It’s easy to panic amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s important to keep a level head during this time. While experts advise that social distancing and practicing proper hygiene are the most effective ways to reduce your risk of getting infected with coronavirus, there are a few things you can do while staying at your Suntrust home to boost your immune system and strengthen your body’s defenses.

Get enough sleep

Getting adequate sleep every night is your number one weapon against sickness, including coronavirus. A study conducted in 2015 has shown that those who sleep for less than 6 hours at night are more susceptible to catching a cold than those who sleep for 6 hours or more. Without the need to wake up at the break of dawn to get to work on time, we can all take advantage of the community quarantine to get at least 7 hours of sleep nightly.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is good for you, with or without the threat of COVID-19. When you engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity everyday, you reduce your risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Aside from boosting your immune system, it will also help in improving your mood and alleviating any stress and anxiety that may come during this time.

Manage your stress levels

Like getting enough sleep and regular exercise, managing your stress levels is great for your health now and in the long run. Chronic stress has been proven to promote inflammation, which compromises your immune system, so reduce stress everyday by meditating, exercising, or reading a book. Even simple, mindless activities such as playing games on your mobile phone, reading books or snuggling with your dog are great ways to deal with stress.

Maintain a healthy diet

Now is a good time to take a long, hard look at your diet. Aside from the tips above, the best thing we can do for our health is to pay attention to what we put in our bodies. Improve your diet by doing the following:

• Eat more whole plant foods
  • Totally eliminating processed foods like canned meat and instant noodles from your diet may not be doable during the quarantine, but you can balance it out by increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Eat more healthy fats
  • Stock up on foods rich in healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, eggs, cheese, and nuts, to fight inflammation.
• Limit your sugar intake
  • Too much added sugar and refined carbohydrates in your diet increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, which can all weaken your immune system.
• Drink lots of water
  • Water isn’t necessarily going to protect you from coronavirus, but dehydration can cause complications that will increase your susceptibility to sickness. Make sure to drink enough water daily to maintain your overall health.

Be wise with supplements

Many have turned to supplements that claim to treat and prevent COVID-19 since the news of the pandemic hit. While there is nothing wrong with taking extra measures to protect you and your family, remember to do your research and not rely on vitamin supplements alone. Also, there are a lot of natural sources for your daily vitamin needs.