Now more than ever, we need to make our self-care a priority. There is a lot of fear and misinformation being spread across all media channels, and it's hard to know what's the actual truth.
One of the few things we know for sure is that strengthening our immune system is the best way to prevent and manage COVID-19. I've taken the time to compile a list of the best immunity boosting tips to help you persevere through this.
The best part? You can practice all of these tips without having to leave your home.
Eat Less Animal Products & More Plants
It has been scientifically proven time & time again that eating more animal products weighs down our cardiovascular, hormonal, and immune system.
Foods like meats, dairy, & eggs takes longer for our digestive system to process. Eating these foods takes blood away from our brain and other vital functions, such as your immune system, to our digestive tract. This is why you feel foggy & tired after eating a lot of pizza or fried meats.
Plants are easy to digest and provide a lot more nutrients than animal products. Many animal products are heavily processed, so a lot of the nutrients that people think are in animal products are either greatly reduced or non-existent.
Plus, fruits are loaded with Vitamin C, which is one of the best vitamins you can ingest for your immunity. (Vitamin C supplements are okay, but the best source by far is directly from the fruit).
Plants high in Vitamin C:
Chili Peppers
Kiwis
Broccoli
Lemons
Strawberries
Oranges
Reduce News & Social Media
The single largest factor that reduces the strength of your immune system is stress.
Every time you turn on the news or scroll your social feed, all you see is fear, anxiety, and a lot of uncertainty. All of these negative emotions are then implanted onto your mind, and you begin to feel them.
Don't get me wrong, it's important to have a pulse on what's going on. But you don't need to have the television on the news constantly. You'll know if anything life changing or important happens, and your stress levels will decrease drastically when you're not constantly receiving updates on "potential infection rates."
Get Moving Outside!
It's important to practice social distancing right now, but it's also important for you to get fresh air.
Breathing in the same, circulated air from your home is not good for any part of your vital functions, including your immune system. Cabin fever is real.
Don't be afraid to go for a walk around the block, or to take a hike somewhere in nature. Breathing in the fresh, country air at your nearby park or mountain is a very good thing.
Definitely avoid areas that are heavy with people, and make sure the area is safe, but don't sit in your house for the entirety of this situation. Fresh air & exercise is more important than you think.
The Wim Hof Method
You may of heard of or seen Wim Hof, AKA "The Iceman" on TV or online. He's the crazy dutchman that is known for extreme feats in the cold, including climbing Mt. Everest in shorts and no shirt.
After 30 years of cold exposure, practice, and scientific studies, he has developed the Wim Hof Method (WHM). It has been scientifically proven to boost the immune system, strengthen the cardiovascular system, decrease stress, manage chronic pain, and much, much more.
The WHM is composed of 3 parts:
- Cold Exposure (Can be a cold shower, ice bath, or cold body of water.)
- Breathing Exercises
- A Committed Mindset
This by far is the most powerful tool you can add to your daily routine to strengthen your immune system. There is no speculation with this; all of his claims are backed by University studies from some of the top research institutes around the world.
The benefits of cold exposure are getting more and more popular, with figures such as Kevin Hart recently starting a SnapChat series called, "Cold as Balls". In it, he and other celebrities have a conversation in an ice bath. He was inspired to start this after he discovered that taking regular ice baths helped him recover from his horrific car crash.
You can learn how to practice this method by downloading the Wim Hof Method app, available on both Android & iOs.
Bonus: Urbanbella Products to Help Your Immune System
Recently, we've released a new line of products called 'Soothe & Restore'.
These products are made to kill harmful bacteria & repair the skin on your hands afterwards.
NOTE: If any of these products appear as Sold Out, click on the 'YES, NOTIFY ME WHEN AVAILABLE!' button & provide your email to receive an automatic update of when we're back in stock.
- U|B Soothe & Restore Hand Wash
- U|B Soothe & Restore Hand Lotion
- U|B Soothe & Restore Hand Lotion & Aloe Hand Sanitizer Duo
- U|B Aloe Hand Sanitizer
Click Here to View Entire U|B Soothe & Restore Collection
The only thing that we have to worry about spreading more than anything is fear.
Do not let fear dictate your behavior or thoughts. We all need to maintain our composure now more than ever to properly take care of ourselves and our loved ones.
We will all get through this, together.
~ The Urbanbella Team
