Those close to us, our family and friends, are the most important people in the world; so, for many of us, taking care of them is one of our greatest joys. Keeping ourselves and our loved ones healthy is a top priority in order to live a full and healthy life, however, it is particularly important with what is currently unfolding across the globe.
We should all now be very aware of how important personal and hand hygiene is, as well as the importance of keeping our distance from others, in order to minimise the risk of transmission. But what else can you do to stay healthy? Do you eat a balanced diet? Do you have good quality and sufficient sleep? Do you exercise daily? Are you putting rest and relaxation measures in place? All of these things are important in keeping our immune systems robust to ensure the highest possible resistance to disease.
Maintaining a healthy diet is fundamental in underpinning great health and resistance. Therefore, you should consume a broad range of nutritious food to provide you with all of the micro nutrients you need to keep your immune system strong. Adding plenty of different coloured vegetables each day will provide your body with an array of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, polyphenolic compounds, beta carotene, and catechins that can help reduce oxidation in the body. Try to minimise your intake of sugar, alcohol and refined carbohydrates as these things place a burden on the immune system, reducing your body’s resistance. If you are worried about having enough food supplies or are unable to purchase certain foods, why don’t you start from scratch at home? If you have a bread maker, bake yourself some bread; plant a veggie patch; make some kombucha, kefir or homemade coconut yoghurt to nourish your gut and immune during these uncertain times; dehydrate some fruit; make some homemade condiments and experiment with those recipes that you have been meaning to try but never have the time. Utilise this time at home to catch a breath from your very hectic life and improve your nutrition by getting back to basics.
Getting adequate, restful sleep is the next in line toward ensuring good health. Sleep affects so many of us, so often. It has been shown that even one night of sleep deprivation can increase beta-amyloid, a protein in the brain that is associated with impaired brain function. In Alzheimer’s disease, beta amyloid clumps together forming plaques that then disrupt the communication between neurons. Poor sleep affects our mood, the capacity to think clearly and how our body heals itself. More and more research is proving how important sleep is to your overall health and wellbeing, including how we manage our stress. It is crucial during these times of high stress, job loss, and economic down turn. Going to bed and getting up around the same time each day and ensuring you are sleeping for at least 6-8 hours is going to be one of your best defences.
In these recent weeks of having gyms closed down, a lot of people are missing this aspect of their lives. However, it is a time that we can get positive and motivated, by getting back to basics to keep our bodies moving. This will keep you mentally strong and your immune system strengthened. There are plenty of options to incorporate exercise at home, such as Tabata ~ HIIT (high intensity interval training) sessions in your back yard; taking your doggo for a brisk walk, ride your bike, skip, get a boxing bag and spar with your loved ones. There are meditation and yoga apps that can be utilised or you could set up an online session with your friends. All of these things can be easily implemented at home and will help you to stay healthy.
Keeping a positive mindset is just as important, reminding ourselves of all the things that we have in our lives to be grateful for. For each negative thought, try to place three positive thoughts in its place. This can be tricky to begin with, however the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
In light of all of these things, I will finish off by saying, it has been shown that simple handwashing is one of the best ways to stop the spread of disease. Wonder Foods Hand Sanitiser is a new product in our Wonder Foods range. It contains 65% ethanol to kill 99.99% germs and has added ingredients to help keep your skin soft. It comes in three different fragrances, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender, all of which are 100% essential oils as well as an unscented option too. Incorporate these measures into your life and always remember to keep the faith, this will eventually pass, hopefully sooner rather than later. Stay safe!
