I had something completely unrelated to this topic ready to go for this week’s blog post but the news of the Coronavirus has really sparked quite the debate on the news and I knew it was a subject I had to write about right now.

GUYS. Can we stop freaking out about this already?!  

Look, I am not able to make claims that you are 100% safe, none of us are, and I am also aware that this can spread very easily if not careful, but I am also aware that there are several other things spreading around this world that more people are dying from.

I came across these statistics and wanted to share here, although the numbers might be slightly off, it gives you an idea.

As of today:

There are approximately 107,000 cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) at the moment, of which approximately 77,000 are in China. This means that if you are not in or haven’t recently visited China, this should eliminate 94% of your concern.

If you do contract Coronavirus, this still is not a cause for panic because:
86% of the Cases are MILD
14% of the Cases are MODERATE
Only 5% of the Cases are CRITICAL

This means that even if you do get the virus, you are most likely to recover from it.

Some have said, “but this is worse than SARS!”. SARS had a fatality rate of 10% while COVID-19 has a fatality rate of 3.5%

Moreover, looking at the ages of those who are dying of this virus, the death rate for the people UNDER 50 years of age is only 0.2%

This means that:
if you are under 50 years of age and don’t live in China – you are more likely to win the lottery (which has a 1 in 45,000,000 chance)

Let’s take one of the worst days so far, the 10th of February, when 108 people in CHINA died of Coronavirus.

On the same day:
26,283 people died of Cancer
24,641 people died of Heart Disease
4,300 people died of Diabetes
Suicide took 28 times more lives than the virus did.

Mosquitoes kill 2,740 people every day, HUMANS kill 1,300 fellow humans every day, and Snakes kill 137 people every day. (Sharks kill 2 people a year)

SO, what is going on at the stores right now?

Last week I went into Costco and the lack of carts outside should have been my first inclination that there would be madness inside but I still walked in looking for the largest box of cookies for my daughter’s school fundraiser.  Thankfully cookies were in no short supply.

But you know what was no longer available… water bottles, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer.  Like we are heading into some kind of huge winter storm. Except we are not, not here in San Diego anyway.

I asked the cashier why it was so busy and he laughed and said probably the news about the Coronavirus because it has been like that the past few days.

We have become a world that focuses on what we hear in the news without really looking into all the facts.

Mind-blowing isn’t it?!

Instead of focusing on what the news might be telling you, remember, you are more likely to catch the flu… which we see every year. BUT if you are really concerned, here are six steps you can do to help boost your immune system.

When your immune system is strong, you have a better chance of fighting off the flu, colds and other infections. SO, if you are still worried, let’s look at some tips that can help boost your immune system to give you an even better chance.

6 Tips For Boosting your Immune System

• Stop Stressing.

This is absolutely easier said than done, I get it.  Stressing releases cortisol in our bodies which helps us fight stress and inflammation in our bodies. HOWEVER, when we stressed out ALL THE TIME, our body is releasing cortisol all the time. So, eventually, we build up a tolerance to it, and it just stops working as it should.

• Practice Proper Hygiene.

While I am on this topic… warm soap and water are much better than hand sanitizers… but do what you can. Crazy that we still have to talk about this.  Guess what was still in stock.. soap!

• Get enough Vitamin D.

You can get Vitamin D by spending some time outside in the sun but if you can’t get outside, look for a good supplement.  You can also find food that is often fortified with Vitamin D like yogurt, milk and non-dairy ‘milks’, some breakfast cereals, eggs, salmon, and tofu.

• Eat leafy greens. Eat fruits. Eat veggies.

Leafy greens have been shown to boost protein synthesis in the cells that help support our immune system!  I find the easiest way to get leafy greens in my diet is to drink a green smoothie for breakfast or a snack.  Add in extra fruit and veggies and your day is off to a great start!

• Get enough sleep (7-8 hours is best)

When we sleep, our body repairs and builds our immune system which is what fights off viruses! It’s recommended to get 8 hours, which I know is not always realistic, but studies have shown that getting at least 7 hours can help fight off viruses.  

Also, when we sleep, our body releases a protein called cytokines. This protein helps fight off viruses and builds our immune system. When we’re not sleeping, we’re not letting our bodies release them!

• Laugh, exercise, and or move your body however you can.

Studies have proven that routine exercise can drastically decrease your chances of getting sick. So whether you prefer pilates, a good run, lifting weights or participating in a dance class, be sure to make physical activity a part of your weekly schedule.

---

Key takeaways?

That added stress over worrying about something that MIGHT happen is not helping you stay in your best health.  Take a deep breath, wash your hands, and eat your veggies.

---

Have you noticed the toilet paper and water disappearing at your stores too?