Healthy Reads presents: new easy ways to avoid COVID-19 and protect yourself and others!
Many years have passed since COVID-19 completely changed our lives. The year 2020 helped us become used to wearing masks, staying away from our friends and families, washing our hands more often than usual, and working and studying from a distance.
Time has passed, and the vaccine against this deadly virus was a major help in keeping SARS-CoV-2 away from us. Many of us believe that we left the new coronavirus behind, but if we don’t want to live in a new pandemic, we have to find new ways to avoid COVID-19.
Researchers, medical professionals, and public health officials discovered so many new variants of this virus that many of us probably lost count of them.
It might be difficult to keep track of everything, but since the threat is still there and probably stronger than ever, we all need to do our best to protect ourselves and the people we love. So, if you want to be healthy and keep your immune system strong, here are the best new ways to avoid COVID-19.
1. Keep your weight in check
Paying attention to your weight is probably not something you were expecting to read in this article about new ways to avoid COVID-19, but it is very important. Researchers discovered that people who are overweight or obese can get infected with a more dangerous SARS-CoV-2 variant.
You might know that people who carry extra pounds have a weaker immune system compared to those who are at a healthy weight. That’s because excess adipose tissue puts pressure on bodily functions, including the immune system, making it weaker and more likely to get infected with viruses and diseases.
Moreover, experts said that people who are overweight or obese might have difficulties treating the symptoms of the virus at home, so they might require hospitalization.
What can you do at home?
One of the best ways to avoid COVID-19 and to protect yourself and those you love from it is to have an active lifestyle and eat nutritious foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals.
Don’t worry, you have to spend hours in the gym. All you need is to implement daily movements in your life, such as walks, a quick run if you’re up for a challenge, yoga, or even some strength training exercises at home. If you want to drop a few pounds, build stamina and tone, and make your muscles stronger, I recommend you do exercises with these weights (you can find lots of tutorials on YouTube).
As for your diet, focus on things that nourish your body, such as lean protein, like tuna, salmon, mackerel, chicken, tofu, yogurt, beef, and cottage cheese, and make sure to add lots of veggies, fruits, and fiber into your meals to improve your immune system.
2. Visit your doctor
You already know how important it is to be healthy, so don’t forget to go to your doctor for regular checkups. Even if you feel fine or don’t have any symptoms, one of the best ways to avoid COVID-19 is by knowing how your body is.
A professional can help you with the proper investigations, tools, and treatments so that, in case something’s off, you can easily kick it out of your system.
Doctors say that if you already suffer from a health condition, having SARS-CoV-2 on top of it can put a lot of pressure on your body and immune system, which will make the healing period harder.
Do you know any ways to avoid COVID-19? What was your experience with the pandemic? Let us know in the comments!
3. Learn how to differentiate between COVID-19, colds, and flu
Since COVID-19, the flu, or a cold can attack your respiratory system and the symptoms are quite similar, it can be hard to differentiate between them.
For instance, fever, dyspnea, exhaustion, headache, runny nose, cough, sore throat, muscular soreness, and body aches can all be symptoms of both COVID-19 and the flu. Diarrhea and vomiting can also be among the symptoms, but they’re more common in kids.
Colds, on the other hand, tend to be less severe than the flu and frequently cause stuffy or runny noses. The easiest way to identify whether it’s COVID or a simple cold is by checking if you still have taste and smell.
So, what’s the first thing you should do if you experience any of these symptoms?
If you notice any of these symptoms, the smartest thing to do is to get tested at home and see if you have COVID or not. In case you suffer from the new coronavirus, you should avoid getting in contact with your family members so that you can protect them from the virus, and in case you feel bad, you should seek help from a specialist.
In case it’s a cold or the flu, you’d better contact your healthcare provider and ask them whether you should take a specific treatment or not. Knowing the difference between these health issues is one of the best ways to avoid the spread of the virus, so you can keep everyone you love safe.
Let’s continue with these easy ways to avoid COVID-19! Keep reading!
4. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth
We touch your faces, eyes, and nose all the time without even paying much attention to this habit. You probably know from when you were a child that touching your face can cause skin problems because you put your hand on dirty surfaces and then transfer the bacteria.
However, this is important today too, because there are multiple germs and bacteria in the air or on the surfaces we use each day, and besides causing skin issues, your hands can become infected and then spread the virus to your mouth, nose, or eyes, where it can enter your body and cause illness.
Keep reading to discover other ways to avoid COVID-19!
5. Protect your mind
We know that the new coronavirus can have a strong impact on how your body feels and performs daily, but what about your mental health?
These uncertain times we live in, with deadly viruses and wars that kill thousands of people in a day, can harm your mind, so you need to take care of it.
While this might not be one of the ways to avoid COVID-19, you can think of it as a method to avoid feeling down. Strange times can worsen your anxiety, fear, and depression symptoms, so accept that you can’t control everything, but do things that bring you joy, such as talking to someone you love, watching a movie, reading a wonderful book, working on a project you’re passionate about, cooking, working out, etc.
A strong mind is one of the simplest ways to avoid COVID-19 or at least the psychological impact its symptoms have on you, so while you treat your body with the right things, make sure your mind receives the same treatment.
What do you think about these ways to avoid COVID-19?
6. Get that vitamin C in
Vitamin C is amazing for helping your immune system be strong and healthy so that it can keep all viruses and bacteria at bay. While there’s not sufficient research saying that vitamin C is one of the best ways to avoid COVID-19, we know that it can protect us from colds and viruses.
You can give your immune system a boost and also shed a few pounds with the help of a healthy and gut-friendly drink. Squeeze half of the lemon juice, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (make sure you choose the one that says with the mother), and add a teaspoon of honey. Drink this with a straw so the lemon’s acidity doesn’t harm your teeth on an empty stomach, then wait half an hour to have breakfast.
This beverage will clear your body of toxins, give you enough vitamin C, and give your immune system a boost. Other than that, make sure you consume lots of foods rich in vitamin C, such as peppers, leafy greens, citrus fruit, broccoli, potatoes, strawberries,
blackcurrants, and Brussels sprouts.
Do you know any other easy ways to avoid COVID-19? Share them with us in the comments, and make sure to take care of your health! If you liked this article about easy ways to avoid COVID-19 and you want to read something else from us, here’s an amazing article to check out next: 4 Subtle Thyroid Cancer Symptoms You Should NEVER Ignore
