COVID 19 and Immunity — Why We Need to Fix Our Lifestyles Before the Hunt for A Cure

With the outbreak of COVID 19, experts around the world have unanimously agreed on the significance of one measure — Immunity is the body’s power to fend off diseases. Our susceptibility to viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing microbes depends on the strength of our immune system. That is the reason that most people who have been affected by the coronavirus were either very old or had some underlying condition that had compromised their immune system.

Immunity isn’t strengthened or maintained with the help of medicines or supplements. It is a direct result of your lifestyle. And now would be a great time to make some of these immunity-boosting lifestyle changes. Here are three aspects of your lifestyle that have immediate impacts on your immunity.

Immunity and Sleep:

Your sleep is monitored by your circadian rhythm, also known as the biological clock. This rhythm is regulated by your hypothalamus — the part of the brain that tells the rest of the body to get working, the moment you go to sleep. And the work that your body does is vital. When you sleep, the body releases hormones that help your body heal, and white blood cells that impact your immune system. Studies show that people with less than 6h of sleep are four times more likely to catch a virus than people who get 7–9h of sleep[1]. This virus could be anything from a common cold to SARS and MERS. Clearly, sleep deprivation can impair your body’s immunity. So, no matter how busy you are, it is absolutely mandatory that you get ample sleep at night.

Immunity and Substances:

Alcohol and tobacco, among others, are substances that can have adverse impacts on your immune system. Alcohol lowers the production of white blood cells. It can also wither the inner lining of your intestines, which acts as a barrier against the entry of pathogens. The chemicals in a cigarette weaken your body’s immune cells. They also harm the filters in your lungs which are responsible for keeping harmful particles at bay. This makes you more susceptible to diseases. Cigarettes can also cause autoimmune diseases, which is when your immune system attacks healthy cells instead of pathogens.

Immunity and Diet:

Diet is arguably the most important part of our lifestyles. What we eat defines the way we live. An unbalanced diet without essential nutrients can be a very real threat to your immune system.

The sales of instant foods like packaged ramen and pasta have shot up during the times of this pandemic, as a result of quarantine regulations. Ironically, this is the last trend that we want to see in these circumstances.

Processed foods contain high amounts of sugar and unhealthy fats. They also contain chemical preservatives, artificial colorings, trans fats, etc. These are all things that can cause severe harm to your immune system. Our body is filled with good bacteria that help with the digestion of food and the elimination of toxins. The high amounts of salt and sugar in processed food can cause the wrong kind of bacteria to grow, resulting in poor immunity. This is why experts encourage us to consume lots of citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, grains, and nuts to improve our immune functions.

The products at Laumière Gourmet Fruits are the perfect combination of good taste and health. They provide you with the nutrients essential in building immunity. The main ingredients used are dried fruits and nuts, which are all mostly processed from within the locale of Bakersfield, California. The Superfood Parfait Collection has been a great choice for customers this year. The collection is free of sugar, artificial flavors, colors,, and preservatives. Laumière is healthy snacking and gifting at its best.

Remember, as tempting as it can be to binge-eat unhealthy food and consume copious amounts of alcohol in stressful times like these, the long-term consequences can be devastating. Prevention is better than cure, but only if there is a cure. Choose wisely.