As the new coronavirus continues to spread across the country,
having an optimally functioning immune system is more important than
ever.
Medical professionals say it is important not to rush to buy
supplements and vitamins that promise to enhance your immune system;
there isn’t much evidence that such products do any good. Instead, they
say, stick with the more mundane, but proven, approaches:
• Keep your stress levels down.
It’s a bit of a vicious cycle, of course: The more you stress about the
virus, the more likely you are to suffer from it. “Stress can certainly
hurt your immune system,” says Morgan Katz, an assistant professor of
infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University. “Do not panic, try to
minimize stress.”
Andrew Diamond, chief medical officer of One Medical, a
nationwide network of primary-care providers, says the stress hormone
cortisol turns off cells in your immune system. He recommends engaging
in activities that people find relaxing, such as meditation.
• Exercise. Low- and moderate-intensity
exercise naturally lowers cortisol levels and helps with immune-system
function, says Dr. Diamond. One Medical recommends 30 to 60 minutes of
exercise a day. If you’re apprehensive about germs in the gym, walk or
run outside.
But it is important not to go overboard. A recent study
found high-performance athletes have an increased risk of infection,
says Elizabeth Bradley, medical director of the Cleveland Clinic’s
Center for Functional Medicine. “Exercise helps boost the immune system,
but we have to be careful not to overexercise because it can weaken
your immune system,” she says.
• Get adequate sleep. For adults, that means getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Children should get more, depending on their age.
• Make sure your vaccines are up-to-date, especially the flu vaccine.
• Eat plenty of plain yogurt every day. “It’s
really an easy way to boost your probiotics and help support your
microbiome,” Dr. Katz says. “It helps to support the good bacteria that
live in your body, which help to fight bad bacteria or viruses.”
Dr. Katz also suggests avoiding antibiotics unless you must
take them because they deplete the good bacteria in the system, leaving
you more vulnerable to other infections.
Other foods that can help support the microbiome include
garlic, onion, ginger, sauerkraut and fermented foods, says Dr. Bradley.
It's crucial to stay healthy as the threat of coronavirus spreads. Here are the best strategies.
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