Tuesday | 24 March | 2020
By Marli Naidoo
Your immunity is your body’s defence system. While medical staff and the government of South Africa are doing there best to fight the Coronavirus and establish defence systems in their fields of expertise, it is every individual’s personal responsibility to safeguard him/herself by building up his/her immune system, and making small daily changes.
How can you boost your immune system?
When a harmful invader such as a virus attacks your body, your immune system will launch a counter-attack. To conquer the invader successfully you have to make sure your immune system is healthy and strong. Follow these guidelines:
Eat healthily. Your diet must include fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Choose healthy fats that occur in olive oil, avocado, seeds, nuts and oily fish. Make sure you consume good quality proteins: beans, low-fat meat, eggs, yoghurt, oats, milk and nuts are good sources.
Drink a multivitamin daily.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.
Take control of stress and find ways to relax.
Control your blood pressure.
Don’t drink too much alcohol, as it weakens your immune system.
Get enough sleep. It has been found that the chance of people who get less than five hours’ sleep per night is four and a half times more to catch a cold. After seven hours’ sleep your chance of remaining healthy is considerably greater.
Spend time outdoors. Sunlight helps your body to manufacture vitamin D.
Make small changes:
Avoid contact with sick people, and stay home if you are sick yourself.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
Wash your hands regularly. If you aren’t near water, use a waterless handwash with an alcohol content of more than 70%.
Disinfect surfaces that are touched regularly. Use the products provided in shops to disinfect the shop trolley.
Keep a distance between you and the shop assistant or other clients. Don’t greet friends and family with hugs and kisses.
Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus-resource-center#Prevention
Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8112331/How-boost-immune-help-fight-coronavirus.html
* All information was correct at the time of publication.