It seems that you can't get away from Coronavirus figuratively and literally. I went to lunch with a friend on Tuesday, and everyone around us was talking about the Coronavirus. Is it safe to eat out? Should I keep my kids home from school? Do I need a face mask? The panic is spreading faster than the virus, and that is saying something.
You have heard that you need to wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and stay out of crowds if at all possible. Yes, it would be best if you did all of those. But what else can you be doing to protect yourself?
First, let's talk about face masks. Why isn't the government suggesting that you wear one? Well, there is one excellent reason. Wearing a face mask won't keep you from contracting Coronavirus. They are pretty useless unless you are already ill. Don't worry; I can prove that to be true. Lay people tend to wear them incorrectly. Yes, there is a correct way to wear a face mask. But more importantly, they only cover your mouth and nose. You can still get droplet transmission if someone sneezes in your face, and the droplets get in your eyes. Gross, I know, but true. It is far more useful for the infected person to wear the mask because the droplets can't escape and land on you.
It sounds simple, but improving your overall level of health will help prevent you from getting sick. Coronavirus is far more deadly to people who have compromised immune systems. These natural solutions will make you look better and feel better in general.
1. Eat a healthy diet with at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
2. Stay hydrated. You don't need to do eight glasses of water a day, a better way to tell if you are well hydrated is the color of your urine. It should be almost transparent. (This whole blog is rather yucky!)
3. Get 30 minutes of exercise at least five times a week.
4. Increase the amount you move during the day. Try to get moving every hour.
5. Get enough sleep. It's how your body heals itself.
There are also homeopathic remedies that will help boost your immune system. I am a big fan of essential oils. And I have a friend, Amy Hudson (you can email her at amy@amyhudson.co), and she can expertly help you choose oils that will be right for you. Cloves are particularly helpful. Vitamins C and D, probiotics, and Zinc have had success in decreasing the length and severity of upper respiratory infections (URI's). Airborne is also very helpful. I take it before every flight so that I don't get sick when I am traveling.
NONE of these will cure the Coronavirus! When added to your doctor's recommendations, they may aid in getting you over a URI quicker. That's all. Always follow your doctor's orders! Don't fall for scams the promise to heal or protect you from Coronavirus. If it sounds too good to be true, then it most likely a scam. A big one that you might have heard of is drinking silver. New York is suing to get Jim Baker to get him to stop selling silver as a cure for Coronavirus.
Coronavirus can be scary, but panicking will not help the situation. Stay calm and take care of the things that are within your control. These tips will help you get the power back from Coronavirus. Oh, don't hoard face masks. That definitely won't help.
If you want to read more about Coronavirus check out my blog Coronavirus and You.