If you follow the news, then you hear hourly updates on the coronavirus as reporters spread doom, gloom and fear about worldwide sickness and even death from the coronavirus. You may be asking: When will it strike here? What should I do if I get sick? Am I safe? How can I protect my children from something I can’t see? Obsessing on this one topic is creating panic when commonsense wisdom would be more helpful.
Please, keep in mind that fewer people have died from the coronavirus this year than from the flu last year, and those who have died had compromised immune systems before they contracted the virus. It is believed that thousands of people have recovered from the coronavirus thinking it was just the common cold, because their symptoms were so mild. So it seems obvious that the way to deal with this new health threat is to strengthen your immune system and use the necessary precautions to avoid getting sick in the first place. Here are some reminders:
— Wash your hands often, at least 20 seconds each time with soap and running water.
— Use antibacterial wipes at the grocery store (many stores provide them at the entrance) to wipe down shopping cart handles before use.
— Carry antibacterial wipes with you, and remember to use them.
— Sneeze and cough into the crook of your arm instead of your hands.
— Keep your hands away from your face.
— Carry your own supply of tissues with you. Communal tissue boxes are loaded with germs.
— Think of others. If you feel sick, STAY HOME. No matter how badly you “need to be there,” no one there wants to catch what you have.
— At home, sanitize often: door knobs, light switches, buttons on the microwave, toaster, stove, coffeepot, tea kettle, toilet seat/handles, faucets, etc.. Bleach infused wipes or even a paper towel saturated with rubbing alcohol will do the job quickly and easily.
— Avoid sugar. Sugar depresses your immune system for the next four hours after consuming it.
— Eat plenty of whole foods: vegetables, fruit, and minimally processed grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
— Stay hydrated and make pure water your beverage of choice. Nix the sugary drinks.
— Increase your intake of Vitamin C and Zinc. Taken together these help to lessen the severity of a cold, but you can also take them before any symptoms arise as a preventive measure.
— Elderberry syrup taken daily is a great immune booster (also comes in lozenges in case you’re traveling).
— If you live in the northern hemisphere and don’t get much sun for part of the year, you may need to increase your vitamin D intake. Vitamin D3+K2 is most easily absorbed. Ask your doctor to monitor your blood levels to get the correct dosage.
— Finally, reduce the stress in your life. Prayer and meditation, daily exercise, even a walk are all great stress relievers. Read a good book. Enjoy a hobby you’ve neglected for a long time, or try something new. Spend time with your pet. Turn off the news and just relax.
— Refuse to worry. Worry leads to anxiety, which stops you from living your best life. As long as you use wisdom, you have nothing to fear.
God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7 NKJV
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