COVID-19 has turned the world on its head.
Our way of life and our very way of existing has been thrown into focus.
As we look for ways to cope with a new global threat to every human’s health and well-being on the planet, it appears that there are changes we can all make to our lifestyles that may strengthen immunity and boost our immune system.
While we all have vastly different ways of life, we can do a few things to change the way we live to a more healthy way of life. Although there is no current evidence to suggest this would have any effect on whether we contract or become very ill from COVID-19, it will undoubtedly improve our overall health and, in turn, may have a positive impact on our immune systems.
Here is a rundown of how we can boost our general health level, bolster our immune systems and cut the risks of developing life-threatening conditions in the future.
5 ways to stay healthy and boost your immune system during COVID-19.
1. You are what you eat!
The food you put into your body will have a direct effect on how healthy you are overall. There’s no getting around the fact that a better diet leads to better health.
Try to introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet for vitamins and minerals, along with pulses, beans and nuts for proteins. The fibre found in whole grains can help keep your digestive system moving, contributing to better health in general.
Reducing saturated fats will also help to reduce the risk of heart disease and control your weight. COVID-19 appears to have affected younger people who are overweight as severely as some older patients, but the data is still weak and circumstantial. Consider plant-based alternatives to some dairy products such as soya or oat milks for reduced saturated fat.
2. Early to bed, early to rise…
Make sure you get eight hours of sleep each night by going to bed earlier.
Studies show that a good night’s sleep can boost your immunity and dramatically improves blood pressure, heart health, stress and the body’s ability to fight disease.
Those with high blood pressure have been cited as being amongst those particularly at risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19.
Getting enough sleep also means you’ll be more alert throughout the day, so less likely to break social-distancing rules or having to take preventative measures.
The benefits of getting enough sleep on cognitive abilities have been documented. Therefore it may also result in having to spend less time with others in the office.
3. Exercise daily and reap the rewards
Everyone knows that exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.
Moving your body for 30 minutes each day has documented health benefits on many areas of the body and mind, from the cardiovascular system to the body’s overall tone and shape.
Daily exercise reduces stress, blood pressure, cholesterol and fatigue.
It increases your overall health level that in turn fortifies your immune system, and allows your body to fight any external threats at its most efficient.
Although COVID-19 has struck down many fit and healthy people, regularly active people have a much better chance of beating the virus.
4. Vitamin supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle
It’s impossible to claim categorically that vitamins boost the immune system and protect against COVID-19. There are many sources out there that are happy to, but science has yet to prove it.
The claims are that Vitamin D and Vitamin C may help prevent COVID-19, but the evidence is weak. There have been reports of doctors administering high doses of vitamin D to patients with somewhat encouraging results, but no studies currently prove this to be effective.
What we do know, however, is that a good balance of vitamins in the body gives the immune system a fighting chance against any incoming threats.
Many vitamins rely on each other working together within the body.
5. Look after your mental well-being
Often overlooked or put at the end of lists like this one.
However, mindfulness and other ways to reduce stress could be among the most significant ways to boost health, the immune system and the quality of your everyday life.
We’ve all seen the headlines about the concerns mental health professionals have about the general public’s well-being during this global pandemic. Working from home has left many alone and craving for a return to the office.
Still, the reality is that most of us have had to adjust to a very different way of life. Reduced social interactions, lack of human contact and loneliness are all significant concerns.
Perhaps most significantly, the stress upon individuals arising from the impending doom of a virus closing in or constant negative headlines, numbers of dead fed to us minute-by-minute on our social feeds.
Being in a good place mentally may have a positive effect on your immune system.
It’s encouraged to spend more time outdoors (within local guidelines, of course), connect with friends over video chat, take time to do something creative – reading, cooking, drawing.
Turn off the news, limit your time on social media – or better still, delete the apps!
Most importantly, set specific times for work whilst working from home. Close that laptop when you’d generally be due to go home, and put messaging apps and emails on silent.
Prevention is better than cure (other measures to consider)
Acting upon all the ideas above will certainly make for a better level of health and improve your general well-being, it may also help bolster your immune system, and that might help if you come into contact with the coronavirus.
The coronavirus is an unpredictable and little understood virus, yet, as with most viruses, maintaining a healthy lifestyle will aid you in fighting off all virus types.
We know that the measures and guidelines given and steps taken by governments around the world to limit the spread of the virus seem to have a positive effect within their limits.
Social distancing, wearing a mask in public and keeping indoor areas well-ventilated with positive airflow all have a positive effect on reducing the spread of the virus.
Other solutions such as Respiray’s UV-C wearable air purifier could also contribute to a safer working or social environment. Protecting yourself by killing unwanted airborne pathogens will also protect others around you, creating safer surroundings.
Stay safe with #Respiray!
*Please note: Respiray’s air purifier is not a medical-grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and in circumstances where medical-grade Personal Protective Equipment is recommended, you should consult a health care professional. Please remember that the use of our wearable air purifier does not replace the recommended measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. Follow the latest guidelines and rules of your local authorities and health care professionals.
