Natural Tips For Coronavirus Prevention

wash with soap for 20 seconds

The unknown nature of coronavirus has caused great concern but provided little in the way of recommendations other than improving hygiene habits. There is no need to live in fear, but improving your health habits is a good idea.

Washing hands, covering coughs, and cleaning surfaces is a good start to limit transmission of viruses, but there are also easy actions that can be taken to lower the risk of viral infections or minimize their harm. And they can make you generally healthier while you do them!

Appropriate preventive measures for viral infections can be divided into two categories:

1. More thorough cleaning and hygiene habits to limit viral transmission 
2. Healthy habits to strengthen your health and limit the impact of viral infections

Keep Clean & Reduce Viral Transmission

By now most have heard the common sense recommendations to increase cleaning and limit contact with others. Know that antimicrobial soaps have not been found to be any more effective than regular soaps and ingredients like triclosan antibacterial has been linked to other health issues. Make sure you spend 20 seconds when washing those hands. Hand sanitizers are only to be used when soap is unavailable. It provides no additional benefit.

Increased humidity can also be beneficial to reduce viral transmission. Research has demonstrated that more humid environments interfere with the spread of viruses. That's one of the reasons it's easier to catch a bug in the winter with drier air inside and out. Using a simple humidifier can make a big difference.

Strengthen Your Health

The best way to strengthen your health and reduce your susceptibility to infection is to improve your basic health habits:

• Get plenty of sleep (7-8 hours for most people)
• Minimize stress or perform stress reducing activities (walk, meditate, etc.)
• Eat healthy - avoid processed foods and sweets and eat whole foods (meats, veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds, etc.)
• Stay active with stretching, exercise, or other activities you enjoy
• Maintain healthy posture and structure which has an effect on proper functioning of your body

More Strategies We Use to Stay Healthy

Manual treatments like adjustments and massages work the body and have been shown to increase immune cell activity shortly after being performed. Some special techniques can help open the sinuses when congested.

Supplements we like for prevention include a high quality Echinacea or Immuplex from Standard Process which provides important nutrients that support the immune system. Keep up your level of Vitamin D, which drops in our gray skies of winter in Northeast Ohio. When the body is fighting an infection, St. Johns Wort, Andrographis, Congaplex, or a good high dose Vitamin C can provide helpful support.

If you want to stay healthy and resilient to whatever comes along, make sure to take steps to actively improve your health.

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