Staying healthy during a pandemic. First things first, most of us appear to be grappling with the fact that amid a pandemic some individuals seem to be completely losing their minds like its Black Friday in Argos. What happened to keep calm and be kind.

The impact of scaremongering and the knock-on effect of panic buying are a little concerning but for those not completely losing their sh** thank you.

Coronavirus certainly isn’t to be taken lightly. It’s serious and so is our health. But it’s the same news over and over again. Death tolls, symptoms and isolation. From what I am reading and hearing in the news there seems to be a clear lack of conversation around the basics of what it means to be healthy and I am still to see a healthcare professional educating the public on a variety of topics that should include how to strengthen your immune system and nutrients that can promote health internally.

Washing our hands and social distancing is clearly a good idea and no diet will prevent you from catching Coronavirus but having a robust immune system is going to go a long way to aiding and speeding up the recovery should you become infected with Covid-19 or with any other type of virus or flu for that matter.

So how do we go about staying healthy during a pandemic?

If your body is a house, then the foundation of your house is the health of your gut and immune system. It’s your immune system that defends your body against harmful things, like bacteria and viruses, protecting you from infections and diseases. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill but there are a few things we can certainly do as part of a healthy lifestyle that can affect how well it functions.

Okay, now the important stuff on how to promote a healthy gut and a strong immune system and what you can do to limit disrupting immune pathways and impairing your body’s ability to fight bacterial and viral infections.

Foods rich in Vitamin C and Zinc go a long way to protecting the body against colds and flu and directly support the functioning of your immune system.

Kiwi, broccoli, kale, and cauliflower along with oranges are great sources of Vitamin C. Good quality organic meat, seeds, nuts, and eggs are all high in Zinc.

If you aren’t doing so already it would be a wise decision to invest in a Vitamin D supplement again to bolster the immune system.

When it comes to fruit and vegetables a good tip is variety and colour so have as much on your plates as possible. Opt for frozen fruit and vegetables over tinned or canned if possible. Do you best to eat single ingredient foods, get creative with herbs and spices all of which will be high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. And stay hydrated.

Prioritise your sleep. Inadequate sleep can lead to many aspects of your immune system not firing on all cylinders, along with increasing the risk or respiratory infection. Aim for no less than 7 hours and aid the quality: dim lights in the evening, stay off phones and tablets an hour before you plan on going to bed and invest in some blackout curtains.

Stay active and train if you can but don’t go crazy. Now isn’t the time for maximal effort type training. Light jogging, yoga, and bodyweight exercises are great options for now and do your best to stay active and keep your steps up. The importance of staying fit and active and how this correlates to protecting the body against disease shouldn’t be underestimated.

And try not to stress! The last thing you need is elevated stress hormones. If you don’t meditate then the Calm app is a great way to learn and recommended. Learning how to meditate will help with your sleep, stress, and confidence. You can try for free for 7 days. Give it a go you won’t regret it.

Stay up to date here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus. And please respect the guidelines from the government.

If you are unsure regarding supplementation please consult a healthcare practitioner before doing so.

Take Care. Stay Fit, Strong & Healthy.