Coronavirus. It’s on everyone’s mind these days. What can you do to protect yourself? Panic. Run to the store and empty all the shelves. Then go into a cave or the desert until the pandemic (and all the hysteria that surrounds it) dies out.

Don’t want to do that? Ok. Wash your hands (don’t you do this already?), and keep your hands away from your face.

What else can you do? Strengthen your immune system. This is your best defense. If you can’t become a hermit, and can’t possibly know that no single person within breathing distance of you is in the pre-illness phase of Coronavirus, what you CAN do is reinforce the armor you were born with.

This is done in a variety of ways. Some are free, some pretty cheap, and some require an investment in your health.

I recommend that everyone start by taking a chill pill. There is way too much paranoia going on right now, and it has a lot to do with an out-of-control media that has realized Americans are tired of hearing about politics. Except that the media has turned Coronavirus into yet another discussion of politics. Take a deep breath. Yes, this virus is something to be concerned about and take action on. But keep in mind that you are far more likely to die of a heart attack, cancer, or Alzheimer’s than you are to die from Covid-19.

Once you are calm and thinking rationally, consider reducing your toxic exposures as much as possible. Sugar is a direct poison to white blood cells. Does it taste so good that you don’t mind increasing your risks of every infectious disease, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, obesity, and so much more?

Next, think about the quality of the rest of the food you eat. Where does it come from? What chemicals are in it? What chemicals were used to process it? What additives does it have? How many nutrients have been stripped from it? Is it really food, or just masquerading as food?

Food can be harmful both for what IS in it and what is NOT in it. The immune system isn’t magic. It needs resources. We give it more than enough calories. But that fuel is useless without plant- and animal-based vitamins and minerals. This is what is missing from most of what Americans put in our mouths.

Don’t smoke, chew, or inhale other toxins.

Learn to manage your stress. Stress shuts down the immune system like nothing else. But this is a subject for another post.

Optimize your vitamin D3. This hormone is crucial to all immune functions in the body. Come get your level checked with a simple fasting blood test and then take the prescribed amount to optimize it.

Take at least 1,000mg of real vitamin C daily. Not the junk you can find in rows of vitamins at discount stores, which is made from corn. Your body knows the difference. A Maserati and a Volkswagen Beetle are both cars, but your experience in them is vastly different. We can send you a link to order high-quality vitamin C if you call the office.

Increase your nitric oxide. The body’s ability to synthesize nitric oxide naturally diminishes over time. Nitric oxide is another powerful immune-stimulating molecule. To increase nitric oxide, we use Arginine Replete. Come get a bottle while supplies last.

Come get your skin carotenoid level assessed. It takes about 30 seconds. If your carotenoids are too low, take an antioxidant supplement. The body uses antioxidants for lots of things, including protecting cells from the oxidation caused by inflammation. Inadequate antioxidants make you susceptible to every infectious disease that is running through your community, as well as every chronic disease so many people fear.

Implement these strategies and you will be in a much better position to ward off Coronavirus, flu, colds, and much more. Most of all, stay calm. Joining the panicking crowds is not going to help you or everyone else.

To your health,

Ray Andrew, MD