.We want to help keep you healthy and safe with supplements during the coronavirus outbreak. Being holistic nutritionists, we have lots of tips and tricks up our sleeves. These are useful for helping to boost immunity and maintain general well-being. We also believe that prevention is the key to staying healthy. This way we can avoid getting sick or passing the illness along to others. That being said, nobody knows how to prevent or treat the coronavirus specifically. Of course, no supplement or diet can prevent or treat the virus (or at least none are proven to do so at this time).
However, the supplements and lifestyle habits for coronavirus that we mention in this article can certainly help to boost your immunity. Therefore, while CBD oil is definitely a useful supplement for a number of great reasons, we want to give you a few other options that can also help so you can be ready.
Foods to Remove for Coronavirus
First and foremost, you cannot out supplement a bad diet, so we need to start with the basics. We know that you are now spending most of your time in social isolation and working from home. However, this does not give you a reason to sit on the couch and eat junk food. In fact, you probably have even MORE time now than ever before to cook, so you really have no excuse! This can also be a great opportunity to get creative in the kitchen. Supplements are not the only thing that can help support throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
The main component of maintaining strong immunity is to avoid sugar consumption as much as possible. This is because consuming sugar in excess curbs the immune system cells that work to attack invading pathogens like bacteria and viruses. This is also a similar effect to stress on the body which weakens the critical immune response. Therefore, sugar reduces the ability of the body to fight off disease. It creates an internal environment that promotes invading organisms to take hold. So put that extra cookie aside for now.
In addition, be sure to focus on removing bad fats from your diet. This includes those found in processed foods like trans fats. Concentrate more on consuming good fats (like omega 3). These have an anti-inflammatory effect and allow your cells to get more oxygen. You can find these healthy fats in foods like avocado, coconut, salmon, nuts (except peanuts which are high in toxic mold content), and seeds (like flax, hemp, and chia).
Also, there are a few other foods that we can avoid to stay on the safe side. This includes avoiding particular foods like gluten, corn, eggs, and dairy. A lot of people are sensitive to and can weaken the system. These foods can often result in irritation to the digestive system and promote an immune reaction. This also can strengthen invading pathogens. This will be particularly important for anybody dealing with an autoimmune condition.
Another goal is to lower the acidity, in other words alkalizing, the body. This works to provide an optimal internal environment for health so that bacteria and viruses cannot take hold. You can do this by avoiding foods like dairy, red meat, high fructose corn syrup (a common sweetener), and anything processed or packaged. Again, this just drives home the point of focusing on eating a whole foods diet. It will involve cooking most of your meals at home where possible. Save the canned and packaged foods for an emergency situation. This would be when you cannot access fresh produce or get to the grocery store.
Supplements to Add for Coronavirus
Once you have your diet under control, there are some common supplements for coronavirus. These can really help give you that extra little boost when it seems everyone around you is getting sick. That being said, we do really suggest that you focus on incorporating a nourishing and whole foods diet into your regular routine. This is the first line of defense to maintaining good health throughout the year, not just during cold and flu season. Below you can find some of the most basic supplements that will work to boost your immune system.
Vitamin D – We know this one as the sunshine vitamin, but this supplement also plays a vital role in immune function. It can even help reduce the likelihood of getting the flu. Vitamin D is also important for muscle, bone, and joint function, and even helps to regulate our mood, just like CBD oil. This is a great supplement to take not just in the colder and darker winter months, but throughout the year. It can also be difficult to get from diet only. You can get a good amount of vitamin D from regular sun exposure.
Zinc – This is another mineral that the body is not able to produce so we need to get it from other sources. Zinc boosts immune function, wound healing, and growth and development, among many other functions in the body. This mineral activates particular immune cells, making it the first line of defense for preventing illness. Therefore, it can even help reduce the risk of infection and the length of a cold. You want to look for this supplement in the form of Zinc Citrate for better absorption.
CBD Oil – Of course this one is on our list! Like we mentioned before, it helps to prevent and combat stress in the body which directly affects immunity. This is extremely important because when we are stressed out we weaken our immune system. We also create an acidic internal environment that allows for the proliferation of invading pathogens. In addition, CBD oil works on the endocannabinoid system to bring balance back into the body. It does so by regulating the hormones that interact with the immune system, like cortisol.
Vitamin C – This is one of the most common supplements to support a healthy immune system. It is also important because the body cannot produce it so we need to get it from external sources. While it will not necessarily stop you from getting sick, it can decrease the length and severity of your symptoms. It is also a powerful antioxidant and can help with the growth and repair of body tissue, thus promoting wound healing. The goods news is that we can get a good amount of vitamin C from fresh fruit and vegetables.
NAC – This is short for N-acetyl cysteine, which is an amino acid and powerful supplement. NAC is involved in the production of glutathione within cells. This greatly helps to support the immune system and promotes liver detoxification. This supplement also has the added benefit of supporting the respiratory system. It reduces inflammation in the lungs and relieving symptoms of irritation. This is great news for those quitting smoking and particularly important since the coronavirus is known to attack the lungs.
Oregano Oil – This herb has been used since ancient times for natural medicinal purposes. It is great to also take when you are already sick because it is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. It is also known to be anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and an antioxidant, just like CBD oil. As a result, it helps to protect the body from infections while also helping to relieve sinus conditions and seasonal allergies. This is a very strong supplement so be sure to dilute it in some water before taking it.
Other Useful Practices for Coronavirus
Washing your Hands – This goes without saying and something that is being repeated over and over. Yet it still remains one of the top things that we can do to prevent the coronavirus from taking hold. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds. This has even been shown to be more effective than disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer as long as you are doing it properly.
Deep Breathing – This is a wonderful tool for stress reduction, in addition to CBD oil, since it activates your parasympathetic nervous system, thus allowing your body to get into rest and relaxation mode. Like we mentioned before, this is incredibly important for helping to keep your immune system strong so it can do the job it needs to do. When we are under stress, our breath can become very quick and shallow without us even realizing it. So you want to focus on deeper and longer exhalations which can help to rebalance the chemistry of your blood to prevent anxiety. You can also pair this with meditation for an improved calming effect.
Salt Water Gargle – This is a really simple practice that can be very effective for reducing the length of a cold virus. Some studies have shown that gargling a few times a day with warm salt water can reduce swelling in the throat and loosen mucus, thus helping to flush out any irritants. The general suggestion is to dissolve at least half a teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Gargle for as long as you can until you have finished the whole cup.
So there you have some holistic health tips, supplements, and practices for coronavirus that you can start incorporating as soon as possible. These can possibly help to prevent your likelihood of getting sick with any type of virus or bacteria (not just coronavirus) by working to build a strong foundation. While CBD oil can be extremely useful for helping with stress management a key component of maintaining a robust immune system, these suggestions can help you really go that extra mile. These tips can assist you in maintaining general well-being during cold and flu season, in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle including plenty of sleep and exercise as well. This is a great time to be super vigilant and build a healthy routine with supplements for coronavirus that can sustain you throughout the year.
