There is a lot of concern and fear being reported on the coronavirus so I wanted to let you know where I currently stand. I hope this post is different than most you are seeing in the mainstream media, and that it will promote a sense of calm instead of alarm. I’m mostly living my life in the same preventative manner as always, but thought I’d make a little list!
Things I am NOT doing:
- Panicking
- It doesn’t ever pay to panic, we must continue to think critically, be smart, and not act out of frenzy
- Eating Lots of Added Sugar
- Nothing paralyzes the immune system quite like sugar
- Stockpiling your pantry with junk food? Chugging orange juice? Come on.
Things I AM doing:
- Focusing more than ever on eating a ton of colorful foods and good quality protein at every meal and snack
- Paying attention to my hydration
- Water, electrolytes, herbal teas
- Little less coffee
- Getting outside as much as possible and moving my body
- No problem here.
- Prioritizing Sleep
- No problem here.
- Stress Management
- Deep Breathing Exercises
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Journaling
- Talking with Friends
- Dancing
- Walking Outside
- Supplementing (own section below)
So here is where you can give your immune system some extra strength to combat this pathogen. It may not need any extra strength, but these natural supplements won’t do any harm unless you pour the whole bottle down your throat at once (not recommended), or have a specific condition in which case immune boosters are not for you. Always consult with a doctor before supplementing.
As listed above, my main recommendations are increasing the quality of your diet, moving your body in a way that supports your immune system, staying connected to your people, managing your stress, prioritizing sleep, spending time outside without your phone, and engaging in laughter as much as possible. If you’re doing all of that, amazing! Let’s see where else you can improve your natural line of defense, your immune system.
My Antiviral Supplement Recommendations:
- Vitamin D3/K2
- “Cell culture experiments support the thesis that Vitamin D has direct anti-viral effects particularly against enveloped viruses.” – Vitamin D and the Anti-viral State
- I’m doing ~ 4,000 IUs/day
- Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids
- “Physicians have demonstrated the powerful antiviral action of Vitamin C for decades. There has been a lack of media coverage of this effective and successful approach against viruses in general, and coronavirus in particular.” – Vitamin C Protects Against Coronavirus
- I’m not going crazy, staying with my standard 500mg-1,000mg/day winter routine
- I also added a Buffered Vit. C Powder to my dispensary for those with absorption issues or hate swallowing pills
- Magnesium
- I like 200mg of Magnesium Biglycinate powder in a small cup of water after dinner. This relaxes my body and helps me fall into a deeper sleep
- Targeted Antivirals
- I have a Bee Propolis Throat Spray that I’ll use if I get any sort of sign that my immune system is struggling
- Olive Leaf Extract
- OLE contains polyphenols that have antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties
- I really like this study, “The Effect of Olive Leaf Extract on Upper Respiratory Illness In High School Athletes: A Randomized Control Study” because of the line…“The dietary intakes of the athletes were sub-optimal with regard to immune support” hah! Totally get it, my diet in high school was as SUB-optimal as it got.
- Myo-Immune
- A liquid blend of mushroom extracts, known to support the immune system
In summary, you can find all of these except the Bee Propolis Spray in my Thorne Research Dispensary. Use the code PR130557 for 20% off! If I had to pick my top two, I’d make sure to be supplementing with a quality Vitamin D3 and a Vitamin C. Although it takes a lot for Vitamin D toxicity, it can happen. So get your levels checked and start with a smaller dose, like 2,000IUs if you’re uncertain. If you overdo it with Vitamin C, your body will get rid of it quickly sooo ummmm, you’ll know. 🙂
If you’d like to purchase any supplements and need personalized advice, you’re welcome to email me at [email protected]!
I do think there is a lot of fear-mongering going on with the coverage of this virus, and what we need to remember is that most of the deaths have come from immunocompromised adults. Our best defense against this virus (and any pathogen) is a strong immune system. We all have one so I hope you’ll use these bullet points to support it to do its job as well as it’s able!
Stay Well,
Julie