Health News

How to Manage Stress and Mental Health During a Pandemic

As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues its march across the world, many people are dealing with stress, anxiety and depression. It is no surprise that the fear and panic that comes with the news of this global pandemic is leading to stress and mental health struggles. If you feel your mental health is being affected, it is important to know that you are not alone in this battle.

While struggling during periods of stress is normal, you need to recognize that these emotional and mental issues are a temporary situation that deserve your full attention. Here are six ways that you can be proactive about managing your mental health during this challenging time.

Understand the Warning Signs of Stress

The first step in properly caring for stress and mental health concerns is recognizing the warning signs that you may be headed for distress. While the symptoms differ from person to person, there are some common signs that you should be on the lookout for.

One of the most typical signals of too much stress is body aches and pains. Tension headaches are also a red flag that your body is under too much stress. Other people may experience stomach issues, trouble falling and staying asleep, intense mood swings and skin conditions such as acne flare-ups. Recognizing these cues will help you to ascertain that your body might be struggling and that you need to take action to mitigate the stress.

Nourish Your Body

Good mental health starts with good physical health. You can nourish your soul by nourishing your body with the right foods. Make it a point to eat plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables each day. Other foods to include in abundance in your daily diet include lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. You should also drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Avoid trigger foods such as caffeine and alcohol. Specific foods that have been shown to reduce stress include avocados, bananas, leafy greens, fatty fish, green tea and nuts.

Stay Connected to Alleviate Stress and Mental Health Challenges

To cope with the inevitable loneliness that comes with being in isolation, you need to be intentional about staying connected to others. This type of connection can come in many ways. Perhaps it is as simple as picking up the phone to talk to a loved one. Or perhaps plan a happy hour Zoom session with your best friends. Be the first one to reach out to others who you may think need a lift. It will make you feel better in the process. Social media is also a great way to stay connected and make you feel a part of a group.

Look Into Supplements

Chronic stress can extol a beating on the body. Fortunately, there are supplements that you can add to your diet to help you to deal with feelings of exhaustion, stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges. The use of tryptophan has been proven to be effective at combating excessive stress and burnout. Tryptophan can also mitigate depression and lift your mood in a natural way. As a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, the use of tryptophan may naturally promote this “happiness hormone” and reduce levels of stress and depression, proving to be a powerful ally during this unsettling time in history.

Get Moving

Nothing can lift your spirits more than working up a sweat. Even if you are stuck at home, there are still things that you can do to get your body moving. Something as easy as taking a walk around the block will expose you to fresh air and get your heart rate up.

Many fitness providers are also offering free online streaming workouts to help people to cope with not being able to go to the gym. Making a conscious effort to move your body will release feel-good endorphins that will boost your mood and help you to tackle stress and other mental health issues head-on.

Be Kind to Yourself

Now more than ever, you need to be diligent about practicing self-care. This comes in many different forms, depending on your personal preferences and needs. For some people, this may mean taking the time for a daily nap. For others, it may be buying yourself a bouquet of flowers to brighten your day.

Other activities to consider include yoga, meditation, listening to calming music and breathing exercises. The goal is to do things that make you happy and boost your mood. Do not feel guilty for an occasional indulgence if it helps you to cope with these challenging times.

Although there is no magic cure for alleviating this stress in your life, you are not powerless in dealing with it. Take control of your mental health and stress during this pandemic by employing these tips to boost your emotional well-being.

Vitachron: A Powerful Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Based on Chronobiology

Apr 15 by Ewcopywriting

No matter how diligent you are in trying to consume a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains, you can never be certain that your body is getting all of the nutrients it needs every day. This is why adding a multivitamin supplement to your daily routine can be beneficial, and may become even more essential as you grow older. A supplement based on chronobiology delivers the greatest health benefits, because it provides specific nutrients exactly at the time of day when they’re most needed.

Why Should Every Adult Take a Multivitamin Supplement?

We know that eating nutritious meals is important, because fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods provide essential nutrients and vitamins. Each type of food contains specific vitamins and nutrients that our bodies use to help us stay healthy. Similarly, each vitamin and nutrient plays a different role in the body, which is why eating a diverse range of foods is also important.

For instance, the vitamin C found in foods like broccoli, cantaloupe and cauliflower helps us maintain a strong immune system, promotes healthy bone density and helps the body produce collagen.

Taking a multivitamin supplement can ensure that your body is getting an adequate supply of most nutrients every day, so you won’t suffer from a deficiency. Additionally, as you grow older, your body may experience difficulty in absorbing all of the nutrients from the foods you eat, so taking a supplement can help make up for that loss.

Aside from the individual functions that each vitamin serves in the body, vitamins can be divided into two groups which each benefit the body differently. Water-soluble vitamins help enzymes in the body transform proteins, carbs and fats into energy. Without a sufficient supply of water-soluble vitamins, this process won’t be as efficient and weight gain could result. Fat-soluble vitamins help form and maintain cell membranes, so a deficiency of these vitamins means that the body’s cells won’t be fully protected and may become damaged. A deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins results in high-functioning cells being unable to function as they should.

What is Chronobiology?

Simply defined, the study of chronobiology examines how the functions of your body are regulated by the body’s biological clock, or circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is primarily controlled by fluctuations in light and darkness, and uses the changing of day into night as a cue to regulate wakefulness versus sleepiness.

Additionally, this rhythm helps determine which biological functions should occur at specified times of day. This helps the body release hormones that tell different parts of the body when to work faster, when to slow down and when to rest. As a result, your body’s processes change from hour to hour, whether or not you notice these changes.

As you age, your internal clocks can slow down and, in some cases, may stop altogether. This leaves seniors more vulnerable to disease and adverse health conditions, which is why sleep disorders often go hand-in-hand with other health conditions. In fact, over 80 illnesses have been associated with a compromised circadian rhythm, pushing researchers in the field of chronobiology to explore how problems with our biological rhythms can lead to disease.

The Benefits of Taking a Supplement Based on Chronobiology

Staying healthy involves helping your circadian rhythm function more efficiently each day. The first consideration is to ensure that you get a full seven to eight hours of sleep each night, but there are many more things you can do to keep your biological clock functioning correctly. For instance, exposing yourself to natural sunlight during the day and making sure your bedroom is as dark as possible at night will also help your circadian rhythm function better.

It is also best to take a multivitamin supplement based on chronobiology to ensure your body is getting the right vitamins at times of day when they will do the most good. Both the Vitachron Male formula and Vitachron Female formula are engineered to ensure that necessary vitamins and nutrients are released at the time of day when they are most needed by the body.

When Does Each Vitamin and Mineral Work Best?

Many vitamins and minerals work best when taken at certain times of day. For example, vitamins A, D, E and K are best absorbed in the morning hours and when taken with calcium. Additionally, vitamin C acts as a stimulant, causing the adrenal gland to become more active. This is why, like vitamin B6, vitamin C should be taken in the morning to avoid evening sleep problems.

Selenium should also be taken in the morning, because when it interacts with vitamins A, C and E, it acts as a powerful antioxidant. Taking selenium along with vitamin E also allows these two nutrients to work in synergy with each other. The morning doses of Vitachron Male and Vitachron Female contain all of these powerful nutrients, and more.

The evening doses of the Vitachron Male and Vitachron Female formulas provide the remaining B vitamins, excluding B6. These vitamins promote a better sleep cycle and negatively interact with calcium, which is why they’re best taken in the evening hours and apart from calcium. Specifically, B3 converts tryptophan to serotonin and melatonin, which are hormones essential to the proper functioning of the sleep cycle.

Magnesium is best taken at night, because it helps improve the functioning of the neurotransmitters associated with sleep. Since magnesium compliments zinc, potassium and chlorine, these compounds are also included with the evening dose of Vitachron Male and Vitachron Female.

Iron and copper are also utilized better when taken at night. Not only are they better absorbed by the body at night, but when taken in the morning with calcium, these compounds can actually cause calcium to become a harmful pro-oxidant. Folic acid has a synergistic relationship with iron, so it should also be included along with iron in the evening dose of any multivitamin supplement.

As this overview shows, a supplement that’s based on your body’s circadian rhythm will provide you with the best protection against illness and adverse health conditions while allowing your body to better utilize each ingredient. Vitachron is a multivitamin supplement based on chronobiology that provides the nutrients your body needs at the times you need them, so your biological systems will function more efficiently. This will help to provide better quality of life, while also helping you feel your best each day.

How Probiotics Boost Immune System Health

Apr 06 by Ewcopywriting

As we all know, the world is full of both beneficial and harmful types of bacteria that we ingest in our food, breathe in the air or otherwise come into contact with on a daily basis. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that are commonly found in fermented foods and help protect the body in a variety of ways. New studies find probiotics boost immune system functioning, leading to a renewed interest in finding natural ways to get more of these “friendly” bacteria.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that play a host of helpful roles in the human body. While there are hundreds of probiotic supplements on the market today, that wasn’t always the case; in the past, people had to rely on healthy diets to get a good supply of these beneficial forms of bacteria. In addition to modern supplements, probiotics are found in foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, tempeh and plain yogurt.

There are several different strains of probiotics, which is why it’s still important to eat a broad range of fermented foods. Each strain provides a different benefit to human health. Once ingested, probiotics make their way to a part of the large intestines called the gut microbiome. Once there, they join trillions of other microorganisms to make up a thriving community that interacts with the immune system and other systems throughout the body.

The microorganisms in the gut microbiome help the body fight off disease and maintain good organ functioning, among other things. While more and more research focuses on how probiotics interact with the body, scientists are finding evidence that probiotics are essential to the efficient functioning of our immune systems.

How Do Probiotics Boost Immune System Functioning?

Up to 80 percent of the immune system’s focus is in the digestive system, including the large intestines. The reason is that this where the largest percentage of harmful microorganisms enter the body, and the immune system tries to attack harmful organisms as soon as they are detected. This is also why the gut microbiome and all of the beneficial bacteria that it contains are located in the large intestines. The helpful bacteria in the gut work together with the immune system to protect against disease and infection.

The probiotics that exist in the gut microbiome help the digestive system function more efficiently and ensure nutrients are more thoroughly absorbed from the foods we eat. Additionally, they work to protect us from developing certain diseases, suggesting that probiotics boost immune system in some very significant ways. Even though their primary focus is on gut health, research suggests probiotics have an even bigger impact on overall health.

In 2005, a study was conducted involving a group of several hundred subjects, which were divided into a test group and a control group. The test group was given a daily probiotic supplement, while the control group took placebos. After a three-month period, over 35 percent of the subjects in the control group reported suffering from digestive health issues and had developed other physical health problems. The group taking the probiotics didn’t report any health issues.

This same experiment was repeated in 2008, except that researchers were specifically interested in how probiotics would affect allergic rhinitis. After a five-month period, the subjects taking the probiotics were examined for the condition. The researchers found that their production of cytokines had increased, strengthening the immune system’s response to the condition.

A recent study focused on how probiotics interacted with the immune system to help protect the body. The scientists participating in the study included Fang Yan of Nashville’s Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and D.B. Polk of the University of Southern California. The team found that once in the gut, certain genes and other compounds in probiotics target the immune system and help to regulate how it responds to diseases and infections.

While research suggests that probiotics can help the body react to diseases in this way, they also demonstrated an ability to prevent certain conditions from developing. This was especially true for immunological diseases such as allergies and viral infections. While the results so far are promising, researchers hope future studies will reveal more about how probiotics help regulate the immune system’s responses.

How Can You Get Probiotics Naturally?

There are many ways to ensure you’re getting the beneficial bacteria you need in your diet to support a healthy microbiome.

Yogurt

Plain yogurt is made from fermented milk, which means it’s full of helpful bacteria, including bifidobacteria and lactic acid. These microorganisms have been shown to strengthen bone density and help prevent bone loss. Some research also suggests they can help maintain healthy blood pressure.

Kefir

If you’re unfamiliar with kefir, it’s made from kefir grains that are mixed with milk from a cow or goat. Since kefir grains contain lactic acid, this food also helps benefit bone health. Additionally, it has been found effective in improving digestive health and guarding against infection.

Sauerkraut

Served with sausage and other traditional dishes, sauerkraut provides a broad range of nutrients that are essential to human health. In addition to being rich in fiber and containing vitamins B, C and K, it also contains powerful antioxidants that protect eye health. Unpasteurized sauerkraut is preferred, because the pasteurization process kills the probiotics that it contains.

Tempeh

This product is made from fermented soybeans and rolled into a patty. It’s flavor and texture has been compared to mushrooms and it’s often used as a meat substitute. The fermentation process helps make it easier for the gut to absorb the nutrients it contains, including a large supply of vitamin B12.

Kimchi

Primarily served in Korea, kimchi is a side dish that’s made from cabbage, crushed red pepper, salt, ginger, garlic and scallions. It’s high lactic acid content means it helps improve digestive health.

There are many more natural foods that will give you a good supply of probiotics, Additionally, a high-quality probiotic/prebiotic supplement will contain a variety of probiotic strains, providing you with a broader range of health benefits. While research into the benefits of probiotics is still ongoing, there’s no doubt that they help regulate digestive health and help the immune system function more efficiently.

Studies Examine How Melatonin Boosts Immunity

Apr 02 by Ewcopywriting

If you have ever had trouble sleeping, you may know that melatonin is the primary ingredient in many sleep supplements. This is because it’s a natural hormone that’s produced in the brain to govern the sleep-wake cycle and other internal body clocks. But melatonin does more than just help you get a refreshing night’s sleep: As we face a global pandemic, new research finds that melatonin boosts immunity and could provide greater protection against infectious diseases.

What is Melatonin?

Our brain and body function on a 24-hour biological clock, known as the circadian rhythm, which regulates our sleeping and waking hours. The circadian rhythm relies on the light of the day and the darkness of night as cues to determine when we should be awake and when we should be asleep.

As the environment gets darker, the brain is triggered to release melatonin, which in turn helps us to feel sleepy. While this is melatonin’s primary role, much research has discovered that it also serves many other important functions in the body.

Melatonin has been utilized in natural sleep supplements for decades, and is also used to treat a number of different medical conditions. For instance, blind individuals frequently experience sleep disorders because the absence of light interferes with the functioning of their circadian rhythm. For the blind, administering melatonin in the evening can help the brain regulate sleeping and waking hours more effectively.

In the same way, melatonin supplements are sometimes prescribed to individuals suffering from shift work disorder. People who work evenings and nights must sleep during the daylight hours, when the brain isn’t producing melatonin. The decreased production of this hormone interferes with the sleep cycle, so a melatonin supplement can help night shift workers to sleep more easily during the day. Recently, new research has found even more ways that melatonin interacts with the body and mind, including how melatonin boosts immunity.

How Melatonin Boosts Immunity

When it comes to maintaining a healthy immune system, foods that contain antioxidants are often recommended because those antioxidants play a crucial role in protecting the body against the damage done by free radicals. Unfortunately, when there is a deficiency of antioxidants in the diet, other substances in the body must take up this protective role. For example, the hormone glutathione is normally responsible for moving energy to the cells, fueling the immune system and regulating how the immune system works. When there is an antioxidant deficiency, however, glutathione is forced to take up the role of fighting free radicals.

As glutathione is used for these extra tasks, the body’s supply gets used up rather quickly. This means there’s less fuel to bolster the immune system and that immunity can grow weaker as a result. Again, the body will compensate; it sends out melatonin to take up the role that glutathione usually performs. Using melatonin for its antioxidant properties gives the body a chance to produce more glutathione, so that these substances can all return to their normal tasks.

Melatonin becomes even more important to our health as we age, because it helps keep the immune system strong. Our immune system relies on T cells to help identify foreign invaders and to send antibodies to fight them, but the number of T cells in the body naturally diminishes over time. This means that as we age, there’s a decreased response of the immune system and the body can’t fight off disease as efficiently. Fortunately, melatonin helps to compensate for this reduction by stimulating the production of more T cells. In doing so, melatonin helps to strengthen the immune system and promotes better responses to disease.

According to research conducted at Jagiellonian University, melatonin can also act as an anti-inflammatory agent. Inflammation can be an acute immune system response to injury or illness, or it can be a chronic condition that requires an ongoing response. In either situation, the immune system’s involvement in inflammation can lead to a weakened immune response to other diseases that may affect the body. It has been shown that melatonin may help to reduce inflammation in instances where it’s not absolutely necessary, so the immune system can be freed up and reserved for more serious conditions such as infectious diseases.

Research has found that melatonin is present in several areas of the body in addition to the brain, including the retina, pineal gland, digestive tract and kidneys. Additionally, scientists have found melatonin receptors in cells throughout the body, providing further evidence that melatonin helps boost immunity. While research continues to focus on the mechanisms involved in how melatonin regulates immune system function, there’s clear evidence that this hormone does help the body fight against disease and infection.

Naturally Boost Your Body’s Melatonin Levels

There are a variety of natural ways to promote healthy melatonin levels in the body. Below are just a few.

Increase Your Exposure to the Sun

The production of melatonin relies on a healthy circadian rhythm, so exposing yourself to more sunlight during the day will help increase the production of melatonin at night. This helps your brain to observe a more pronounced difference between night and day, which will trigger a stronger sleep mode at bedtime.

Stick to a Schedule

Regardless of the hours you work, you should develop a sleep schedule and stick to it all week long. This will help you train your circadian rhythm to adjust to your lifestyle, so melatonin production will coincide with your sleeping hours.

Darken Your Sleeping Quarters

If artificial light comes into your bedroom through a window, that can be enough to disrupt the production of melatonin. You can resolve this problem by either covering your windows with a thick, dark curtain, or by wearing a sleep mask to bed.

Limiting your exposure to artificial light at night and increasing exposure to sunlight during the day are the best ways to boost melatonin production. If you still experience sleeping difficulties, or you’re worried that you’re not producing enough melatonin naturally, talk to your doctor about taking a melatonin supplement. This will help you sleep better and it may boost the strength of your immune system to boot!

Powerful Natural Ingredients Offer Anti-Aging Benefits

Mar 29 by Ewcopywriting

Mounting evidence suggests that specific natural plant compounds like resveratrol may provide anti-aging benefits, leading the fight against the cellular damage caused by aging.

Resveratrol: A Natural Wonder

If you haven’t heard of resveratrol, it’s likely only a matter of time. Resveratrol is a compound that’s naturally found in the skin of red grapes, which is why it’s also present in red wine. It can also be found in certain types of nuts, although to a slightly lesser degree.

One thing that makes this compound so interesting is the body of evidence that suggests it holds anti-aging properties. Recently, researchers have started to explore this possibility with several studies focusing on the youthful benefits that resveratrol may provide.

The Anti-Aging Benefits of Resveratrol

Research shows that resveratrol may impact the aging process by simulating certain processes that occur naturally when calorie intake is limited. In laboratory tests, scientists found that they were able to extend the lifespan of certain subjects, such as yeast, flies, worms and fish, by giving them daily doses of resveratrol.

Researchers have known that enzymes called sirtuins are key instigators of the changes that the body goes through as it ages. By regulating the activity of sirtuins, resveratrol may minimize the occurrence of adverse health conditions that result from the aging process. It’s still unknown exactly the effect resveratrol has on sirtuins, but it is known that the compound interacts with the enzymes and produces beneficial results.

In a more recent study, researchers from NHLBI, or the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, studied how resveratrol interacted with a specific sirtuin, SIRT1. The immune system uses SIRT1 to help fight disease by speeding up the energy hub inside each cell, known as the mitrochondria. In the study, researchers noticed that resveratrol increased the body’s production of the SIRT1 enzyme, which, in turn, helped to boost the activity of the mitrochondria.

In conducting their research, the team also identified the specific gene involved with the production of SIRT1. This was an important finding, because there are medications currently under review that may be able to produce the same effects as resveratrol, in terms of promoting the production of the SIRT1 enzyme.

David Sinclair, the senior author of the study, noted that there haven’t been any previous medications that affect SIRT1 production as effectively as resveratrol. That may change now that the gene involved in this process has been isolated.

Natural Plant Compounds Exhibit Potent Anti-Aging Benefits

While resveratrol is a key component in any anti-aging regimen, it’s not the only natural compound that positively affects the aging process. Catechins found in green tea leaf, grape seed extract and quercetin are other natural plant compounds with powerful anti-aging benefits. These compounds are all known for their ability to support healthy aging. Here is a brief summary of the anti-aging benefits they may have on the body.

Green Tea Leaf Extract

Green tea leaf extract may be beneficial for a number of reasons, acting as a powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients. One specific compound in green tea leaves is the catechin EGCG, which is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from the damage caused by the aging process. In particular, EGCG helps prevent disease-causing free radicals from forming in the body. By inhibiting the production of free radicals, the catechins in green tea leaf extract help protect against certain age-related conditions, such as unhealthy cell growth and heart disease, which can adversely affect our overall health.

Grape Seed Extract

Anyone who has eaten seeded grapes knows that the seeds are bitter to the taste, but they’re also beneficial to our health when pulverized and used as an extract. The extract we obtain from grape seeds contains a broad range of beneficial antioxidants and serves as an excellent source of proanthocyanidins.

While these compounds are helpful in protecting against disease, they also inhibit the negative impact of the aging process by reducing the amount of oxidative stress we experience. Left unaffected, oxidative stress can cause inflammation and tissue damage over an extended period of time.

Grape seed extract can also promote better bone health by helping the body produce more collagen. This helps maximize the bone mineral content, density and strength that you may be getting from a high-calcium diet.

Quercetin

While pomegranate is the most common source of quercetin, it can also be found in a wide variety of plant-based foods. While quercetin can help reduce stress and boost your energy levels, its greatest benefits may be in helping you keep the aging process from affecting your health. It does this by fighting the free radicals that play a part in increasing the risk of age-related medical concerns.

Since the oxidation that occurs as you age damages healthy cells, the antioxidant powers of quercetin can help combat this process. Some research on quercetin also shows that it helps the skin stay healthy by nourishing skin cells and preventing the outer layers of skin from drying out and wrinkling prematurely.

Research into the aging process continues to move forward. While some research focuses on finding ways to help us maintain a youthful appearance, other research is concerned with the health impact that aging has on everyone.

Fortunately, compounds like resveratrol and the other substances found in Resverchron can help support healthy aging naturally. Combined with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, a high-quality daily anti-aging regimen can help you feel and look younger for a longer period of time.

Protect Yourself From Viruses: Keep Your Immune System Strong

Mar 25 by Ewcopywriting

As we face the pandemic caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus, researchers all over the world are looking for ways to treat the condition the virus causes in humans. While some research examines repurposing existing medications for the treatment of the virus, other research suggests that a strong immune system plays a crucial role in mitigating the effects of the virus. While scientists look for a cure, existing research shows you can do much to protect yourself from COVID-19 and other viruses by maintaining a strong and healthy immune system.

Researchers Say You Can Protect Yourself From COVID-19

In one case study, researchers at Australia’s University of Melbourne examined the records of an infected middle-aged woman, who traveled between Wuhan, China and Melbourne. The 47-year-old subject exhibited moderate symptoms of the COVID-19 infection, but was otherwise healthy and did not suffer from other pre-existing conditions.

The author of the study, Katherine Kedzierska, noted that the woman’s recovery was similar to that which would be seen in someone suffering from a typical case of the flu. She added that, although this is a virus that’s new to humans, the woman’s immune system still responded to effectively protect the body at a cellular level. Professor Kedzierska is also hopeful that the studied immune response to the virus may help researchers understand what the body is lacking in cases where the viral infection has fatal results.

Timing may also play a part in the successful recovery of an individual, as the woman in this study sought treatment just four days after the onset of her symptoms. Upon experiencing a sore throat, lethargy, dry cough, fever, shortness of breath and chest pain, she immediately sought medical treatment. Once diagnosed, the patient committed to a period of self-isolation on her 11th day of infection and, by the 13th day, she was free of all symptoms.

Health Implications for Compromised Individuals

The results of the case study mentioned above also corroborate the findings that those suffering from chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, are at a greater risk for both contracting COVID-19 and requiring hospitalization for treatment. Those suffering from pre-existing health conditions are also more likely to die from the complications caused by the infection.

In other research, 191 subjects from Wuhan were included in a study to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 infection. Of that group, 54 died and two-thirds of the fatalities occurred where there was a pre-existing health condition that compromised the strength of the immune system. The researchers noted that, among the subjects who died, 26 suffered from hypertension, 17 were diabetics, 13 suffered from heart disease and four had COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

In addition to the conditions observed in the study, the researchers warn that any other condition that causes an individual to become immuno-suppressed can put them at greater risk. This includes cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, those diagnosed with HIV and those taking medications that suppress the immune system. This also includes people being treated for rheumatoid arthritis and pregnant women.

How Can You Build Up Your Immune System?

Since treatment options for COVID-19 are still under study, doctors can only try to manage the symptoms, ensure patients are drinking enough fluids and resort to ventilators to aid in respiration. At this point, perhaps the best option is to protect yourself from COVID-19 by strengthening your immune system. These tips can help you bolster your health and build up a stronger immune system that will help you resist and recover from any virus you may be exposed to.

Eat a Healthier Diet

This is the perfect time to ditch your high-carb diet and to limit the amount of sugar you consume. Instead, look for low-carb alternatives and add more fruits and vegetables to each meal. Eating more plant-based foods will provide your body with the antioxidants it needs to fight off disease-causing oxidative stress. Additionally, you’ll be giving your body more fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Spend More Time in the Sun

Exercising will help build up your immune system by strengthening your muscles, tissue and bones. Doing that exercise outdoors will expose you to the sun’s rays and, while too much exposure increases the risk of skin cancer, this is also the best source of vitamin D. Your immune system relies on vitamin D to regulate responses to injury and illness, which is why a vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a greater risk of infection.

Boost the Health of Your Gut Microbiome

Your gut microbiome maintains a thriving community of helpful bacteria, which helps promote a stronger immune system. You can improve the diversity of your gut microbiome by eating more plant-based foods, particularly those containing probiotics. You can find probiotics in fermented foods, such as plain yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, pickles and cottage cheese.

Get Enough Quality Sleep

When you don’t get enough quality sleep, your body produces a stress hormone called cortisol. This hormone acts to keep you awake, which promotes the release of more cortisol. Since your body relies on sleep to repair your body and reboot itself, that cycle of sleeplessness keeps your body from going through this restorative process. As a result, your immune system becomes suppressed and won’t be able to react as strongly to infections that may develop.

Get More Exercise

As previously mentioned, exercise helps you grow stronger muscles and bones that will protect you against the risks of injury and illness. Additionally, physical activity speeds up the metabolism, so antibodies and white blood cells, which are essential components of the immune system, circulate the body more rapidly. As a result, your immune system will detect infections sooner and respond to them more effectively.