During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have spent a significant amount of time thinking about how to build a healthy immune system for everyone in my family.
Reclaim your Power: Build a Healthy Immune System
I recently found an article from Plant Based News out of London that provided an excellent and easy list that I’ve paraphrased here:
- Eat a plant based diet—at our house we call it a Plant Strong diet because not everyone is all in (basically, eat your veggies folks).
- Exercise—30 minutes of purposeful exercise per day that elevates your heart rate
- Sleep—at least 8 hours per day
- Manage stress—meditate, read or do yoga daily
- Community—maintain healthy relationships with family and friends
- Avoid smoking and drugs
While anxiety is on the rise, it’s important to understand we can begin to take back our power related to the pandemic by focusing on healthy and permanent lifestyle changes. This is always important, however, very important as we are watching cases of COVID-19 rise. While you may not have complete control over whether or not you get the virus, living a healthy lifestyle will give you the best chance at fighting off and surviving the illness.
Use the pandemic as your opportunity to quit smoking—check with your insurance company or local doctor to learn about what help may be available to you—embrace an exercise habit; or read that book that’s been collecting dust on your nightstand. Most of all, do not mistake physical distancing for social distancing. We need our social connections to thrive. Staying six feet apart does not mean we should be disconnected from family and friends.
In a time when you may be struggling to cope with your concerns for your own health and welfare as well as that of those you love, take a moment to check in with yourself and use this brief list to take back your power by improving your personal health and immunity.
