Ways to boost the immune system during quarantine
A virus by any other name is still just a virus. So what is a virus anyway? What we know is that it is a germ, a type of germ that is very, very small and is the cause of what we now refer to as the annual flu.
This is not the computer type of virus, Webster’s defines a virus as: “any of a large group of submicroscopic infectious agents that are usually regarded as nonliving extremely complex molecules, that typically contain a protein coat surrounding an RNA or DNA core of genetic material but no semipermeable membrane, that are capable of growth and multiplication only in living cells, and that cause various important diseases in humans, animals, and plants.”
How does a virus multiply? This is called viral replication which is the formation of biological viruses during the infection process in the target host cells. Viruses must first get into the cell before viral replication can occur. Through the generation of abundant copies of its genome and packaging these copies, the virus continues infecting new hosts. Replication between viruses is greatly varied and depends on the type of genes involved in them. Most DNA viruses assemble in the nucleus while most RNA viruses develop solely in cytoplasm. [Roberts RJ, “Fish pathology, 3rd Edition”, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2001]
So, what this means is that a virus cannot survive long without a host organism, a person infected. We also know that not everyone who gets infected comes down with the disease signs and symptoms. That’s because each person has a natural immunity that has been developing and maintained by the body their entire life. The more exposure we have to germs, the stronger our immunity can be. After we fight a disease, our natural immunity that eventually overcame the disease, now has built a defense for that germ and we call that having natural immunity. This blog will not give a full class on the body’s immune system, but we do know that we can do things to keep our natural immunity stronger, more prepared; and therefore less likely to become sick, even if we are exposed to the germ, in this case the virus.
The quarantine is designed to minimize your exposure, not for your body to fight the disease. Since we are in the middle of a pandemic virus outbreak, what can we do at this time? The answer is do the right things that will keep your already working immune system in tip top shape. This is done through proper lifestyle behavior. Follow these 3 key action points to help your personal fight against the flu.
- Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
- Re-stack your biological shelf through nutritional supplements: Vitamin C, multivitamin with minerals, antioxidants like CoQ10 or Glutathione, minerals like zinc, some herbs like echinacea and even Garlic.
- Light to moderate exercise, because movement activates your metabolism to work.
There is no research that supports the use of any supplement to protect against COVID-19 specifically. We are providing information on well-researched supplements that may in general bolster immune system defenses. After all the best way to fight disease is to stay healthy!
Get Healthy and stay healthy, says docMIKE!
Yours in Real Health
docMIKE
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