Fight COVID-19 by Boosting Your Immune System
What I am about to share is not politically motivated. I just want to share information that might help save lives. I've been keeping up with the expert studies of this COVID-19 pandemic. I am devastated to learn that some people around the world have not acquired immunity after recovering from the infection. Hundreds of people have been reinfected. By the time you are reading this, that number may be in the thousands.
So I have reluctantly accepted that this virus is not like other viruses. And if we cannot develop enough antibodies or if the antibodies are dissipating within a couple months, rendering us unable to fight off another infection, then we have to think about what we can do to survive the illness until a vaccine or treatment is available. It seems that COVID-19 isn't going anywhere. It may be a part of our lives from now on just like the cold and flu viruses. It may be that all of us will catch it at some point within the next year or so.
That brings me to the purpose of this post. I got sick last week and today was the first day I felt normal again. I admit that I got scared. I don't know if I had COVID-19 or just the flu. It's not like I can go anywhere to get tested. But it prompted me to seek medical advice. So I want to share with you what my doctor told me.
My doctor advised me to take steps to build up my immune system, not just now but for the rest of my life. She said if you want to survive COVID-19 or any future viral pandemic, then you must change your diet and lifestyle immediately.
I'm sure I'm not the only one whose doctor has told them some of the following as to how to improve your overall health, but this is especially essential now in fighting COVID-19.
10 THINGS YOU CAN DO NOW TO FIGHT COVID-19
1. Stop eating fast food and processed foods and meats, including deli meats. 2. Eliminate dairy from your diet. 🐮🐄 3. If you feel sick or are diagnosed with COVID-19, start taking 6000 mg Vitamin C every day until you recover and then 1000mg - 2000mg daily. Don't take them all at once. Spread it out like 1 pill 6 times a day or 2 pills 3 times a day.Update (4/13/2021): If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or feel sick like you might have it, take Vitamin C and D immediately within the first 24 hours. Also, since the bulk of our immune system is located in our gut, keep it healthy by taking probiotics (50 - 100 billion live cultures), especially when you feel sick. And do a detox such as taking an enema or laxative to flush out waste. Sounds gross, but it works. Again, you are doing this to boost your immune system so you can fight off the infection whether is COVID or the flu.
Another great supplement is Echinacea with Goldenseal (900mg minimum). Follow the dosage instructions on the bottle.
4. Increase your daily Vitamin D intake. (Consult your doctor for exact Vitamin D dosage based on your current state of health. I won't suggest the dosage my doctor gave me because what I need may be too much or too little for you.)
5. Eat dark leafy greens everyday like spinach & kale.
6. Drink veggie juice every day. If you have a juicer, be sure to add greens.
7. No red meat. (Actually, my doctor advised me to stop eating meat altogether, but that's not realistic for me. If you think you can become a vegetarian, then go for it!)
8. No alcohol. Contrary to some reports, wine is not good for you, and alcohol weakens your immune system making it harder for you to fight off viral infections.
9. If you are overweight, start moving your body. Work as hard as you can to lose weight. If you do #1 - 8, you will shed pounds right away.
10. Stop smoking cigarettes. If you smoke weed too, switch to edibles. Since coronavirus is a respiratory disease, people who smoke are at greater risk of complications and death. (I don't smoke, but I'm putting this out there for those who do.)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Anything that causes inflammation and taxes your system can make you more vulnerable to experiencing serious complications or death from coronavirus. It makes sense if you think about it -- If your body is busy fighting inflammation or some other disorder, then it will be in a weakened state when COVID-19 comes knocking. I will admit that I struggle with completely eliminating dairy because I love cheese, and I haven't been able to let go of butter either. But I have eliminated everything else like milk, sour cream, and cream cheese, etc. In just one week, I have lost 5 lbs. That's it! Take it or leave it. Don't take my word for it. Do your own research and consult with your doctor as to how to boost your immune system. I know that some of these changes are not easy to make and will take time.I personally suggest finding healthy substitutions for dairy and meat. For instance, I have found guacamole as a good substitute for sour cream in tacos and even on baked potatoes. And I have come to enjoy goat cheese, but it is a lot more expensive. Try out your own substitutions because it is very difficult to just eliminate food from your diet cold turkey. (See what I did there? 😉) Don't think of it as a diet. Think of it as life-saving medicine.
Of course, the best way to survive COVID is to not get it. So be smart and follow the guidelines: ALWAYS wear a mask and stay away from crowds!
The Pandemic is NOT Political
The coronavirus is an equal opportunity disease. It doesn't care about your political party or nationality or race. I mean, people, the president got it! And the White House is on its second outbreak! (as of 11/12/2020)
UPDATE as of 2/4/21:
Here we are almost a year later and the coronavirus pandemic is still raging. There are a few vaccines being distributed, but not available to everyone yet. People are excited by this glimmer of hope. But I must caution you to not get too excited yet. Even after being vaccinated, we still have to wear masks and avoid crowds. The vaccine is not a cure. It will only reduce the symptoms of COVID-19 much like the flu vaccine. It will not protect you from getting COVID-19, and it will not prevent the spread of the disease. The best-case scenario is the vaccines work and we achieve herd immunity within one year. But that is looking less likely as more mutations of the virus spread. The new variants are more virulent and deadly, and the vaccine has not proven to be effective against these strains of COVID-19.
If you follow even half of the steps I have described, you and your family will have a better outcome. Keep in mind that scientists are closely monitoring the vaccine distribution in order to study any potential side-effects and to assess the efficacy. Therefore, there are still unknowns. Vaccines are meant to end the pandemic, but it will take a long time, possibly years before we can go back to normal. Read more about the vaccine...
