Coronavirus: 10 immune-boosting ideas to help you prevent it

I bet you’ve been receiving plenty of advice on how to prevent and contain coronavirus (or COVID-19) and I expect this will continue over the next several weeks. 

People with chronic, autoimmune, and inflammatory conditions, as well as the elderly, have been affected the most, and the common denominator is a weak immune system.

The critical advice we all know by now is: wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes as much as possible, avoid crowds and non-essential travel, and stock up in case of quarantine.

Keeping your immune system strong is the next best thing you can do to fight any infection.  And this takes me to the gut.  80% of your immune cells are in your gut so keeping your microbiome and bacteria healthy is the best kind of love you can give to your body right now.

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Here are 10 immune-boosting ideas to keep you strong:

1. Eat whole, organic, non-GMO, and pesticide-, herbicide-, hormone-, and antibiotic-free foods as much as possible.
2. Follow a Mediterranean diet as much as you can - lots of veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds, chickpeas, lentils, some grains (better even, quinoa, millet or amaranth), healthy fats (avocado), and wild-caught fish (the smaller the better)
3. Stock up on foods rich in vitamin C such as dark and leafy greens.
4. Integrate as many Omega-3 Fatty Acids as you can - salmon, flax seeds, walnuts, and chia seeds.
5. Enjoy vitamin E-rich foods including almonds, beets, asparagus, and avocado.
6. Cruciferous veggies are best for detoxification - cauliflower, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.
7. Garlic and onions have amazing antimicrobial properties.
8. Mushrooms and berries are super antioxidants.
9. Best supplements? Vitamin D, C, and A, as well as curcumin and selenium.
10. Mix one cup of warm water and a teaspoon of salt and do some good gargling or use coconut oil instead.

The CDC and WHO are both great sources of information and updates as we go through all this so check out their sites.

These steps can help you stay strong, healthy, and decrease your risk profile. However, they don't replace medical advice from your physician if you have any symptoms. Please reach out to conventional care if that’s your specific case. Stay healthy and strong!

Would you like help in making healthier food choices for you and your family?

Book a 30-minute Discovery consultation and work with me to get your strategy aligned with your goals.