2 Things to do NOW to Avoid Catching Coronavirus

To keep your gut and immune system healthy in the days ahead, why not start with two easy actions that will help flush out a virus in your throat, and fortify you to fight it off.

The COVID-19 virus enters our body through the airways and remains for three or four days within the throat before it passes into the lungs.... and this is where we must launch our attack!

Our first line of defense includes physical and chemical barriers like your skin, mucous and inflammatory makers that mark and neutralize intruders immediately. It is highly dependant on antioxidants to function well. It is called innate immunity.

Your second line of defense are the specialized antibodies that continue the long fight against infection. It is highly dependant on healthy thymus, bone marrow and good gut bacteria. Its known as your adaptive immunity. 

(I’ll talk more about these and how to support them in my Guts-Come-First COVID19 Survival Guide that is coming out soon)

But, for now, the best way to assist your body's first line of defense, here are the top 2 best things you can consume:

#1) Drink lots of hot liquids like broth, soup, tea or warm water.

Drinking lots of liquids helps you stay hydrated and supports both digestion and detox. It also helps to flush out any virus hanging out in your throat into your stomach where gastric juices will kill it before it can get into the lungs. Try to take a sip of warm water every 20 minutes.

The type of hot fluid you drink can further aid you if you choose meat or vegetable broth that is high in amino acids and/or minerals, herbal teas like echinacea, nettle, spruce tip, rose hip, etc can fortify your immune system, and adding raw honey adds important enzymes and nutrients too! Or drinking warm water with lemon or apple cider vinegar can help to prime digestion and alkalize your body. 

Do AVOID caffeinate, sugary and alcoholic drinks that dehydrate and deplete your immune system.

​#2) Gargle daily with an antiseptic in warm water like apple cider vinegar, salt or lemon and use a neti pot if you have one.

This is a great way to flush bacteria, viruses or pathogens from our nasal passage and throat At the back of your throat you have lingual tonsils which investigate what comes in and serves as a training ground for your immune cells. Where our ear, nose and throat meet, we find the Waldeyer tonsillar ring and palatine tonsils that stage a fight against incoming infections and can use all the help we can give them to flush out invaders.

Now you know a bit more about how to help your immune system in preventing the virus from entering your body. Steps you can take no matter where you are. Put them into practice today! 

You can continue getting daily help from me when you join my It Takes Guts Community on facebook. You can ask questions, get support and learn new things to keep your gut - and immune system - functioning and resilient through this trying time. 

​With love for your gut,
Katanne