Immunity-related content has risen drastically over the past few weeks. For good reason as there is increasing public concern around COVID-19 and our community is seeking science-backed ways to protect their health.
However, sometimes that “do something” urge leads people down a confusing path of unrealistic, counterproductive, and/or unhealthy misinformation
While we do truly believe that smart supplementation can play an important role in supporting your overall health, we do want to address some of the concerning messages that we have recently seen that have been encouraging unhealthy actions. Let’s be clear—no supplement is going to prevent, treat, or cure this novel virus. As a company, we don’t want to look back on this time period and see that we did not do everything we could to combat misinformation and promote the right resources.
At all times, and especially now, we are committed to providing evidence-based support and guidance. Our experts are working around the clock to be a source of knowledge and truth for our readers and customers. We have been doing that over the last few weeks—check out our recent blog posts and content on social media— and we want to take time here to lay out our approach to immunity and what that means for you right here, right now.
Just as our approach to nutrition is about building a solid foundation for your best health and longevity, so too is our approach to immunity
- We believe that an optimal nutrient status is crucial for a strong immune system. Immunity goes far beyond nutrition though—it’s about taking a big-picture approach to your health.
- The best way to reduce your risk is by following official public health guidelines, which include good hygiene, proper hydration, meeting your nutrient needs, restful sleep, exercise, and stress management.
- There’s no “magic pill” or strategy. Rather than looking at improving your immunity directly through supplements (or any other single method), consider looking at it from a holistic viewpoint. All of these healthy choices will create a positive downstream effect of supporting and strengthening your immune system.
- Social media as of late has been flooded with unscientific claims promoting supplements that prevent or cure COVID-19. Not only is this unethical, as it preys on the fear and panic of vulnerable people, but it’s also not supported by science. Again, no supplement has been shown to treat, cure, or prevent this novel virus.
To the here and now, here are the actions you can practice that public health officials recommend
Good hygiene
- Wash your hands frequently using this method.
- Practice social distancing measures set forth by the CDC.
- Avoid touching your face to reduce the risk of spreading germs to your mouth, eyes, and nose.
Proper hydration
- Stay hydrated with water and other fluids.
- Alcohol can dampen the immune system.
- Be cognizant of your caffeine intake as that can impact your sleep quality and stress levels.
Nutrient-dense diet and proper nutrient intake
- Focus on choosing a variety of colors of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices to maximize vitamins, minerals, and other plant-compounds that carry a wide spectrum of health-promoting properties.
- Enjoy protein with each meal and snack such as chicken, fish, turkey, tofu, and beans.
- Incorporate some fermented food products for probiotics (healthy bacteria) in your diet such as yogurt, kombucha, and sauerkraut.
- Include garlic and onion in your dinner for the prebiotic (food for your healthy bacteria) support.
- If you’re a Baze customer and have your nutrient levels tested, rest assured, you’re getting only the supplements you need to help fill some of the gaps in your diet.
Restful sleep
- Insufficient and low quality sleep has been shown to weaken the immune system. Ideally, optimal sleep for people tends to be anywhere between 7-9 hours per night.
- Since we are supplement experts, we do want to mention that for some people, L-theanine has been shown to promote restful sleep in clinical trials. Click the link to read our experts’ breakdown of the current state of the research and if you’re interested in trying it, email your dietitian at dietitians@baze.com.
Exercise
- Physical activity is a great reason to get outdoors, especially while we are all more cooped up than usual. Plus, the outdoors can have a positive impact on stress levels.
- Any exercise is better than no exercise. Don’t be too hard on yourself here—simply try to move your body a bit each day, both for your immune system and your overall sanity!
Stress management
- Stress has been shown to weaken the immune system. This is obviously not ideal when we’re in unprecedented times, which can bring on added stress.
- For some people, stress is a major barrier to getting enough sleep, eating well, limiting your alcohol intake, or exercising. If that sounds like you, it might be wise to put your largest focus and effort on doing things that help mitigate stress. That will look different for everyone.
- A few common and popular stress-reduction activities include getting outdoors, walking, doing yoga or stretching, coloring or putting together a puzzle, facetime or chatting on the phone with loved ones, and/or playing with your pets.
- Since we are supplement experts, we do want to mention that for some people, both L-theanine and ashwagandha have been shown to help reduce stress levels in clinical trials. Click the links to read our experts’ breakdown of the current state of the research and if you’re interested in trying either of them, email your dietitian at dietitians@baze.com.
More resources
- Stay up to date with the latest from the CDC.
- Keep checking our Instagram for even more info from our experts in the coming weeks on immunity and your overall health.
- If you’re stuck at home and need to cook more than usual, check out our blog Dietitians’ Ultimate Pantry and Frozen Food Shopping List (Plus Easy Recipes!).
Disclaimer
We encourage you to talk with your health care provider about your specific and personal care. The statements above have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.