During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to embrace positive lifestyle habits to stay healthy and boost your immunity against viruses and infections. For most people, this period means being at home. But, this should not be an excuse to just neglect your health and wellness. While on quarantine, there are many ways you can do to practice a healthy lifestyle. These include the following:
Quit Smoking
The novel coronavirus can damage the lining of the lungs’ air sacs. In serious cases, COVID-19 impacts breathing and the infected person may even need ventilator support. People with lung disease are more vulnerable to the virus than others. If you are a smoker and need a reason to quit, think about this pandemic. Even if ditching the habit will not save you from the virus, it can save your life down the road.
Get a Goodnight’s Sleep
Sleep allows your body to revitalize, helps improve your health, and boosts your immune system. By having a strong immune system, your body will be able to defend itself against the COVID-19 and other viruses and infections. Aim for 6-8 hours of sleep every night and practice good sleep hygiene.
Minimize Stress
The stress hormone called cortisol decreases the immune system’s activity. Also, stress can affect your sleep. In fact, if you are stressed, you may make bad decisions such as eating unhealthy foods that can have a domino effect on your overall health. It is imperative to find ways to help manage anxiety during the outbreak. With a lot of things happening outside of your control, you will want to concentrate on aspects of your immunity and resilience that you can control.
Stay Physically Active
Regular exercise will help strengthen the immune system, minimize stress, and relieve depression. With the majority of states ordering people to stay at home, you must find creative ways to fit in physical activity. Exercise improves cardiovascular health, helps control body weight, lowers blood pressure, and protects against various diseases.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Consuming a well-rounded, balanced diet packed with vegetables, healthy fats, and lean meats can improve the immune system. It is important to store the right food and maintain a healthy diet. Stick to immune-boosting foods such as fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, foods with omega-3 fatty acids, and foods like walnuts and fish. Experts stress the importance of a whole foods diet instead of taking supplements. So, add foods rich in probiotics to your diet like yogurt or fermented foods like miso, kimchi, and sanerkraut.