We are living in an unprecedented time. No one I know has lived during a time of a health pandemic. Our lives are definitely different. We live in a country founded on freedom yet our daily routines of work and life are being dictated by our elected government officials. Some applaud their choices and some are outraged. Regardless of which side of the fence you find yourself, I believe we need to pray for our elected leaders. We need to pray they will bend to the will of God and for them to make wise choices. Beyond sitting and waiting for their decisions, we need to do our part to protect our own health.
Whether or not you choose to partake of a vaccine when it becomes available, we need to be proactive to protect our own health. In my last article I wrote on how to improve your health in the midst of a pandemic. The main point of that article was to encourage you not to be paralyzed by fear, but to take action and function out of faith. I encouraged you to get outside and revitalize your body with fresh air, sunlight, and movement. I also recommended to renew old, healthy habits or start new ones. Lastly, I encouraged you to reconnect with those you care about most.
In this article I want elaborate on a few things that you can do to protect your health and boost your immune system. The best defense against any virus is building your own immune system.
1. I know it goes against everything you are being told but I am not in favor of sanitizing every surface around you every 10 seconds. Our immune systems are built and strengthened by germs and microbes around us. Researchers have found that using antibacterial and antimicrobial soap and sanitizers are setting us up to have weakened immune systems, auto-immune issues, inflammatory bowel diseases, asthma, and allergies.1
2. Reduce your intake of inflammatory foods and liquids. Foods high in sugar greatly increase inflammation and lower your immunity. Eighty-three research studies have concluded that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables improves the immune system. Conversely, eating diets that are high in man-made sugars has a direct effect on our bodies’ ability to fight infection. Our immune system decreases up to 50% for up to five hours after we have eaten sugar.2
3. Drink more water. Good water intake can help to restore fluids through metabolism, helps regulate your temperature, helps hydrate your skin, lubricates your joints and tissues, aids in digestion, helps your kidneys remove waste from your body, and helps boost your immune system. Water should be your main source of hydration and you should drink at least half your body weight, in ounces, per day. For example, if you weigh 200 lbs then you should drink at least 100 ounces of water per day.
4. Get your spinal misalignments corrected by your family chiropractor. I know this may seem weird to some but there are numerous studies that have proven regular chiropractic care boosts your immune system. One study measured the effect of six months of regular chiropractic care on the immune function of HIV immune compromised patients. At the end of six months of regular care, the patients who had received regular chiropractic adjustments showed a 48% increase in CD4+ T cells and those who did not had an 8% decrease.3 Another study found that when an adjustment was given, the white blood cell count (responsible for fighting off infections) rose significantly within 15 minutes.4
There are those that tout that the only way to protect ourselves is by vaccination for specific illnesses. Without diving into that debate what I will tell you is that your own immune system is your best protector. The best way to boost your immune system is by being proactive. God created each one of us with the ability to heal. When you get a cut on your finger it’s not the Band-Aid or the Neosporin that heals that cut. It’s your body’s inner wisdom and healing ability. I hope you always remember that your health starts with you and comes from the inside out.
-by Dr. Brandon Crouch
About the Author: Dr. Brandon Crouch is a Chiropractor with Crouch Family Chiropractic (www.crouchfamilychiro.com). If you have questions or comments Dr. Crouch can be reached at 270-842-1955 or via email at: office@crouchfamilychiro.hush.com.
Sources:
- Olszak, T. et al. Science http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1219328 (2012).
- Sanchez, A. “Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 26, Issue 11, November 1973, Pages 1180–1184
- Selano JL, Hightower BC, Pfleger B, et al: “The effects of specific upper cervical adjustments on the CD4 counts of HIV positive patients.” Chiropractic Research Journal 1994 3(1):32
- Brennan PC, “Enhanced neutrophil respiratory burst as a biological marker for manipulation forces: duration of the effect and association with substance P and tumor necrosis factor.” J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1992 Feb;15(2):83-9.
