By Nsi Amah
Hey Bronze Beauties! This Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone and the economy. It is so important to stay close to your loved ones while social distancing and it is equally important to take care of yourself. Your wellness needs to come first. It is extremely difficult to handle business and take care of others if you are neglecting yourself. Here are some ways to take care of your body, especially your immune system.
SLEEP
Sleep fuels our defense mechanisms and takes up a third of our day. When you are sleeping, your body is restoring itself and recovering from the activities hours before bed time. Make sure you are getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day. If you have a hard time getting to sleep; do what works for you. You need silence? Turn off the television, put your cellphone on “Do Not Disturb” and put it away from your bed. If you need background noise, utilize the sound apps on your phone, which can help create some white noise. Take a little time to do some meditation before bed; it can be as long as you want or even ten minutes. The key here is to produce melatonin in your brain so you can sleep.
Taking melatonin supplements is a big help if you suffer from insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep killer due to the pandemic, which can cause depression, anxiety and stress. You have to find what works for you to get your mind to relax and flush out stress from the day. Make sure to distance yourself from any distractions in the bedroom that can encourage insomnia.
SUPER FOODS
When grocery shopping, be sure to stock up on lots of fruits and vegetables such as berries and leafy greens that will help strengthen your immune system. When you are out working or running essential errands, your body is fighting every day germs and viruses that can harm your immune system. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
Citrus
Oranges, grapefruit and tangerines are a great source of vitamin C. If it is in juice form, spend a little extra money to make sure it is freshly squeezed juice. Fruit juices like Tropicana have a lot of sugar and you want to limit that as much as possible.
Berries
We can’t forget the little fruits; Strawberries, raspberries and black berries. They are not only a good source of Vitamin C, but antioxidants as well! These can be easily added into your morning smoothie, Acai bowl or even toppings on your oats.
Garlic
Garlic not only helps flavor your dinner; it helps with your blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well. There have been studies which prove it helps your body fight against flu/cold season.
Matcha
 Matcha is a good replacement for coffee to gain energy on a working day, and it is surprisingly packed with vitamins as well. The green powder in matcha is good for fighting against cold/flu season. If you love matcha, stashing some away would be an excellent idea.
Kale or Spinach
Dark leafy green vegetables are great for iron and strengthening your immune system. These can be easily added to your fruit smoothie with bananas, strawberries, kiwis and mangoes. These should also be added to your salads with dinner as well. Antioxidants are excellent to prevent certain cancers and illnesses like Alzheimer’s.
VITAMINS
If you are deficient in certain vitamins, now is the time to stock up; especially vitamin D,C, E, and A. Even if you are eating an overall healthy diet, it’s smart to have some supplements to assist your body’s defenses. Its better to be safe than sorry. Immunity supplements like Echinacea and Elderberry will do your body some good. Let’s say if you do get sick, the chances of you bouncing back to a healthy state are much higher. You will be healthy again in no time. So, eat well, take your vitamins and take care of yourself so you can take care of others.
