If you’re feeling a bit stir-crazy being stuck inside while we wait for the pandemic to resolve, you’re not alone. This IS crazy-making! After all, we are animals that are built to be in motion. Our ancestors were up at the crack of dawn, in constant search of food and shelter so they could simply survive. While industrialization and technology have freed us from heavy physical labor, they’ve led to several generations of “couch potatoes” with a range of chronic diseases. And the pandemic has only made it worse as we’re all living online.
How Sugar Sabotages Immunity and Promotes Inflammation
As we move further into the challenges of this pandemic, my heart goes out to you! Whether you’re working from home, are now unemployed or are on the frontlines battling this virus, we all need help lowering the inflammation that impairs our immune response. We’ve known for decades that the intake of simple carbs (think colas, bagels, chips) reduces phagocytosis, the process by which white blood cells engulf and destroy bacteria, just like little Pac Men!
Melatonin for Sleep and Immunity
Right now, we’re all looking for ways to strengthen our immune response and reduce our risk of contracting a severe case of COVID-19. As a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist, I’m constantly scanning the literature for you and am dedicated to sharing best practices to help you thrive in these uncertain times. One of the most basic but overlooked things you can do to upgrade your immunity is to get a good night’s sleep.
Key Health Strategies When You’re Stuck at Home
By now, you’ve joined us Californians in “sheltering in place”. We’re all working from home, spending time with our housemates and looking for ways to find peace amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 outbreak. While this situation may be nerve-wracking, it also offers an incredible opportunity to bring balance into our lives. Let’s use this time wisely to build our health, so we come out of it stronger than when we went into it.