Coronavirus Outbreak

Combat COVID-19 By Boosting Your Immune System

Focus on what is within your control, practice physical distancing, and wash your hands.

The novel coronavirus, aka COVID-19, is spreading fast, and it is essential that we practice physical distancing to slow it down.

It is claiming lives at an unprecedented rate, yet a vast majority of the people who contract the virus are not even aware that they have it. Their immune system does what it needs to do, and having contracted it and defeating it, they will become resistant to further infection from it, according to an interview I saw with Dr. Anthony Fauci. That’s good news.

The bad news is that while their body is taking care of its business, they are still carrying it in their system and can pass it on to others — one more reason for everyone to practice Physical Distancing.

The human body does a marvelous job of fighting off alien intruders.

We all have a built-in immune system that keeps us safe from all kinds of diseases. That is why the majority of the population is not in danger. The people who are in the most danger are the ones who are immuno-deficient or immunocompromised.

Initially, we thought that it meant seniors and infants, who traditionally fall in that category. But we are finding out that it’s not true. For example, many in California who are adversely affected by COVID-19 are between 20 and 60 years of age. The bottom line is that if your immune system is not strong enough, you’re susceptible to fall victim to it.

Medium has a Coronavirus blog and has created a topic for the virus-related news that provides up-to-date and pertinent news on the matter.

How can you help your immune system do its job

While the world waits for a vaccine or a cure, there are actions we can take now that make us less susceptible to the novel coronavirus.

Learn as much as you can about how the immune system works so you can understand how to boost its capabilities and avoid overtaxing its functions.

Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress.

There are two ways we can do this. First, stop taxing your immune system so much. Stop poisoning your body with chemicals. Eat only whole food, and whenever possible, eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Avoid processed foods as much as possible because they are low on nutrition and have chemicals that the body has to fight off.

Now might be the best time to quit smoking and drinking, but if you can’t stop, cut back on it as much as possible. Both of these items put a heavy burden on your immune system. You will be saving money while helping yourself fight the virus.

Second, boost your immune system. Vitamin C is a known immune booster. I am taking 2000 milligrams of vitamin C daily.

According to an article published in Pubmed — a publication of NIH — Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress.

Eating right is essential, especially now.

Americans are notorious about eating junk food, food that is highly processed and has a low nutrition value.

Given the current state of affairs, eliminating junk food can have a more significant impact on your health and your immune system than introducing healthy, immune-boosting fresh whole foods to your diet. Doing both is best, and now is as good a time as any to get started.

Whenever someone talks about food as a means of improving your health, there is a knee-jerk reaction from a lot of people because they take it out of context. Healthful eating is not the same thing as popping pills to solve an urgent health problem.

Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food. ~Hippocrates

It’s a lifestyle, not a short term solution after the fact. It is a way to avoid getting sick, not curing the sickness.

The fault lies with people propagating the lifestyle changes in the middle of a crisis, when people affected by it are looking for a quick solution, without putting things in a proper perspective.

The novel coronavirus is, by definition, new. We do not have a cure or even a vaccine for it. So, we do not have a quick solution. But we do know one thing with certainty; it adversely affects those who have a weak or compromised immune system. The best thing we can do under the circumstances, and the best solution right now is to make sure that we are not immunodeficient or immunocompromised.

The bottom line

Do what you can with what you have from where you are. Practice physical distancing, avoid contact with others and wash your hands regularly.

Refrain yourself from compromising your immune system by putting harmful things in your body, and eat fresh whole foods that boost and support it. While you’re at it, make it a lifestyle change.

“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” ~A Chinese proverb, or something like that.

As always, thank you for reading. You might enjoy these as well.

I am a self-proclaimed weirdo, Jack of Many Trades and Master of Some. I live the Freedom Lifestyle — life on my terms, and help those who are interested in doing the same. (Join the Tribe)

“You can let others tell you what it means to be successful, or you can decide it for yourself.”