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Healthy at Home: Our Immune System is our Best Defense Against Illnesses
Almost three-quarters of a million people die each year because of an unhealthy diet. We are currently at about 10% of that death rate for COVID. And while COVID is a deadly virus, the numbers in New York show that 90% of those that died had underlying health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an “unhealthy diet contributes to approximately 678,000 deaths each year in the U.S., due to nutrition- and obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. In the last 30 years, obesity rates have doubled in adults, tripled in children, and quadrupled in adolescents.”
While I know not everyone who has those health issues is a result of unhealthy diet, the numbers are still staggering. I wonder how much money is spent on prescription drugs and hospitalizations due to illnesses that are diet-related.
Would Coronavirus and other illnesses be less of an issue and cause less fear if we had stronger immune systems? I believe the answer is yes and here’s why…
My Better Health Journey
My better health journey began in 2013 when my 18-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Grave’s disease. It was the summer before her freshman year in college and she began experiencing all kinds of strange health issues from full body rashes to hallucinations to a dangerously rapid heartbeat. The infirmary at her school called me to get her to the ER or an endocrinologist immediately. After evaluating her, the endocrinologist wanted to put her on prescription drugs for her thyroid “probably for the rest of her life” as well as heart medications and possibly remove her thyroid.
I could not accept that diagnosis for my then 18-year-old so I began researching other options. That road led me to a holistic / wellness doctor and taking a closer look at the causes of her poor health.
It did not happen overnight, but I am happy to say my daughter no longer takes any prescription drugs, still has her thyroid and is leading a healthy life by eating whole healthy foods, taking natural supplements and taking care of her body the natural way — the way God intended.
From Multiple Health Issues to Virtually None
I am not the only one who has learned the benefits of a natural approach to health. Shonna found herself on her own path to wellness. She was struggling with a variety of issues including an autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and a son who had social and academic struggles.
She decided to make some changes and take a more holistic approach to foods, personal products and household products. As a result, in time her son went from non-social with somewhat uncontrollable emotions (Aspergers), multiple learning diagnosis, sleep and bronchitis issues to a healthy young man who did all dual credit his senior year and just finished his freshman year with a 3.75 GPA.
She and her family are another vibrate example of how healthy whole foods are medicine for your body. It has become such a passion of Shonna’s that she now coaches others. You can read more about her story here.
Strengthening our Immune System
Through all of this, I recall my wellness doctor telling me we needed to strengthen our immune system. Probably something the majority of America needs to do. When illnesses like COVID come, having a healthy immune system is your best defense for staying healthy.
Dr. Hotze, an outspoken Holistic doctor, shares, “the typical American diet consists of packaged and processed foods that are depleted of most of their vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals provide the nutritional foundation for a healthy immune system; yet, most of us do not get what we need from the foods we eat.”
Here are a few tips on strengthening your immune system:
- Eat healthy whole foods, not processed foods,
- Take high-quality natural supplements including vitamin D and vitamin C,
- Get good sleep,
- Don’t fear or panic as stress weakens your immunity,
- Walk and get outdoors for some exercise,
- Reduce or eliminate white sugar. It increases risks for diseases,
- Get some sun which offers natural vitamin D,
- Have faith; it helps with not fearing / panicking.
I would add to make sure you drink lots of clean water for overall health. Some health professionals recommend half of your weight in ounces. And while you may not be able to make every change in a day, you can start somewhere and clean up your diet so that healthy, whole foods can become medicine to your body.