Let’s face it, coronavirus can’t be stopped! It spreads easily even when we close the borders. And it won’t stop in a few days or even weeks. We will not escape Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but we can properly prepare our body so it is in the best position to fight it.
The media and people are panicking about coronavirus, and it is the panic and fear that really kill people. Stress can wreak havoc on your immune system. Small children under 6 years of age rarely die when infected with the coronavirus. Why? They don’t watch TV, they don’t read newspapers, they live in their own peaceful world not consumed by media fueled mass panic.
This coronavirus is … a virus. Any virus is dangerous if the immune system is very weak. This is nothing new really. When we have flu season no one walks in masks on the streets. Masks do not protect against coronavirus, they are only a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi anyway. Many viruses increase the risk of autoimmune diseases in people with weak immunity. Infections and viruses are part of our environment. With a healthy immune system, most viruses will mostly go unnoticed, with mild cold-like symptoms. Viruses, including coronavirus, are quite stable at pH 6.0 (acidic) but become inactivated by brief exposure to pH 8.0 (alkaline) environment.
So let’s see what you can do to strengthen the immune system:
Sleep
The more your body is loaded with various unwanted substances (like environmental toxins) the more hours of sleep you need. Healthy sleep provides us with immunity. At night, our immune system is fully activated and at work. One sleepless night and we have up to 75% less active NK cells, our main weapon to fight viruses and cancer. Additionally, adequate melatonin levels and blocking blue light (LED lights, mobile phones, tablets, TV, etc.) in the evening provides us with healthy mitochondria that activate immune cells.
Hydration
Dehydrated organisms become weak and vulnerable to external attacks, their immune system is impaired. Start the day by drinking 2 glasses of water with freshly squeezed lemon juice and some ginger or a pinch of Himalayan salt. During the night, for 8 hours (around 1/3 of your life) you fast physiologically - you don’t eat or drink anything, it is called dry fasting. After such dry fasting, it is essential to rehydrate. Rehydrate! But not coffeenate or teaenate! Blood consists of 83% water, brain 76%, lungs 90%, joints, as well as muscles and bones (13-22%). On average we are 70% water. Iranian doctor Fereydoon Batmanghelidj found that many different ailments are related to dehydration. Research clearly indicates that toxins are expelled from the body much faster when we are well hydrated. Drink 30 ml of water per 1 kg of body weight. Ideally, it should be alkaline water, because viruses can release their genome in acidic conditions!
Optimal Glucose Level
High sugar weakens the immune system, it impairs the absorption of vitamin C by immune cells. One teaspoon of sugar suppresses the activity of the immune system for over an hour. Throw sugar away from your diet. Replace it with xylitol, stevia or erythritol.
Nutrition - Viruses are pH Sensitive!!
Remember that everything you put in your mouth can build or harm your immunity. It is estimated that the intestines are responsible for about 80% of our entire immune system. The immune system cannot work without vitamins and minerals. A diet rich in polyphenols, vitamins A, B, C, E, zinc, magnesium, potassium, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids strengthens immunity. Diet low in nutrients (highly processed products, trans fats, empty carbohydrates like sugar, refined oils, flours, stimulants, artificial sweeteners, products from commercially farmed animals, GMO products) weakens it. Your diet should be primarily anti-inflammatory and alkalizing. Most viruses and all physiological processes in the body are pH sensitive. Raising pH (to an alkaline state) increases the immune system’s ability to kill bacteria and viruses, as they thrive in an acidic environment. Therefore, the diet should contain about 8 servings of vegetables a day (a serving is as much as you can hold in your hands). We will also find the power of protective phytochemicals there, as well as fiber - ensuring proper functioning of the digestive tract. You can eat vegetables as a salad made from fresh and fermented vegetables, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, cocktails, sprouts, soups, steamed vegetables, raw vegetables.
Another important thing is a daily portion of probiotic food for good gut flora. At least one portion of your daily vegetables should be in a fermented form. Choose from fermented vegetables (dill cucumbers, sauerkraut, kimchi), beetroot kvass, naturally fermented apple vinegar, rejuvelac, natto, miso (fermented soy), tamari soy sauce, kombucha.
Let’s also make sure that we provide Omega-3 fatty acids, which have great anti-inflammatory properties, daily (e.g. fish, linseed and linseed oil, chia, hemp seeds and oil, green leafy vegetables or walnuts).
Include super foods in your diet because they contain many antioxidants (linseed, turmeric, sprouts, green tea, maca, chia, bee pollen, royal jelly, propolis, goji berries, acai, white mulberry, Schisandra Chinensis, Inca berries, wheatgrass juice), algae (chlorella, spirulina), as well as ginger, onions, and garlic.
Additional supplementation with shilajit and iodine may also be considered.
Physical Activity
Any form of physical activity builds up health and immunity. Anything alive is in motion, everything that is dead does not move. It’s that simple! Through physical activity, you trigger sweating, which cleanses your body. The hardest part is to start. Choose whatever gives you real pleasure. Start with something small so you don’t get discouraged, e.g. a 20 minute walk. Our circulatory system has a great pump - the heart. But very important for immunity, the lymphatic system does not have such a pump. The best way to keep lymph moving is your movement. Recommended activities include jumping on a trampoline and walking.
Good Relationships with People, Positive Emotions
Scientists have calculated that one minute of anger (anger, fear or any other negative emotion) paralyzes our immune system for about 6 hours! Good relationships extend telomeres in immune cells and also extend their life. Let’s be nice to each other and smile as often as possible.
Relaxation
Detoxification of thoughts is equally important to properly functioning immune system, as body detoxification. Stress blocks the immune system, especially chronic stress. Just one minute of sincere laughter strengthens the immune system for the next 24 hours.
Sun
Like all living organisms, humans need sunlight to live. But at the same time, when exposed to sunlight our body produces, very important for our immunity, vitamin D. The sun at the right dose builds up our immunity, but at a dose that is too high or too low for what we need - it weakens our immunity.
Avoid Environmental Toxins
Let’s use natural cosmetics and household products instead of toxic substances. For cleaning, you can use e.g. bi-carb soda, salt, vinegar, tea tree or eucalyptus oil.
It is also worth avoiding anything that may contain xenobiotic substances (not naturally occurring in our body):
- cans (their interior is covered with white plastic containing BPA)
- plastic
- conventional cosmetics
- conventional cleaning products
- aluminum
- most food additives (especially synthetic sweeteners, flavors, and dyes)
- medicines (should only be used if everything else fails)
- glyphosate (Round Up, e.g. all non-organic grains)
Good Hygiene Habits
Of course, remember to keep basic hygiene rules, wash your hands often and thoroughly, use natural antibacterial agents, and above all, do not touch surfaces in public places (e.g. handles, handrails, etc.) without the use of disposable towels or gloves, possibly touch them with a knuckle of your bent finger. Let’s give up the handshake, and instead use a different kind of greeting, e.g. fist bump (but not high fives!), make a slight bow. When refueling, lift the fuel dispenser using a paper towel or a disposable glove. Open the door with a closed fist, using a paper towel or a tissue. This is particularly important in the case of a bathroom door. In supermarkets use antibacterial wipes to clean your hands, pram and baby car seat. Keep disinfectants near the entrance of the house and in the car, so you can use it after refueling or touching dirty objects, whenever you can not wash your hands immediately.
If possible, when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with your arm, use disposable tissues and throw them into the toilet. Put on surgical masks that protect us unconsciously touching the lips and nose. Most of us do it up to 90 times a day!
How are doing in the areas mentioned above? Do you support your immune system or is there still something you can do better? Remember, all viruses and bacterias thrive in an acidic environment!! Keeping our body in the slightly alkaline state, 6.8-7.2 pH range, can reduce the risk of infections.
Now that you have more time, invest in your health and boost your immune system by registering for our free 3-day No Sugar Challenge. The improved immune system is just one of many benefits you may expect from giving up sugar to let your body detox. Plus doing it with many other people makes it more fun and gives you the motivation to follow through.
You can find more information about the challenge and register at https://www.eorganic.com.au/nosugarchallenge.html
You may find more information on harmful effects of sugar below: