Well-being While We Battle the Many Unknowns of the COVID-19 Pandemic!
While it is not easy to put
into theory
a healthy way of adapting and sticking to a good and healthy lifestyle that
keep our bodies free from foreign substances and disease-causing organisms or
infectious viruses, and have the exact same impact on our bodies universally…after
all our physiology and anatomy may have shared characteristics and functions
but processing what goes in and out of our bodies is not one-size-fits-all…We
inherited different body-makeups (DNA & RNA) as
such, our blood groups are not the same, our metabolisms are differently wired,
and neither our heights nor our weights are the same, and that impact
everything in our bodies, from moods, to the overall health of our bodies.
Nevertheless, understanding the
best ways to take care for our bodies against foreign invaders that attack our
bodies should be in the interest of everyone. It is imperative to be mindful of
what we consume to keep our bodies healthy.
Food offers you what
nutrients, but also when you need certain foods for certain reasons crucial for
healthy living. Thus, Foods’ choices whether by preference or by its nutrients’
credibility must be learned/acquired to guide us in making smart choices of
credible foods for healthy bodies.
Establishing, adapting, and
sticking to good eating habits that promote good health and longevity have
not been attained and sustained for the majority of us, perhaps simply because
we tend to focus on other things in life than our bodies or forget that our
bodies are engines of everything else, we do, and if so, priorities and focus
should start with the state of your body, thus, you are what you eat.
Living under the cloud of
COVID-19 pandemic and as a post-COVID syndrome person or sometimes known as
“Covid long-haulers”, that you recovered
from COVID-19, and may thereafter test negative for COVID-19 but you have
acquired lingering health problems that may last for long-term…COVID long-haulers
can be experienced by and persistent in people who were perfectly healthy with
no medical history of underlying conditions for some reasons so far unknowns
and known reasons such as organ damage, persistent inflammatory, autoimmune
response. That is why paying attention to our body’s health during this Covid pandemic is
crucial than ever.
A-year-and-a half into the novel coronavirus 2019 that
causes the COVID-19 disease, I have learned quite a lot about the importance of
keeping my body healthy depends on my choices of what I consume everyday-body,
mind, and spirit.
Learning how to defend ourselves against
diseases constructively and holistically from our kitchens first and foremost,
and of course, to the medical field (your doctor-Science medicines) has never
been so essential like this time of COVID-9 pandemic.
Food is medicine too! Why? Food is
medicine because food offers a complex mixture of credible nutrients that can
never be perfectly prepared and replicated by manufactured supplements,
fortified shakes, or meal replacement bars. You cannot substitute credible
foods 100% with the manufactured supplements or even medicine. Nature offers
perfect remedies if we nurture nature to nurture and nourish our body, mind,
and spirit.
Can food boost health hence robust body
immune system?
Many recent studies reveal that food
choices have a tremendous effect on our bodies for better or for worse; food
can even affect our moods, causing negative emotions that trigger emotional
eating, hence wrong food choices, thyroid disorder, etc. With the skyrocketing
cost of medicines and doctors’ visits while many people are underinsured or
uninsured to receive proper healthcare, relying on good health habits, credible food choices are not a
complicated science, but a simple embrace of the natural ways of living a
heathier life-eating for better health!
Healthy living is a must to
battle the COVID-19 that is intruding in us in every way of our everyday life. With the Covid-Delta variant infection clusters increasingly germinating across the country, no
one is immune to it and the choices on how to contain this virus is upon us
all…we can suffer less from it and even put it at bay if we make better
choices and the good news is that we all can make those healthy choices if the
WILL to beat COVID-19 is deployed and adapted.
CDC and WHO have
given us what to look for in terms of symptoms, guidelines to safeguard our
health, and even the vaccines to ease the severity of the illnesses
COVID-19 can cause. However, people with COVID-19 may have a range of symptoms-ranging
from undetected symptoms (asymptomatic), mild, to severe illnesses which
require everybody to be vigilant and mindful of not only own health but also of
the others.
Over the period of 18 months
under COVID-19, both known and unknown symptoms have changed considerably
adding complications on how to contain this virus from the asymptomatic,
unvaccinated, vaccinated but asymptomatic, and mask-wearing and vaccines diners.
If I say COVID-19 can make you go nuts, it will be under
treatment. COVID-19 is a monster and a nightmare…it gets into your head and
takes you hostage!
COVID-19 has affected everyone
in one way or the other- physically, psychologically, emotionally, mentally,
and or socially, leaving you vulnerable to illnesses-unhealthy body, mind, and
spirit, even sick and death. Why?
Coronavirus infections attacks
and compromise your body immunity-it suppresses your body immune system and
lead to organs failure to function, hence illnesses and deaths.
While COVID-19 has no cure so far,
but various safety and health guidelines requirements have been made available
for the public to follow…mask-wearing and vaccines are helping to slow the
transmission and severity of the COVID-19 illnesses. However, because of the
mysterious ways this Covid virus is manifesting itself on people-some get it
with full known symptoms, others get it with minor signs, yet some get it
without any known symptoms or contact source; likewise, some get it and recover
fast, others get it and take longer to heal, yet some get it and die within a
short period; and few battle it for some time, recover from it, and get it
again, even the vaccinated people have fallen into a breakthrough infection
cases leaving the public confused than ever.
As mysterious and notorious
the COVID-19 can be, it is also how it is spreading and attacking your body. So
far, the weapon you must have to battle the COVID-19 is to comply with the COVID-19 guideline,
as stated by the CDC or World Health Organization (WHO). In
addition, you can start the good habit of building a natural healthy body
immunity as your second line of defense, especially if you have underlying
medical or health problems, which might compromise your body’s immune system
and leave you with either immunocompromised (a weakened/low body immune
system defense, affecting its ability to fight against infections and
disease-weakened immune systems are more susceptible to COVID-19 attack) or
with autoimmune (a condition that turn your body immune cells into
double agents that fight against own healthy tissues).
So, what should we do now as
we face this outbreak of Covid-Delta variant and heading to the Fall/Winter seasons
which Covid virus tends to flourish?
So much has been debated and
contested about the vaccines and vaccine boosters especially now that we have
the COVID vaccines and as we head to a possible second wave of an outbreak of
Covid infections from Delta variant or other variants, and after seeing the increase
of infection trending across the country.
With the Delta variant and the
slow pace of accepting the vaccination, we must forge for reliable ways or
alternatives on how to beat the COVID-19 attacks on our bodies by learning how
to build and boost
natural body immunity good enough to protect our bodies from many illnesses, not just
COVID-19…the organic
body immunity booster.
What is the organic body
immunity booster means?
Organic body immunity booster
in other words is, “You are what you eat”! But first, what does the body
immune system means?
What Does the Body Immune
System Means?
According to the Cancer Research
Institute, the immune system is the body’s natural defense system. It makes
various body parts to perform the functions of keeping you healthy and alive.
Immune system does not reside in one part of the body; instead, it comprises a
network of cells, molecules, tissues, and organs working together to protect
the body. These cells, molecules tissues, and organs play a crucial role in how
the body immune system works and its function, which is essential in preventing
infections or diseases.
To maintain a sound body immune
system, you need the tools to fight back against the invasion of infectious
viruses and bacteria. The best natural tool is credible nutrient foods. Nutritional foods are natural medicine-the, “you
are what you eat”.
When you have a healthy body,
you have a robust body immune system defense that can detect the virus and kill
it. When your cells of the immune system cannot see the infectious virus that
enters your body and therefore do not know that your body cells have
infections, your body’s health is compromised-immunocompromised. The contagious
virus has weakened your defense-response (immune system) that attacked the
infected cells, hence failing to protect you from diseases and deaths.
The body’s ability to protect
and defend itself against a foreign enemy invader is what immunity is
all about.
We know there are several
types of immunity, but the two major ones are the natural immunity and
the acquire passive immunity. Thus, natural immunity is a type of
general inherited protection, you are born with it, and it is species
specific-like humans do not get dog distemper and dogs do not get humans cold!
Natural immunity is
also can be active immunity or passive immunity, henceforth requiring a person
to be immunized by using vaccines to help individuals develop active immunity
that will protect a person against a disease and offer him or her a lifetime
protection when the body immunity need to be protected or unable to produce its
own defense (antibodies) against harmful invasions by foreign substances and
disease-causing organisms. Active immunity is long-lived and may even last a
person’s lifetime.
Passive immunity is a
temporary form of immunity that is borrowed from another source. It is
short-lived. A baby receives passive immunity from the mother before is born
and after is born from the mother’s milk…passive immunity protects the baby
until the baby is old enough to have its “baby shot” …then the baby will
develop its own active immunity. Natural active immunity can therefore be the
food you eat-food is medicine, and food is your immunity only when you build
and develop healthy living that encompasses healthy food choices and active
lifestyle.
The other type of passive
immunity is what is known as acquired passive immunity, the immunity
that a person develops after his or her body immune system responds to a
foreign substance or microorganism after a person receives antibodies from
another source. Acquired passive immunity too, has two types-adaptive and
passive. Thus, adaptive immunity occurs in response to being
infected with or vaccinated against a microorganism, and your body sustains the
protection-the body makes an immune response, which can prevent future
infection with the microorganism. Passive immunity occurs when a
person receives antibodies to a disease or toxin rather than producing his or
her own body immune system and may rely on receiving antibodies to protect her
or his health because her or his body cannot produce enough immune system
against infections or harmful foreign substance inter the body, henceforth
vaccines and vaccines booster shots.
Now let’s talk about body
immune system that lasts and everyone can build it naturally and keep it
active.
How to Build and Boost your
Body Immune System During this COVID-19? (You Are What You Eat)!
It is vital to build a habit
of eating good food to create a healthy body capable of fighting and preventing
infections and diseases. The right foods give you more energy and keep you
healthy and fit. Good
nutrition means a good healthy life.
In addition to choosing the
right foods, there
are the best vitamins and minerals supplements that aid in boosting your immune
system. Some suggested the right supplements that may increase your body
immune system during this COVID -19 include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, D3, B6, B12, Potassium,
Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc. Check your iron level often too! These vitamin and
minerals are not medicine to cure or prevent diseases, including COVID-19,
but help increases your nutrient intake in return; you get a robust body
immunity.
Research has shown that
vitamins and minerals supplements, nutritious foods, and certain herbs; also,
routine exercise and getting enough good sleep can significantly boost your
body immunity and potentially protect you against many infections and diseases,
including COVID-19.
Failure to maintain good
health, especially now that COVI-19 is known to be responsible for suppressing
the body’s immune system, may mean putting yourself at a health risk. Weak
bodies are susceptible to infections and disease.
Unhealthy food, such as canned
foods, processed food, and or fast foods loaded with salt, sugar, oils, preservatives,
and coloring, may suppress your immune systems, leaving you vulnerable to virus
attack. Coronavirus flourishes fast in a weak immune system body.
Likewise, stress, loneliness,
especially during this time of social isolation and distancing, can weaken the
immune system. When we interact with nature and the outdoors-going for a walk
or engage in gardening activates your body and offers a positive state of body,
mind, and spirit. The outdoor environment has benefits to our overall body health.
Direct sunlight provides natural Vitamin D and clean air, especially early mornings,
or late evenings when there are fewer cars and people congestion on the
streets.
According to a research study
on college students on Immunity and Disease
by Health psychologists Sarah Pressman, Ph.D.,
Sheldon Cohen, Ph.D., and fellow researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's
Laboratory for the Study of Stress found that social isolation and feelings of
loneliness each independently weakened first-year students' immunity.
Teaching your body to handle and manage stress may require repeated practice,
just like eating and exercising; a night of good
night sleep is a night of better sleep and a significant health factor in the
overall body health and wellness.
So, what is the organic body
immunity booster means?
Here, are what we should all
try to do for the sake of feeling well and healthy, but also build good healthy
habits that boost our body’s immune system. Building good health habits is the best
organic tool we have in our power to battle the COVID-19 inside out!
When
your body, mind, and spirit are connected, you are more optimistic and resilient
to negativity-stress or anxiety, you are self-motivated to do positive things,
and you will undoubtedly sleep better and feel good.
We know the credible nutrient
foods are expensive, and it can be tough to build a healthy body that
requires credible nutritious foods and supplements when reasonably you are
struggling to put any food on the table-the irony being poor but need a health
body!!!
I do not know how this will
align well with the current and crucial need to eat credible nutritious foods
to maintain a healthy body that is strong enough to fight this COVID-19. However,
since there is no cure or vaccine, it will be challenging and problematic for
many people to balance the need to stay healthy and the little income they get
during the COVID-19 pandemic to afford credible nutritious foods as an organic
body immunity booster.
Nevertheless, to disregard the
fear of counting your little money at the expense of your health may sound odd,
but what are the consequences? Your life depends on your healthy lifestyle, and
consequently, being able to beat the COVID-19. Lifestyle changes such as balanced nutritious
foods, exercise, and stress management can boost your body immunity
significantly.
Everything currently seems to
come with unnegotiable risks. However, risking your life by settling for poor
health habits choices is not negotiable when battling the coronavirus
pandemic.
The powerful foods + Vitamin
Supplements you should confidently use to feed your body during this COVID-19?
Having experienced the COVID-19
attack and symptoms that won't go away, feeding my body credible nutritious foods
is not only the powerful weapon I can bestow to build and maintain a robust
immune system, but also to keep the COVID-19 battle at bay.
From morning breakfast to the
evening dinner, my food choices intakes are intentional with COVID-19 in mind.
I must intentionally reconsider recipes, and many ways to prepare and cookout
meals daily-I reinvented the wheels to make meals with COVID-19 in mind adaptable
to give me the nutrients my body needs the most under the COVID-19 situation…Don’t
mind being labeled “foody” or “queen of foods” because everyone eats, even
Uber Eats!!! What others eat or how others eat is a matter of style, but for me
it’s a matter of building resilient natural body immunity.
First, know that colds and
flu, pneumonia, respiratory disorders, fever, sore throat, stress, sleep
disorders (Insomnia) are the primary illnesses that have shared symptoms as
COVID-19, and therefore, knowing foods that heal these illnesses is a bonus in
the battle against coronavirus attack.
Since the COVID-19 attacks the
respiratory organs such as lungs, causing respiratory disorders to include
bronchitis-severe coughs, emphysema, pneumonia, and sinusitis; drinking plenty
of fluids-warm or hot helps to loosen mucus and make your breathing easier and more
comfortable.
When I am suffering from
Colds/flu and respiratory disorders, I find these foods to be powerful healing:
Vitamin C-Citrus
fruits-oranges, red grapefruit, and Lemon, plenty of water (10 glasses a
day-adding lemon or mint is a bonus to your health), and 100% Juices with no
sugar added. Vitamin C intake is your first line of defense tool to support the
immune system.
I often use other fruits,
papaya, pineapple, banana, mango, apples, and berries. Watermelon and other red
or pink fruits are good targets for their benefit in providing lycopene. Red
fruits are rich in lycopene, a
powerful antioxidant that supports cells in your body to maintain good
health-improve your heart, and avoid the risk of certain types of cancer.
To get enough Vitamin C, I add
Vitamin
C Supplement 1000mg daily, and I sometimes double it, depending on
the severity of my cold/flu symptoms.
You also get additional
Vitamin C from other foods like tomatoes, cantaloupe, green leafy, spinach,
peas, asparagus, brussels sprouts, carrots, beetroots, mushrooms, and other
fresh vegetables. These foods offer you Beta Glucan, an immune regulator. The
soluble fiber found on these foods helps maintain a sound immune system, which
provides relief from cold/flu and other immunocompromised illnesses like lung
cancer, diabetes, etc.
Also, foods that are rich in Zinc and Vitamins D3 as
they provide proteins your body cells need to protect your organs from the
invasion of the virus.
Foods like turkey, chicken,
red meat-pork chops, sea foods-oyster, wild salmon, yogurt, eggs, milk, whole
grains, rice-predominantly brown rice, nuts, and pumpkin seeds are rich in
proteins and zinc minerals. Zinc minerals help your immune system and
metabolism. They are also essential to wound healing and your sense of taste
and smell. It also helps stimulate the activity of many different body enzymes
(8 milligrams mg a day for women and 11 mg a day for men is all you need or
recommended to keep your body zinc to a healthy level.
Spices and Herbs
Also, be sure to “spyce” up
your meals with these spices and herbs for excellent health benefits and
add delightful
flavors and enticing
aroma: garlic, ginger, chiles, turmeric, dill, mint, cilantro, rosemary,
thyme, and parsley, basil, lemongrass, lemon balm, and sage. These herbs and
spices will not only boost your mood but also are good defenders of the immune
system as they are rich in antioxidants. Intentionally, I use them as
frequently and in every food preparation as possible can.
Finally, Your Body, Mind, and
Spirit
It is easier to lose it all
than to keep it all, but life depends on maintaining it all and keeping it all.
Unlike any other time in our lives, living under the threat of COVID-19 has
changed everything normal to abnormal, and to uncertain, but we must forge for
the ways to adjust, and make changes as we go on with life with the COVID-19
upon us.
Despite the COVID-19 lingering
fear, life is how you respond and confront the challenges it brings to you.
Under the COVID-19, the priority and the battle are how to keep safe and
healthy, since COVID-19 tends to attach the respiratory organ:-lungs,
respiratory disorders include bronchitis (severe-persistent cough) emphysema,
pneumonia, sinusitis, lifestyle, good health-living choices are crucial than
ever to beat this coronavirus invader.
Keeping your body healthy is
more than just food choices and consuming credible nutrient foods and meal
choices. It is also about taking care of your mind and spirit. It is the
attitudes and habits towards healthy living. It is the self-esteem and
self-confidence in the ways you live your life, unscripted and unapologetic-you
are who you are; and you are what you eat to sustain your body, mind, and
spirit.
Sejal Gandhi, a great health educator, considered health as
not only the absence of physical diseases or sickness of the body but a
positive state of body and mind.
Food nourishes your body, but
having a positive attitude and perspective feeds your mind and spirit and help
heal faster and or overcome many illnesses and daily life obstacles and
challenges.
Your overall body health and
wellness, especially during this COVID-19 Pandemic, depend on your ability to
listen to the body and to the recommendations for safety and health guidelines
that will safeguard your health and life during this Covid-19 pandemic. Pay
attention to the signals your body is sending you and using your instincts and
senses to act quickly and soon as your body starts acting unusually and giving
it a care boost it needs! Do not brush the unusual feelings away, for they
don't usually go away but multiplied to a bigger problem.
