How to stay healthy during a virus outbreak?

The news of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has totally rocked our world. We’ve gone from shock and disbelief to anger, confusion, and fear. One part of me wants to stick my head in the sand and pretend it will simply go away and the other part wants to try and outrun it.

Well, neither of those will work. So, what can we do? Are we at the mercy of this virus just waiting for it to strike our homes? NO!!!

There’s plenty that we can do to protect ourselves from this deadly virus. Several of the tips are just plain old common sense, although there seems to be a lack of that lately. So, let’s take a look.

1. One of the best things you can do is to support your body with a strong immune system which is your protection against disease, in general. Eat a well balanced diet of organic and Non-GMO fruits and vegetables, fiber rich whole grains, nuts & seeds, and high-quality proteins. Choose hormone and antibiotic-free, and 100% grass-fed meat. Yes, it will cost more but it’s healthier and isn’t loaded with dangerous toxic chemicals.

Avoid fad diets that completely eliminate whole food groups. They may work for a short time but are hard to follow and may lead to being deficient in certains vitamins and minerals.

2. Avoid sugar and starchy foods filled with empty carbs like bakery items, noodles, pasta, and white bread made from refined white flour. They weaken the immune system and cause you to be more susceptible to colds, the flu, or a virus. Stay away from packaged foods even when they say they’re healthy. They’re highly processed and have little to no nutritional value.

3. Make sure to stay hydrated with pure, filtered water. Stay away from tap water which often contains bacteria, parasites, and other harmful chemicals that could compromise your immune system. Drinking warm water with fresh lemon, apple cider vinegar, or warm bone broth are all good and help remove toxins from the body. Avoid bottled juices and pop.

4. Staying active is crucial to staying healthy. It promotes good strong bones, a healthy heart, mental clarity, improved digestion, and better sleep. When possible go outside and get fresh air and much needed vitamin D. It can be as simple as stretching, yoga, walking, dancing, climbing stairs, strength training with weights, or riding a bike. Avoid sitting too long and get up regularly and move!

5. An often overlooked part of a healthy lifestyle is getting a good night’s sleep. Many don’t realize that’s when the body goes through cycles to heal, repair, and eliminate toxins. People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick from the flu, a cold, or virus and have a harder time recuperating afterward.

6. Reduce your stress levels. Well, that’s easier said than done, but there are ways to calm the mind. Pray. It sounds so simple but it’s the key to finding that inner peace that only God can give. Because most churches can no longer meet publicly, connect with friends virtually or join groups online and study the Bible. Find a topic that interests you, and start reading. Listening to audiobooks is perfect for when you’re doing simple household chores or walking. Start journaling your thoughts or dreaming about a future project you’d like to start this summer. Write down the things you’re grateful for and look for ways to serve others. Are there projects around the house you’ve been putting off or hobbies you didn’t have time for? Now’s the time to dive into those things now and it’ll take your mind off of the things you can’t control.

7. Give yourself some distance, not only from people and crowds, but from social media and the TV. We need to be informed but we don’t have to listen to the news 24/7 and get caught up in everyone’s complaints and opinions. Helping others allows us to take our minds off of the things we can’t control and put our energy into creatively serving those that need our help.

Let’s face it. We’re going through uncharted water and there’s no map to tell any of us how to navigate this storm. So, we have a choice. We can grumble and gripe and be part of the problem or we can roll up our sleeves and become part of the solution and help where we can.

My prayer is that even with all of the uncertainty about the future, we’ll come out of this stronger and more committed than ever to living out our God-given purpose and helping others do the same.