#

To boost your Immune System against the Corona Virus: what you need to know

Can you boost your body's immune system against COVID-19

This is the question on everyone’s mind as we are facing a worldwide crisis. We don’t yet know how to prevent or manage the loss caused by COVID-19, the infection caused by a coronavirus that is new to us all. 

We see online claims that we can “boost” our body immune system with just about everything from Vitamin D or Vitamin C to essential oils and silver nanoparticles. But how do we know which of these recommendations, really work? 

That’s a hard question to answer, mainly because the body's immune system is not “one thing” that we can simply measure. It’s a delicate and complicated system with many different components. Improving one section might defect another, or boosting a few sections may have nothing to do with fighting against coronavirus. 



That makes knowing what to do challenging. Plus, how do we know if something that possible with another virus will help with this new coronavirus? As you can see, there is much we easily cannot know. 

At last, if you are older or have an underlying health condition (including high blood pressure and diabetes), you have an increased risk of few symptoms, and potentially, loss of life from COVID-19. We suggesting taking every precaution to avoid such conditions. 
If you’re young and healthy, your risk of infection is much lower. If you do contract the coronavirus, you’ll probably have fewer symptoms and fully recover within a couple of weeks. 
However, it’s possible that you may be infected with the coronavirus without showing any symptoms. So maintaining good hygiene and social isolation is crucial to avoid spreading it to highrisk individuals. 

The Basics 

These are things that you can follow today that don’t cost anything. We suggest you prioritize these simple steps for improving and protecting your health and your body's immune system. While these steps are always important aspects of maintaining good health, they may be decisive during times of increased risk, like now. 

Proper Handwashing: As per the study, the coronavirus is killed by proper handwashing for 20 seconds with soap or using hand sanitizer that is greater than 60% alcohol. 

Don’t Smoke: Smokers have an increased risk of catching diseases and suffering severe complications from those diseases. We shouldn’t need another reason not to smoke, but a time like this highlights the importance even more. 

Stress Management: While subacute stressors may temporarily improve immune functions, chronic stressors likely low immune function. 

If you drink alcohol, drink in less amount: In times of stress, some people turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. While meditation, mindfulness exercises and nature walks are likely healthier ways of coping, for some they aren’t enough, and alcohol adds a little something extra.  

Good Sleep: Sleep is important for health in general, and as a bonus, it may also benefit our body's immune function. For instance, one study showed those with insomnia had, on average, less immune response to the influenza vaccine, while another study in twins showed those with less sleep had changed expression of genes related to the immune system. 

Good Exercise Habit: Studies show that those who exercise tend to suffer low infections than those who do not. While those studies have confusion variables, the general consensus is that exercise overall is likely beneficial for the body, with some caveats. Some studies show bouts of strenuous exertion (>1.5 hours with an average heart rate >75% maximum) may temporarily low immune function. Elite athletes who “overtrain” tend to suffer from diseases more frequently than others. Try to focus on the outside or home exercise. Shared gym equipment’s athletes, like cardio machines and weights, maybe surfaces that transmit the coronavirus. 

Supplements 

Could you make yourself less vulnerable to COVID-19 by taking minerals, vitamins or other supplements that help in boosting your immune system? In spite of what you have read on the internet, this question can’t be answered definitively. Here we are discussing various supplements that supposedly have immune-boosting properties

Vitamin C: For a long time, Vitamin C has been used extensively to prevent the common cold. This vitamin can also help in sustaining healthy skin which will further provide a barrier to harmful germs. In addition to this, some studies also suggest that it may enhance the function of many white blood cells which fight any kind of infection. E.g : Radiplex VC Fizz 1,000 mg effervescent tablets are a fantastic source of rich vitamin C, which is one of the most essential vitamins in your diet and is best known for its role in supporting the immune system.    


 
Vitamin D: As both a hormone and a vitamin, Vitamin D plays an important role in health. Despite its name, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a prohormone, or precursor of a hormone. Vitamin D is essential for several reasons, including maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It may also protect against a range of diseases and conditions, such as type 1 diabetes. (Former CDC Chief Dr. Tom Frieden: Coronavirus infection risk may be reduced by Vitamin D

Zinc: Zinc is a mineral which has involvement in the response of white blood cell to any infection. Due to this, people who are deficient in zinc are more vulnerable to flu, cold, and other viruses like coronavirus. One meta-analysis of seven trials found that supplementing with zinc decreased the length of the common flu or cold by an average of 33%. 

Turmeric: Turmeric is a spice that is regularly used in Asian and Indian cuisine, including curries. It consists of a bright-yellow compound which is known as curcumin. Various research suggests that it could boost immune function. 

Echinacea: Echinacea is an herb that can be used in preventing the common cold. A recent systematic review of randomized trials found that echinacea may possibly have a mild protective effect against upper-respiratory infections but doesn’t appear to reduce the length or severity of illness. While it’s impossible to say whether it might offer any protection against coronavirus, it appears to be safe to take on a short-term basis. 
 
Garlic: Garlic is a famous and powerful herb with a characteristic aroma that has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It also helps to prevent the common cold. 

In short, the reason behind the rapid spreading and the large impact of this virus around the world is that we are not immune to it. It is new for our immune systems. So, we should take precautions and take actions to keep ourselves generally healthy. Social distancing and good hygiene around you can help in preventing the outbreak of this virus. We should strictly exercise these measures to prevent the spread of this new virus.