Aneta Ardelian Kuzma, Wellness Coach
Don’t relinquish your power. Instead focus on that which you can control – the greatest of which is your mind.
We are more powerful than we think, and are able to make choices everyday to help strengthen our mind, body and spirit. I am not someone who avoids what is happening in the world. I stay informed, however, I do not internalize or embrace fear. This has been especially important the past few weeks. I wash my hands, protect those around me if I sneeze or cough, and stay home when I am ill. However, the most important thing I do to stay healthy is to protect my energy by focusing on what I want, and not what I don’t want to happen.
There is a powerful connection between our thoughts and our immune system. When we become anxious, we trigger our fight or flight stress response and that releases adrenaline, cortisol and other chemicals and hormones into our system. During sustained periods of anxiety and stress our immune systems are weakened and more vulnerable to infections and illness.
The great news is that we can make smart choices for our minds and our bodies everyday that can actually strengthen our immune system. Here are a few tips and reminders:
- Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables to ensure proper vitamins and nutrients to the body. Crowding our sugar, processed foods, and animal products and increasing plant-based choices will help reduce inflammation in the body, a common contributor to disease.
- Get adequate rest and sleep, which means 7-9 hours for most adults over the age of 18 to ensure your body has time to detox, rest and recharge.
- Increase your water intake to avoid dehydration, which places additional stress on the body. Adding lemon to your water further helps to alkalize the body.
- Exercise and move your body daily to slow down stress hormones, flush out bacteria from the lungs, and increase antibodies and white blood cells that help to detect illness and promote healing.
- Add immune boosting activities like laughing, singing and spending time with loved ones. Find your favorite comedy or musical on Netflix and watch it with your family and friends. You can do all three in one!
- Be mindful of alcohol consumption and don’t smoke.
- Practice gratitude, meditation, yoga and deep yogic breathing to lower stress hormones, stimulate the lymphatic system to release toxins, and promote more oxygen into our systems. I have recorded a short meditation that you can add to your daily routine.