The onset of COVID-19 changed the world’s daily hygiene practices in ways we have never seen before. From regularly wearing masks in public, to practicing consistent “social distancing”, and slathering our hands with sanitizer throughout the day, our new hygiene practices were early important safety measures to help us avoid contracting and spreading COVID-19 while scientists and hospital systems could put in place measures so we could cope with COVID-19 safely. Ironically, we’re now at a stage where scientists are questioning the long-term effects of these practices on the health of the overall immune system. How do we create a balance as we move forward navigating a world with COVID that is likely here to stay in some form or another?
Long-term immunity is built as the immune system becomes stronger by reacting to bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses that pose a threat to our health. By severely restricting our exposure to these microbes by regularly sanitizing our environment, we risk the lack of creating our usual natural immunity to common bacteria and viruses. Emotions also have a profound impact on our immunity. Loneliness, stress (particularly chronic stress), and depression can lower our resilience to these same microbes. The lifestyle changes we have seen during this pandemic including increased alcohol consumption, weight gain, isolation, and financial insecurity steming from the pandemic have not only affected our daily lives, but they have also impacted our immunity and overall health.
Supporting our natural immunity needs to be at the top of our minds right now as we are in the cold and flu season, along with the ongoing threat of COVID. By focusing on what we can control (i.e. being in good physical shape with sharp mental health), we can maintain a strong first line of defense during these challenging times.
Coeur Vitality is here to support you during this pandemic and continue to offer virtual telemedicine services for conditions that can be navigated safely from afar to keep you feeling your best! We will also continue to see our sick patients in person if needed via parking lot visits (to protect staff and keep healthy patients healthy!) so we do not neglect good medicine which includes physically examining our patients (listening to lung fields or looking in a toddlers ears is simply not possible via telemedicine!).
Coeur Vitality wants to help you with accessing high-quality medical grade supplements that you can trust to support your health and immune resilience. To make it as convenient as possible for you, we stock a few of our favorites at the clinic but also have made an extended variety of supplements available through our online e-store: coeurvitality.ehealthpro.com
As a thank you for being a valued patient and to help make quality supplements more attainable to more of you, Coeur Vitality is passing on to you our business savings of 20% off your first and EVERY online order there-after. Please use the code healthy20future when checking out online to receive this discount. All online orders have FREE shipping!
With immune support at the top of everyone’s minds, here are a few tips on healthy lifestyle habits that support a strong immune system:
1.) Eat a colorful nutrient dense diet rich in fruits and vegetables! Citrus fruits are a good source of Vitamin C. Add 1⁄2 squeezed lemon to a glass of water every morning or you can add the squeezed lemon to a glass of hot water with 1⁄2 to 1 tsp of local honey. Red peppers are also a good source of Vitamin C. Add garlic to your meals: Mince it up and sauté it in olive oil with veggies, eggs, and more. Garlic has a long history of being an effective anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. Avoid refined sugars, “white carbohydrates”, and processed foods.
2) Sleep. Aim for a goal of 7-9 hours nightly. This is paramount to healthy immune systems!
3) Stress mitigation. Stay positive. Look for the silver lining when things are tough. Focus on present moments and try not to dwell on future unknowns. Laughter and play bring resilience!
4) Stay well hydrated. If you aren’t a fan of water try adding some lemon or lime, or consider warm herbal teas and bone broths to sip on between meals to help keep warm this winter!
5) Companionship. Lean into your loved ones and take care of one-another. Be smart however, with sick exposures to high-risk individuals—protect one-another!
6) Stay Active. Regular physical activity helps to reduce stress and increase blood flow mobilizing immune cells throughout the body to fight invading pathogens and reduce inflammation.
7) Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. No more than 2 for men, & 1 for women per day
8) Smart supplementation. Many of us at Coeur Vitality are personally taking extra supplements to support our own and our family’s immune system health. Supplements to consider follow:
- Vitamin C: Is a powerful antioxidant. C+BioFizz powder is great C supplement that includes natural bioflavoinoids such as quercetin and it also encourages you to drink more water with the great taste and fizz!
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D Supreme supports the immune system, promotes healthy inflammatory response, and supports a healthy mood. A good maintenance amount is 2,000-5,000 IU per day in the Northwest. Best to take with Vitamin K as in Vitamin D Complex.
- Zinc: Critically important mineral for immune system health. Zinc Supreme, gives an extra 30 mg of zinc per day. Or if you start to feel symptoms, consider zinc lozenges with elderberry Immuno-Zn Lozenge.
- Probiotics: Probiotics contribute to healthy gut flora, which is paramount to good health considering that 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut! Try Probiotic Supreme for a dairy-free alternative.
- Quercetin: Quercetin Ascorbate contains a powerful bioflavoinoid quercetin and Vitamin C that promotes normal healthy immune histamine and inflammatory responses.
- Elderberry: Consider Immuno-Zn Lozenge with both zinc & elderberry if coming down with a cold, have a close household sick contact, traveling. Elderberry isn’t meant to be taken daily.
- Reishi mushrooms, & other herbs/botanicals: Fx Chocolate Defend a synergistic blend of tasty dark chocolate sweetened with allulose (0 g sugar) and reishi mushroom! It can sometimes be hard to eat enough garlic, can consider
- Combination Immune Supplements:
***BioFizz Immune includes—Vit C 1,000 mg, zinc 20 mg, Vit D 2,000 IU, Vit E 100 mg, GG-Gold, and targeted bioflavonoids quercetin and resveratrol. 1 scoop/day in water for a refreshing fizzy beverage.
***Immunitone Plus contains herbs and botanicals such as Echinacea, Astragalus, Elderberry, Green tea, Reishi and variety of other mushroom concentrated extracts that support natural killer (NK) cell activity and the balance of cytokines to promote healthy immune response!
***ImmunoSpore is a synergistic combination of spore-based probiotics and antioxidants to support natural immune system health featuring 3 billion CFU spore-based probiotics (three industry-leading Bacillus strains), along with a highly concentrated chloroplast extract from organic spinach, vitamin C, zinc, and the soluble fiber beta-glucan.
***Immune Support Packets includes—Vit C, zinc, Vit D, N-Acetyl-L Cysteine, bioflavonoids, and above Immunotone Plus for botanical immune support in one convenient packet daily!