To avoid getting sick, most of the focus so far has been on preventing exposure to the coronavirus, which, of course, is very important—staying at home, social distancing, hand washing, gloves, masks, disinfecting, etc. 

But very little has been written about the other half of the equation: how to enhance your immune system so that if you are exposed, you can reduce the chances of getting sick—or at least mitigate the intensity of the disease and thus reduce the death rate. The four aspects of our lifestyle medicine program—eat well, move more, stress less, love more—have been proven to reverse a wide variety of chronic diseases.

Spreading fear and loathing about the coronavirus may, ironically, increase the risk of getting sick. Anxiety can be self-fulfilling to the extent that it does suppress immune function and makes someone more likely to get the very disease they’re most afraid. There are many things we can do to enhance our immune function to help protect us, such as virtually spend time with friends and family in other places. 

The rates of both respiratory infection and clinical colds increased significantly in a dose-response manner with increases in the degree of psychological stress. In other words, stress suppressed their immune function. Because of this, the more stressed they felt, the more likely they were to get infected and sick. 

Numerous studies have clearly shown that a healthy, whole foods plant-based diet enhances your immune function.There are thousands of substances in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and soy products that are protective against infections.

Many studies have shown a clear, inverse relationship between moderate exercise and risk of a wide variety of illnesses, including infectious diseases. It enhances immune regulation. Just walking 15-30 minutes/day  makes a big difference in your immune function.

Let put all of this together to say that it does make perfect sense to be mindful of reducing the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus by staying at home, social distancing, hand washing, gloves, masks, disinfecting, etc.) without becoming afraid or depressed. And to spend more time virtually in loving relationships with friends and family, eating well, moving more, and stressing less. In short, enhancing our immune system can help us to be less “influenced” by the virus.

Finding meaning in situations, especially bad ones, also helps enhance our immune system. With all the tragedy of the coronavirus, is there anything meaningful that comes from it? I am sure there are plenty of signs that existed before, but we were too busy to look and found them.

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