Despite constant misinformation about how to prevent coronavirus, there is no miracle cure, food or supplement that can cure or prevent COVID-19 or other illnesses.
The best way to protect yourself is with simple healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, exercising, eating well, and finding good ways to reduce stress.
Do not expect miracles from any food
If you are in contact with coronavirus, no matter how many oranges you eat, you will get infected.
It’s true that malnutrition can impair your ability to fight disease and infection, but if you’re following an otherwise balanced diet, loading up on certain “super” foods like kale, strawberries, or something else won’t provide any added benefit.
So, if you’re not in the habit of eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources, now is a good time to start.
High doses of vitamins can be dangerous
Unless you have a nutritional deficiency, you should not take vitamin supplements. Experts say that no amount of vitamins will prevent you from getting sick if you come into contact with a pathogen like the coronavirus.
Recently, “wellness gurus”, many on the Internet, have been recommending vitamin supplements so high that they can potentially become a health hazard.
These extremely high doses can cause serious side effects such as dizziness, nausea and headache. Even more alarming consequences include damage to organs such as the kidneys and liver, possible coma and even death.
It’s a good idea to take vitamin D
There is one exception to the general rule that supplements won’t really help prevent disease and that is vitamin D (in moderate doses). Studies have shown that the immune system needs vitamin D to fight viruses. While it won’t protect you from getting the virus if you’re exposed, it can reduce the severity of the illness and facilitate recovery.
It is also a common vitamin deficiency. You can get vitamin D naturally through sunlight. Small amounts are found in certain foods, including fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, and in beef liver, eggs, cheese, and mushrooms.
Sleep is very important
One of the most important aspects of staying healthy is getting enough sleep. According to experts, adequate night’s sleep is 7-9 hours. While you sleep, your body uses this time to perform critical healing and repair of important functions, including your immune system. According to studies, just one night of poor sleep can reduce your immune cells by up to 70 percent.
Exercise can keep you healthy
Exercise can keep your body functioning well because research shows it reduces inflammation and supports infection-fighting cells.
If you work from home or stay away from the gym, there are many ways to break a sweat. You can start right away by researching exercises that you can do at home that do not require equipment. As an added bonus, the endorphins released when you exercise reduce stress.
