Friday, I stopped into Costco to pick something up and I was stunned by the number of people that were in the store.  It looked like the day before the Superbowl.  I couldn’t figure out what was going on.  On the ride home, I spoke with a friend who told me that all the people were stocking up in case of a quarantine for the coronavirus, COVID-19.

Then, a while later, one of my events was cancelled because the organization is not doing any events for the next two months. In addition, over the weekend I received numerous emails from my yoga studio and meditation center about how to deal with the fear, upset and public safety issues that surround the coronavirus.

Watching all the fear provoking stories on the news, I didn’t want to write a post. However, now I feel compelled to speak up about it because I want you to have a balanced idea about what to do. I want you to have tools to help you feel empowered during this time.

The best offense is creating a good defense.  That said, I want to talk about how to boost your immune system. Most of this advice is not complicated.  It is all about ideas to strengthen the body to defend itself from illness.

I am saddened anytime someone’s life is cut short due to illness, so it is distressing to hear that people are dying from this virus. The people that have been most affected by the coronavirus are people that have compromised immune systems.  This is disproportionately the elderly and young children.  Most of you do not fall into an immunocompromised category. 

Still, you can improve your immune system by doing simple steps.

The simple solutions are generally the best. First and foremost, wash your hands.  You might not think that would do much, but it does make a difference. In 1846, Dr. Semmelweis realized that if the doctors and the mothers washed their hands the infant mortality rate would dramatically be reduced.  The washing of hands reduced a disease called childbed fever or puerperal fever. So, make it a habit – wash those hands.

Make sure you get rest.  Your body restores itself when you are sleeping. This is when you repair your cells.  If you are depriving yourself of sleep, you are more vulnerable to getting sick.

Next, focus on eating fruits, vegetables, and proteins.  These foods have all the building blocks of the immune system.  Every time you eat sugars, soda, or junk foods you suppress your immune system for up to six hours at a time.  If you don’t want to get sick, don’t eat crappy food.

Stress is another thing that suppresses the immune system.  So stressing yourself out is not good either. Find ways to keep your stress reduced as much as possible.

And lastly, if you or your family is not feeling well, stay home and let yourself get better before you go out in the world.

I know the focus right now is on the coronavirus, but you can still catch a cold or flu which then makes you more susceptible to catching the coronavirus. So focus on being free of all illnesses and diseases.

One of the most important factors related to recovery from any ailment is the patient’s immune system. A patient with a strong immune system has a stronger chance of recovering if the infection is caught early.

Whenever there is a new outbreak, the news will cover it. There might be some scary moments where you’re wondering how to protect yourself and those close to you. It is important to stay calm and do what you can to support your immune system to the fullest. It is a sure fire way that you can feel empowered when you are not sure what to do or what is to come.

Stay well!

To Your One Sweet Life,

Dr. Dae