Gut Check

It has occurred to me since mid-March 2020 that there are several, simultaneous pandemics happening at once in the world. This has been eye-opening and anxiety inducing. Here in the United States, we have become the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic *queue many theories on why and what we should do about it*. There is also a pandemic of fear surrounding the virus which may be just as pervasive as the virus itself. As if the virus wasn't stressful enough, here in the states we are facing systemic race inequality, out-of-control police brutality and a race to preserve democracy. It's enough to make anyone's, well, immune system weak. Wait - did I mention the need for immediate climate change mitigation strategies?

After feeling entirely overwhelmed with information, disinformation and opinions on the world wide web, I decided that I was the only person who could dispel my anxiety and out-of-control ickiness in the midst of this health crisis. I was the one with the power to reduce stress and increase my immune function. You are not powerless - even though many factors may be making you feel so. Below, I have detailed three simple, affordable ways to improve your mental, emotional and physical health during this wild time. Hang on to your masks, folks!

1. Go outside and get moving.

A wise meme once said 'we are basically house plants with more complicated emotions!' We need sunshine to thrive - and also to absorb Vitamin D which keeps our immune system firing on all cylinders. Interestingly enough, Covid-19 studies are being done to determine common risk factors for mortality and so far, there is some good evidence that low Vitamin D may play a role. You can find free Vitamin D exposure apps where you can track your sun exposure per day for maximum benefits while minimizing your UV damage. Don't overdo it! Just like you wouldn't want to over-water your house plants.

While it may be impossible to socially distance at a crowded beach or pool, you can likely find a safe place to take a short walk every day to soak up some sun, move your body and breathe fresh air. This benefits mental health and you can even use it as a time to call a friend or family member or listen to music or a dope podcast. They say 10,000 steps a day (roughly 4.5-5 miles) keeps you out of the sedentary category of movement. While this may be a far-reaching goal for some, it may be a nice challenge to start and end a work day with some mileage if you suddenly find yourself working from home.

2. Consume less.

You probably don't need me to tell you how stimulated you feel every day and how much of this stimulation comes from access to information and holy cow this is a run on sentence do you see what I'm doing here? Breathe. We are living in the age of information which is incredible, and also, a bit overwhelming. It's not exactly healthy for us to be constantly trying to absorb and process information at the rate we do. What are some realistic ways to combat this? Well, for one, turn off the news.

Every person on the planet has to choose for themselves how much is enough information to make decisions with - and with how polarized everything (even the non-partisan stuff) has become as of late, we should all be assessing how much is too much. We are animals, which means we still have a fight or flight response to perceived danger. Our brains don't know whether perceived threats are happening or just being catastrophized by media outlets. Our body will react accordingly, thanks to our central nervous system. This reduces immune function and creates nasty, tribalistic behaviors as a defense mechanism. You can choose how much information you consume every day - you can pause social media accounts, reduce your subscriptions on YouTube, take a few nights off the evening news. I promise you, you will only be more present in your own life and body and the news isn't going anywhere. Give yourself the gift of tuning out to tune in. You will feel much more grounded for it!

3. Drink green tea.

Not only this, but the overarching theme here is improve your health from the inside out. Food is medicine, and our gut houses 60% of our immune system! Green tea is excellent because it has countless health benefits, and is a great source of flavonoids and antiviral properties such as catechins and epicatechin gallate. And while an apple a day keeps the doctor away may be too much to ask of an apple, apples contain quercetin, another powerful flavonoid that offers anti-inflammatory and anti-viral benefits. Reducing added and refined sugars in your diet (including from the pesky places they hide like salad dressings and cereals, etc) is another stellar way to support your gut health and build your body's ability to fight any illness or virus. It's empowering when a solution is what you eat every day - so make healthy, whole foods the centerpiece of your diet. Stay healthy, stay safe and stay kind!