Survival of The Fittest - Covid 19

We are not out of this yet — Dr. Bruce Aylward, a senior leader at the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the Covid Crisis could “easily drag on deep into 2022”.

Your body’s immunity is linked to what you eat and do. Adopting simple daily habits will help keep you away from the GP’s surgery, and whilst there is not a 100% defense against Covid, keeping healthy means you’re better able to cope should you succumb to the virus.

1. Have you noticed that cats have a really good stretch after waking up?

Cats usually sleep from 16 to 18 hours per day. This causes them to stay inactive for most of the day. This inactivity drops their blood pressure. Therefore, stretching after waking up regulates the blood in their body. Their blood pressure comes back to normal after a good stretching session.

For humans, one of the most common problems with our skeleton is back pain. It is estimated that 60–80% of people in the UK report back pain at some time in their lives. Yet stretching each muscle group, every day can make a difference.

Try this: Lie on your bed. Pull one knee towards your chest, hold for 10 seconds. Alternate with the other knee. Next pull up both knees and hold for 10 seconds, Release.

This exercise is also very effective in a warm bath.

2. Keep it clean when Out and About

Mobile phones have 18 times more living bacteria than the handles in public toilets. And, 30% of handbags are contaminated with E.coli. With Covid, the guidance is to regularly wash our hands, but we also need to keep our closest, most frequently used possessions clean too

Try this: Use Anti-bacterial wipes regularly to clean your mobile and handbag straps and openings. Hang your bag on a hook in public toilets so that it doesn’t touch the floor.

3. Have a Clear-Out

Clutter causes people to feel stressed, oppressed, and depressed. A disorganized space can increase your blood pressure and stress levels.

4. Get in Tune

Scientists in Washington found older people who joined a choir saw the doctor less and didn’t need as much medication. Singing not only exercises major muscle groups in the upper body but, because it’s an aerobic activity, it also improves the efficiency of your cardiovascular system.

Singing is also linked to stress reduction, improved airflow to the upper respiratory tract (reducing colds and flu risk), and enhanced mental state — making you feel good.

Try this: Covid-19 has reduced the opportunities to join a choir, however, there are choir groups online. Singing in the shower is also a great thing to do because water has healing properties.

5. Go Crazy for Watercress

Watercress contains — weight for weight — more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, more folic acid than bananas, and more Vitamin E than peanuts. And, according to a University of Ulster study, eating 85g of fresh watercress daily can reduce the chance of developing several different types of cancer.

Try this: Add a handful to every sandwich and salad.

6. Adopt the 80% Rule

The Okinawa Islands of Japan boast one of the healthiest communities in the world and experts attribute this to ‘hara hachi bu’ — stopping eating when they are 80% full. This reduces the risk of diabetes, heart attack, or stroke.

Try this: Check your portion sizes, you could also reduce the size of the plate you use. Don’t be distracted by TV when eating and stop as soon as you feel full.

7. Always Look on the Bright Side

Having a positive outlook not only increases life expectancy but acts as a ‘buffer’ against illness, reducing your risk of heart disease by 29%, according to a review of studies by the Mayo Clinic in the US.

Experts aren’t sure why, but optimists have a better immune function and cope better with stress than pessimists. And positive people are less likely to catch colds, say researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University of Pennsylvania.

Experts aren’t sure why, but optimists have a better immune function and cope better with stress than pessimists. And positive people are less likely to catch colds, say researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University of Pennsylvania.

Try this: A Science of Happiness study found that smiling, counting your blessings, and reliving happy memories make you feel happier. So, even if you’re feeling low, forcing a smile will lift your spirits.

8. Be Sociable

Don’t underestimate the power of friendship. Researchers claim friendships counteract the harmful effects of stress hormones. When doctors at Carnegie Mellon University gave students an influenza vaccine, they found those with larger social networks produced more flu-fighting antibodies than those who reported feeling lonely.

Try this: Surround yourself with friends who make you feel emotionally uplifted and not emotionally drained — within current guidelines, of course.

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