The cases of COVID-19 continues to rise all around the world, making daily precautions more crucial now than ever. Washing your hands, doing home quarantines, and practicing social distancing are just some of the ways experts stress on to flatten the curve. The World Health Organization (WHO) particularly emphasized the importance of these measures when they first announced the pandemic on March 11.
Since then, no amount of research on cure apart from boosting your immune system has been published, and the efforts continue to go to the production of vaccines and the healing of those afflicted. From there, experts stress the fact that boosting your immune system should be treated with the utmost importance, as with guidance compliance. Here’s what experts have to say about boosting your natural defenses:
Get enough sleep
“While at rest, the body is quite busy. During this time, it repairs itself and releases toxins so one can arise feeling renewed,” says Lisa Ballehr, an Arizona-based Osteopathic Physician and Functional Medicine Practitioner, “Those that practice irregular sleep patterns may struggle with their health simply due to lack of sleep, which can result in chronic inflammation.”
In other words, if you do not get enough sleep, your body will be more susceptible to infections. Sleep is where your body works to heal itself so that it can combat infection and inflammation. Any lack of rest will overstress your immune system, rendering it less effective in combating foreign microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses.
Eat more whole foods
According to the UCSF Center for HIV Information, there is no immunity “silver bullets,” particularly when it comes to food intake, but eating the right kind helps boost immunity. In fact, many studies show that a body lacking the essential nutrients ends up with a poor immune system. Vitamin C deficiencies are shown to be the most common among the infected, especially those suffering from pneumonia, a known severe case of COVID-19.
“Your immune system and body can’t function at their best without the basic building blocks they need to work properly,” writes Dr. Melissa Conrad Stöppler.
While there is no magic food, whole foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds are rich in antioxidants and nutrients, which can greatly boost your body’s defenses.
Stay hydrated
Medical health experts say that hydration doesn’t particularly shield you against germs and viruses, but it remains to be essential to your overall health. Without proper water intake, you risk your body of dehydration, which leads to headaches that hinder you from performing well. To prevent this, make sure you drink enough water that turns your urine pale yellow, a tell-tale sign of a water-regulated body system.
Engage in moderate exercise
According to a 2019 study, exercise induces plenty of benefits, which improves immune system functions and decreases inflammation, as well as delays the negative effects of aging. Medical researchers have also found that moderate exercises reduce the risk of illness onset, which is particularly useful now in a time of a pandemic. Such exercises include jogging, swimming, hiking, and brisk walking. Experts recommend an exercise time total of 150 minutes per week, enough to keep your body healthy.
Conclusion: Partake in your COVID-19 battle
Although the prospects remain grim for COVID-19 suppression, medical experts continue to stress the importance of focusing on the most effective weapons against the pandemic: washing your hands, practicing social distancing, and the latest addition, boosting your immune system.
While the frontliners continue to heal and suppress, we remain in the comfort of our homes, engaging in a battle designed to keep the enemy at bay—and we hope it never comes knocking.
For the latest developments on COVID-19, stay tuned with Dose of Healthcare!
