We can’t keep running away from the virus. Here’s what we need to do instead.
Some years ago, my children were fighting over a board game. My son, as I recall, was deliberately annoying his sister. (All moms of young children can probably relate to this scenario!) He was grabbing tokens from the game and moving them around in a way she didn’t like or something like that. While I don’t remember the specifics, I do remember telling my daughter to just take the game to another room. My sister-in-law chuckled, “Oh, so is she just going to keep moving endlessly from room to room, avoiding him?” A light bulb went on. I got her gist. I hadn’t helped the kids resolve anything. Instead of tackling the problem head on, I was suggesting my daughter keep running away from it.
This situation is not unlike what we’ve got going on right now, worldwide. We’ve been instructed to stay home, social distance and wear masks to avoid the coronavirus. The initial reason given for the avoidance strategy was to “flatten the curve” to avoid overwhelming the hospitals with too many cases. But now, it seems like the message has changed to “stay home, save lives.”
I understand that avoiding contagion may be the best strategy for the immuno-compromised and the elderly who may not have the constitution to fight the virus. But what about the rest of us?
Will avoiding the virus really save lives? I’m not a virologist, so I can’t say with certainty. But common sense tells me that we can’t hide from it forever.
Will avoiding the virus really save lives? I’m not a virologist, so I can’t say with certainty. But common sense tells me that we can’t hide from it forever. It is said that cases haven’t yet peaked in many parts of the country and that there may be second and third wave of contagion. Straight up, I see the avoidance strategy as unsustainable.
This is why I propose a new approach. It does not promise to prevent the spread of the virus or make us completely immune from it (if it could offer this, I would probably make the President’s COVID response team, if not the nightly news). However, it does offer ideas for strengthening our bodies, so that when we do encounter the virus, we may be better equipped to handle it.
There are many things we can do to support our immune system naturally, so the list below is far from exhaustive. As a matter of fact, I’ve kept it short and sweet purposely, so that we can take action easily and quickly.
Diet:
• Break up with sugar. Sugar is an immune-system suppressor. It makes us weaker and actually ages us, leading to wrinkles on the outside and inhibited molecular function on the inside. (See AGEs: advanced glycation end products). Where to start? Avoid candy and cakes and cookies (obviously), in addition to the less obvious sugars tucked into packaged foods.
• Embrace eggs. Eggs are an affordable and nutrient-rich food that offer our bodies tools to build cell membranes and counteract degenerative processes. Look to eggs for choline, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and even zinc. Note that zinc can be depleted by stress and is required by the immune system for optimal functioning. Where to start? Enjoy them morning (scrambled), noon (hard boiled) and night (frittata, anyone?).
Environment:
• Reduce screen time. Blue light interferes with our circadian rhythm, making it difficult to produce the right amount of melatonin for deep restorative sleep. Our bodies need deep sleep to detox and for cell repair. Where to start? Turn off the phone, TV, and laptop one hour before bed. Sweet dreams.
• Up the sunshine. Our ancestors spent ¾ of their time outdoors and ¼ indoors. Today, most of us have flipped the equation and our health has been compromised as a result. We need the sunlight with its natural vitamin D that beats any supplement, hands down. Keep in mind that vitamin D facilitates normal immune system processes. Where to start? Catch the sunrise instead of “screen rise.” It syncs the circadian rhythm & feels tons better than scrolling through social media to kick off the day.
Lifestyle:
• Move. Movement is a mood lifter and a stress reliever. It also improves overall fitness which supports the immune system. Studies show that even exercise of “moderate” intensity has positive benefits. Sitting is the new smoking. Where to start? Get off the couch and get that heart rate up. Learn a TikTok dance. Challenge your kids to a sprint. Play keep away. You might even break into a smile, not just a sweat.
• Breathe. When we’re stressed we breathe shallowly and, unfortunately, this can cause a cyclical state of stress — where stress makes us breathe shallowly and the shallow breathing in turns makes us feel even more stressed. Stress, of course, lowers immune system function. To break the cycle, we can train to breathe more deeply, which will signal to the body that it can relax. Where to start? Begin with this simple deep belly breathing exercise. Inhale slowly through the nose for 6 counts, and exhale thorough the mouth for 6 counts. Do 3 rounds and on the last inhale, hold the breath for as long as possible, and then exhale audibly. Put a little sign on your computer, fridge, or dashboard as a reminder to breathe.
These therapies are affordable, simple, and life and health-enhancing. Try them for just a week and see how you feel. And contrast that feeling with the current virus-avoiding measures we’ve been taking. For me, it’s like night and day. One approach is passive; the other is proactive and empowering.
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This article first appeared on Medium. Hilda Labrada Gore is a biohacker, certified health coach, and fitness professional. She is the host and producer of the Wise Traditions podcast and Tradiciones Sabias podcasts, on behalf of the Weston A. Price Foundation. She is a podcast coach, too, and the author of “Podcasting Made Simple.” She is a YouTuber, helping people live their best lives through experts, experiences, and epic adventures. Hilda has energy to spare thanks to her ancestral health practices and her love for sunshine and liverwurst.