Page 36 - IMCJ April 2020

• Stay well-hydrated. Stick to water, coconut water, Should I wear a mask?
herbal teas, and bone broth. No soda or sugary Face masks are currently not recommended for the
drinks, please! What’s a good estimate for how general public. They are only recommended if you have a
much water you need at a minimum? Divide your cough that you could transmit, or are taking care of
body weight (in pounds) in half and drink that someone who is sick with COVID-19.
number in ounces! Do you come close? That being said, this new research paper from
• Drink your bone broth! Bone broth has amazing February 19, 2020 that has yet to be published compared
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immune-supporting properties. See Amazing medical staff at Zhongnan Hospital caring for patients
Bone Broth to get started easily making your own. with COVID-19 between Jan 2-22 who were medical staff
• Eat fermented foods. The probiotics contained in in the Respiratory, ICU and Infectious Disease
fermented foods have tremendous immune Departments and wore N95 respirators and washed hands
boosting powers. In fact, the fermented Korean frequently vs. medical staff in the Hepatobiliary Pancreatic
cabbage, kimchi, was found to have significant Surgery, Trauma and Microsurgery and Urology
effects in preventing and fighting the H1N1 Departments who who wore no masks and disinfected
influenza virus! Other examples of delicious their hands less frequently. Even though the masked group
fermented foods to try include sauerkraut, pickles actually encountered more confirmed cases of COVID-19
(try “real” pickles without added vinegar like than the unmasked (730% MORE cases, in fact), none of
Bubbies), miso, kefir, and kombucha. of the 280 staff contracted 2019-nCoV. On the other hand,
• Avoid simple sugars and processed/junk food. Did 10 of the unmasked group became infected.
you know that your blood shows lab evidence of a So, if the pandemic starts to hit a little too close to
lowered immune system within 30 minutes of home, will I be wearing a mask and make Peter, Kenzi and
eating simple sugars (like glucose, refined sugar, Bodi wear one? Probably yes! If you do wear a face mask,
and fructose), and causes a 50% reduction in your please make sure it’s a “Particulate Respirator Mask” that
white blood cells’ abilities to kill germ? White filters at least 95% of very small particles and is marked P95,
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blood cells are our “army” cells that fight off germs. R95 or N95, has 2 straps, and forms a tight seal around your
This effect is most noticeable 2 hours after ingestion, nose and mouth. A regular surgical mask will provide no
but is still present 5 hours later! Keeping blood protection and is actually meant to protect others
sugar levels healthy has been shown to improve from your cough or sneeze. A properly fitted respirator
immune system activity. mask should be worn over BOTH the nose and mouth, and
• Get fresh air and moderate daily exercise. Moderate form a tight seal so that you can’t smell any ambient odors.
exercise can boost the production of macrophages, A good test is to put on the mask covering your mouth and
the kind of white blood cells that “eat” bacteria and nose, pinch the mask across the bridge of your nose, then
viruses. However, intense exercise can actually spray peppermint or lavender essential oil in front of your
temporarily decrease immune function – so don’t face. You should not be able to smell or taste any of the oil
overdo it! in your nose or mouth through the mask.
• Get adequate sleep. An increase in sleep actually THE PROBLEM: Most masks won’t properly fit and
increases the number of your white blood cells. On create a good seal over a young child’s mouth and nose to
the other hand, loss of sleep even for a few hours at filter out small smoke and air pollution particles, so make
night, increases inflammation in our body which sure you follow the suggestions below for immune
makes us more susceptible to catching the flu and boosting. Remember, though, that preliminary reports
having more severe symptoms. So make sure your seem to show that children are much more likely to have
whole family is getting enough zzzz’s. For tips on mild and even asymptomatic disease.
getting a good night’s sleep, see Eat Yourself to a Another problem is that because of COVID-19, N95
Good Night’s Sleep and The 3 Things You Need to masks are currently very difficult to find or are very
Know to Get a Good Night’s Sleep. expensive. Manufacturers should be gearing up their
• Minimize stress. Emotional stress creates production to fix this problem, so stay on the lookout.
physiological stress in our bodies that lowers our
immune defenses and makes us more vulnerable to Keep Your Immune System As Strong As Possible
illness. Stress has been shown to lower our white Consider keeping your immune system even more
blood cells’ abilities to kill germs, and actually supported with the following nutritional supplements to
creates more inflammation that may make us feel give your body even more antiviral defense:
even sicker. For guidance on how to help manage
your child’s stress naturally, take a look at Back-to- • Fish oil – Omega-3 essential fatty acids have a host
School, Back to … STRESS!!! for some great tips. of immune benefits too long to list!
• Probiotics – One study showed a dramatic reduction
in fever and upper respiratory symptoms in children

34 Integrative Medicine • Vol. 19, No. 2 • April 2020 Song—Coronavirus Pediatrician's Perspective