What a year 2020 was! From global pandemic, stay-at-home orders, business closures, worrying about family members and the election… I think we are all ready for a break from the excitement.
As we begin a brand-new year, we are stepping into a lot of new beginnings, and we may wonder what is the best way to proceed: for our health and for our community.
One thing is certain: what is good for our overall health is almost always good for our hearing health as well. That’s good news because we can accomplish two things at once! Focus on maintaining or improving overall health, and you will be doing your ears a favor as well.
During the past year we’ve experienced a global pandemic, and we have suddenly become very interested in keeping ourselves safe and healthy.
So, what are the best ways to stay healthy during this time and during winter in general?
Research shows there are some simple, inexpensive, great ways to improve immunity and maintain health even when exposed to illness.
The “terrain theory” of health says that if your body is healthy and immunity is strong, you will have the ability to fight off illness even when exposed to bacteria, germs and viruses in your environment.
So, it makes sense to put a lot of our focus on doing that, since that is something that is easy for us to do.
How do we improve our “terrain” so we are fit to fight off any illness that comes our way?
Here are a few simple tips:
Take 1000 mg of high-quality vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a nutrient we all need for optimal health and to fend off illness any time of year. The best part is that it’s inexpensive and easy to get in food. The best whole food forms of Vitamin C come from citrus fruits, Camu camu and acerola cherries.
Take 5000IU of vitamin D or get out in the sun!
Vitamin D is crucial for overall health and the prevention of illness and disease. The best way to get Vitamin D is to get some sunshine on your exposed skin for a few minutes every day. If you live in a place without abundant sunshine, you can get vitamin D from mushrooms or a whole food supplement.
Zinc is your friend
Zinc is great for stopping the replication of viruses in the human body. The only problem is that it is not well-absorbed by the cells, so to facilitate your body’s absorption of zinc, take:
Quercetin or Quinine
Both quercetin and quinine facilitate zinc into human cells, and zinc stops viral replication, which halts viral illness dead in its tracks. Quercetin is available in supplement form, and quinine is in tonic water, so if you want to take your zinc with tonic water you’ll be covered!
Selenium
Selenium is another mineral that is great for stopping viral replication, especially in nasty illnesses like Ebola. High levels of selenium were found in patients who recovered from viral illnesses like Ebola. Selenium can be purchased in supplement form and is also a cofactor of another vital nutrient: iodine. You can also get enough selenium by eating 2-3 Brazil nuts each day. That’s a delicious way to improve immunity!
Iodine
Iodine is essential to every cell in our body and is important for thyroid health, hormone health, and immunity. It is difficult to overstate the importance of iodine, yet many of us are deficient. It is highly recommended to add good sources of iodine to your diet. It is available in supplement form such as Lugol’s iodine drops, or it is also prevalent in seaweed like kelp and in fish. Adequate levels of iodine have also been found to reduce the risk of breast cancer and thyroid problems.
Adding a few simple, inexpensive nutrients to your daily routine can make a huge difference in your health and prevention of disease. Add these nutrients to your diet today!
Remember that the first step to halting hearing loss and preventing further damage is to recognize your situation. Come in today for a hearing screening and formulate a strategy to train your brain to listen actively and effectively.
Diablo Hearing Services 2301 Camino Ramon, STE 106 San Ramon (925) 394-4646