The COVID-19 Pandemic. Knowledge is Power!

In the United States, we are currently on the trajectory to double COVID-19 cases every 2-5 days. At this rate, there is a significant potential that we will soon overwhelm our healthcare system, placing us in similar situations as Italy and China and leaving the most vulnerable at even higher risk.
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We have the power to slow this trajectory and " flatten the curve" by:

1) Practicing " social distancing". Social distancing is the practice of reducing close contact between people to slow the spread of infections or diseases. While it is true that 80% or more of people with COVID-19 will have mild illness, the concern is that those who have mild symptoms or who are asymptomatic may actually be the biggest vectors in unwittingly spreading novel coronavirus to the most vulnerable populations ( the elderly and those with underlying health conditions). Maintain physical distance but stay connected via phone or video chats.

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2) Keep our immune system robust and supported :

• Food is medicine!- Eat real, unprocessed food. Choose greens, fruits and vegetables with lots of color, and sulfur containing vegetables such as kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic and onions.  The phytonutrients in the colorful foods support our immune system, fight inflammation and supply antioxidants while the sulfur containing foods help to support liver detoxification.
• Get adequate sleep- Aim for 8-10 hours of restful sleep per night. Sleep deprivation may cause decreased production of proteins known as cytokines which target infection and inflammation and help with creating an immune response.
• Wash your hands- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available. Plain soap will work just as well as antibacterial soap.
• Manage stress- These are troubling and uncertain times and for many, anxiety and stress may be at an all time high. We know that our state of mind affects our state of health. Our immune system is easily compromised when stress hormones like cortisol rise. Stress dysregulates our adaptive and innate immune responses. Meditation creates a positive mental environment for the immune system to flourish and provide protection. There are many apps available to provide us with the guidance to begin a daily meditation practice. Five minutes per day is all you need to start to help reset your nervous and immune system balance.

Let's work together to do our part in limiting the spread of the virus. While it may seem that there is so much out of our control, let's focus on what we can control for ourselves, our families and for the greater good of all.