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How to Fight Viruses and Colds Naturally with your Immune System

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.

This is the quote that came to mind when I starting thinking to write this article and pour my fears, frustrations, thoughts, and ultimate optimism into something productive other than, my workouts. I am hoping it will also bring optimism and a sense of empowerment to any who read this on how to fight viruses and colds naturally with your immune system.

I started this article in March, when we first heard about the novel COVID-19 virus and authorities told us to stay home.. Understandably, back then we were all scared and confused by the reactions from the governments around the world. It started in China and the rest of the world followed along. Confusing information about this new virus persists, possibly because a laboratory tampered with it. My confusion however was not due to the virus itself, it was because of the reactions coming from our leaders and infectious disease experts. It came across as very dramatic and extreme. Also there was no mention on how to fight viruses and colds naturally with your immune system. I thought that very strange from everything I know about the body and health.

What is the immune system?

The immune system splits into two categories—the innate and the adaptive—though they rarely function in isolation. The first line of defense against nonself pathogens is the innate, or non-specific, immune response. The innate immune response consists of physical, chemical and cellular defenses against pathogens for example, skin or chemicals in blood. The main purpose of the innate immune response is to immediately prevent the spread and movement of foreign pathogens throughout the body.

The second line of defense against nonself pathogens is called adaptive immune response. Adaptive immunity refers to antigen-specific immune system. The adaptive immune response is more complex than the innate. The antigen first must be processed and recognized. Once an antigen has been recognized, the adaptive immune system creates an army of immune cells specifically designed to attack that antigen. Adaptive immunity also includes a “memory” that makes future responses against a specific antigen more efficient.

The innate immune system controls most viral infections. However, if viral replication outpaces innate defenses, the body must mobilize its adaptive response.

Immune system activation

The immune system is complex and when you get a virus or cold the body’s response to it at times can be that you get a fever, chills, runny nose or a headache. These physiological responses are what the body is doing to fight. It is your immune system’s response to it. Some experts believe that frequent exposure to various pathogens helps the immune system better respond to viruses. For example, when toddlers put dirt in their mouths, this early exposure actually strengthens their immunity. There are millions of pathogens in the world that have the potential to harm or even kill us. So, what does one do?

Well, you can’t walk around being afraid of every potential threat. This will weaken your immune system and, not to mention cause mental health problems. However, there are a few things you do have control over and that can empower you.

6 Healthy Habits

1. Sleep – this is probably one of the most important because what a lot of people don’t realize is that when you sleep you recover both physically and physiologically. Think about it like this – daytime/awake = breakdown and nighttime/sleeping = healing.
2. Exercise – You must be sure to balance this like everything. There is a way to work-out and a way to work-in which depends on your level of daily stress.
3. Water – The body is made up of about 70% water. It’s so important to get enough water during the day. From your foods and from good quality water as well.
4. Mediation/Prayer – These have actually been shown to improve mood, memory and overall health. You can do this while walking in nature which is even better for your health.
5. Food – good quality foods. Fruits and vegetables that are in season. Grass fed meats and wild caught seafood when available.
6. Sunshine/Nature – so important, we are like plants in some ways needing plenty of sun to synthesize Vitamin D. Taking a pill is not the same thing either so get outside and soak it up. 70-80% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D. They found that with Covid-19 patients who needed hospitalization had low to no Vitamin D.
   Creating a healthy lifestyle is important so that you are better equipped to fight pathogens that may harm. The body is an incredible ‘machine’ that will fight to live and adapt if, given the best ingredients to do so. That is not to say you won’t ever get sick, you still may, but you will have an easier time fighting it if you have these 6 healthy empowerment habits in place.

Now back to Covid-19 and why I was so confused with the response to it and, honestly still am. I have yet to hear much from the “experts” about implementing any kind of healthy habits to empower us. It’s all been so extreme, dramatic without much direction or leadership. My understanding of this is because it is a new virus and the initial thought was that it was going to be much worse than it turned out to be.

Thankfully we have now learned that it is not as deadly as expected but the media induced hysteria is worse than anything imagined. Most people are actually recovering from the virus. The numbers show a high probability of recovery.

There also seems to be a lot of misinformation with hospital heads telling doctors to say a person died from the virus even if they did not in order to get more money because they are struggling now. Some hospitals are empty with nurses and doctors getting furloughed while others may be running out of beds. Which truth is reality though or, are they both the reality?

We no longer know what to believe because our country’s foundation has fractured. Trust sustains every society; when leaders erode that trust, we see the consequences clear as day right here in the U.S.

2 Important Vitamins to help you

However, what we do know so far is that most do recover. Some interesting findings again have to do with low Vit D and A. Those who do poorly with the virus are very low in these vitamins, are obese and have heart problems or other underlying issues. About 75% of all health issues can be rectified by lifestyle changes. That means yes, you have control of this and don’t have to be a victim.

Those of us in the healthcare industry also know that isolating people and scaring the shit out of them doesn’t help. Suicide rates went up, child and spousal abuse went up in many areas as well. Mental health problems are increasing and let’s not forget about the huge elephant in the room – the fall-out yet to come from the economic issues we will face because of how badly this was all managed.

It’s interesting to see the reactions of people through all of this. Some are yelling at others through social media platforms which, doesn’t help. It also isn’t a good platform to have an intelligent debate or conversation. Did you know that 70% of communication is actually non-verbal? We lose immense understanding when we cannot meet in person or talk on the phone. It is a childish way of communicating and immature.

It’s important going forward for us all to reflect on our spiritual natures. To recognize which steps to take to learn how to fight viruses and colds naturally with your immune system. To be better humans and help others through love, education and empathy do the same. We are all connected and need to start acting like it.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…….

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