The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed many lives. It has proven to be fatal, especially to the elderly. Millions have already died worldwide, and to this day, the death rates continue to soar.
A country’s economic status is not an indicator of the virus’s damage; first-world countries are not exempt. The death toll is already in the millions. Families have lost many of their loved ones. As a result, governments worldwide created comprehensive bereavement programs to assist, uplift, and support grieving families.
Furthermore, people lost their jobs. Businesses, big or small, closed down. Many others filed for bankruptcy left and right. The world market dropped to its all-time low. Despite all these, many governments were able to provide financial aid.
Now, medicine and science have created vaccines. Millions have already received their jabs. The world seems safe, but it will never be the same again. COVID-19 can still affect anybody, though less fatal for those who already got the vaccine.
This means the world is still in this invisible war. The antibodies produced by the vaccines do their job, but washing your hands, wearing a mask, physical distancing, and boosting your immunity can still work wonders.
1. Get Enough Sleep
When you sleep, your immune system gets stronger. In fact, your body is in the healing process when you sleep. And a sleep-deprived immune system gets weaker night in and night out. Everyone should aim for six to eight hours of sleep.
Even better if you will have regular sleeping hours. If you can afford the time, take power naps in the afternoon. And when you sleep, it should be in a dark room. Get rid of gadgets, specifically blue light exposure, 2 hours before bedtime. If you can’t help it, try to download apps that block blue light when activated.
If you can find time for family and work, time for sleep should be included. It would help if you fought for your sleeping time. It is something worth fighting for. And it is for your own health and immunity.
2. Reduce Stress Levels
It is important to note that stress is not as simple as you think. It is not simply getting tired physically and mentally. It is way beyond that. Stress directly affects your immune system. In fact, stress is cancerous. It is also one of the leading causes of heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
Unfortunately, as adults, stress is something you cannot avoid. But something that you can control. Some of the best ways are meditation and exercise. This includes learning good breathing techniques. In the movie Bad Boys 2, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence demonstrated this. A deep inhale, and as you exhale, you need to say “whoo-saah” to emphasize release.
It may have been portrayed with humor. But deep breathing helps release stress. If you are not the typical exercising person, a simple relaxation will go a long way. Give yourself a day when you can do things that make you happy. Learn to appreciate nature and beautiful things. A stress-free life means a healthy body.
3. Get Some Sunlight
Superman gets his powers from sunlight, and this applies to your immune system, too. As you expose yourself to sunlight between 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, your body takes vitamin D, which is vital for your body’s immune function.
Vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory properties activate your body’s defenses. It is capable of blocking away viruses and harmful elements in the environment. Also, vitamin D deficiency enhances the progression of diseases when it hits you. So go out in the morning. Take a walk, walk your dog, or go to a nearby park. It is a good weapon against COVID-19.
4. Eat Well
Remember that what you eat is what you become. Eat healthy food, and you will become healthy. A good diet is an integral part of a healthy immune system.
Ditch too many carbohydrates and throw away refined sugar. Consume healthy fats that support the growth of good cells in the body and have anti-inflammatory properties, giving you a stronger immune system.
By eating fewer carbs and no sugar, your body uses good fats as your energy source. Then chances of storing them are low to none. And since your own fats are now your body fuel, it will eventually use your stored fats. This results in weight loss, helping you to avoid obesity.
Science shows that obesity weakens your immune system. It leads to many other diseases and prevents your body from putting up a fight against many viruses, including COVID-19.
The coronavirus is here to stay. Vaccines are present, but experts say we need to learn how to co-exist with the virus. But if there are ways to defeat it, only you have the willpower to do them. As you do them, you can only hope that this war against COVID-19 will be won one day.
