2): 233–240.

Shang, A et al. Bioactive Compounds and Biological Functions of Garlic (Allium sativum L.). Foods. 2019 Jul; 8(7): 246.

Smith, RP etal. Gut microbiome diversity is associated with sleep physiology in humans. PLoS One. 2019 Oct 7;14(10):e0222394

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Yi, L et al. Cartenoid supplementation and retinoic acid in immunoglobulin A regulation of the gut microbiota dysbiosis. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2018 Apr; 243(7): 613–620.

The contents of this blog are intended for educational purposes only. The information presented here is not a substitute for proper medical attention, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider before starting or making any changes to an existing treatment plan, exercise program or dietary regimen and before using nutritional supplements.