Healthy Tips During the Covid-19/Coronavirus Pandemic

Firstly, if you're not feeling well you should definitely seek medical attention.  But if you're generally healthy and want to lower your risk of being infected then these simple actions may just help with that. 

Don't panic! Panicking does no good as it stresses the body phsycially, mentally, and emotionally.  Use that energy to be proactive in staying healthy by boosting your immune system.  Turn any excess energy from stress into something positive you can use to stay healthy such as exercise.  Finding ways to manage stress during this time is very important.  Yoga, acupuncture, meditation, etc... are great ways to manage stress.  

Laugh! - Ever hear the expression "Laughter is the best Medicine"? There's a reason for that. Studies have shown that laughter may help with stress relief and boosting your immune system as well as other benefits. Give your Body a Boost with Laughter .  It doesn't hurt and it's free so why not give it a try?

As mentioned earlier - Exercise! Staying active improves circulation, immune response, eliminates toxins and can help manage stress levels.  If your gym is closed, work out at home or run in the park where there is fresh air.  Exercise will raise your body temperature and make you sweat which is your body's natural ability to fight infections and eliminate toxins.  

Stay hydrated! Drink more water than you regular would or think you need.  Water is vital in maintaining health.  Your body is about 60% water depending on age and gender.  Organs in your body like your brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys range between 65%-85% water! Even your bones are 31% water! Staying hydrated helps your body to function efficiently and eliminate wastes giving your body the ability it needs to fight off infections.   Robert Krulwich writes about water and the human body in this article Born Wet, Human Babies Are 75 Percent Water. Then Comes The Drying .  As you can see, water is one of the most important elements your body needs to not only stay healthy but to stay alive! 

Good nutrition!  Stay way from processed food and empty calories.  Eat fresh foods that are nutrient dense. Your body needs complete vitamins and minerals to perform daily functions such as fighting off an infection and the best way to get it is from fresh foods and whole food supplements.  Calcium, zinc, vitamin C (not just ascorbic acid), essential fatty acids, etc...all play critical roles in the body's immune response to a pathogen.  Any deficiencies can create a disruption in your immune response and thus leaving your body more susceptible to infection and difficulty in recovery afterwards.   

Sleep! Getting good sleep helps the body heal and recover.  Your body does its best healing when you're asleep so if you're not getting it, your body will become stressed and that can weaken your immune response. 

Essential oils!  Contrary to what the news and the uninformed are telling you, essential oils do have anti-viral properties.  However, it depends on the purity and type of your essential oil and how effective it is against specific pathogens.  Here are two studies that looked at the effects of essential oils on pathogens. 1-Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects of three essential oil blends.  2-Chemical Constituents of Essential Oils Possessing Anti-Influenza A/WS/33 Virus Activity.  Artificial fragrances are NOT essential oils and have no such properties.  It's the chemical constituents in specific oils that give it its antiseptic nature so you have to be certain of the quality and purity of the oils you are using.  

I will be updating this blog frequently but if you'd like to learn more or schedule an appointment feel free to reach me at david@bhany.com