The flip side of the COVID-19 Pandemic: How to really be Lowcountry strong | Opinion
Every day we face the global pandemic of COVID-19 with its ever-changing status screaming at us. Deaths are now more than 15,000 in the United States, and 90,000 globally. These are sobering numbers with potential exponential increase if we don’t do our part to “flatten the curve.”
But is this the only killer we should fear?
Today, 75% of U.S. deaths are related to chronic lifestyle diseases — 1.7 million lives lost!
The World Health Organization estimates there will be 40 million deaths globally this year related to chronic lifestyle diseases: hypertension/heart disease, many types of cancer, lower respiratory disease, cerebrovascular disease/stroke, Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, with obesity factoring throughout. Talk about a public health pandemic!
The evidence-based lifestyle choices we make now — in our hunkering down — can boost our immunity to fight COVID-19 coronavirus and simultaneously fight the pandemic of chronic lifestyle disease.
We can flatten the curve on both.
Healthy Food. Nutrition is key. What are you choosing to fuel your body with? According to the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, early cases of COVID-19 were linked to freshly slaughtered meat. Meat is also implicated in chronic lifestyle diseases. Research studies confirm a whole-food, plant-based diet is optimal for longevity and disease prevention/reversal.
The phytochemicals found in plants are powerful immune boosters. The grocery stores may be out of toilet paper but they still have greens, colorful veggies and fruit — along with beans and whole grains. Let the taste adventures begin.
Get Moving. Exercise is fun! Instead of binge-watching Netflix, why not get outside? Walk. Bike. Start running from one-tree-to-the-next. Play with your kids. Work in the yard. Plant a garden. Don’t forget the added antiviral and immunity benefits you get from sunlight. Your brain will love the boost as well.
Relationships. Relationships make life meaningful. What if while “sheltering-in-place” we focus on those closest to us, daily think of something about them we are grateful for, and tell them face-to-face? What if we choose to sacrifice ourselves in small ways and instead serve them? Altruistic love, gratitude, and service are evidence-based health and wellness boosters — and they fortify our immune defenses.
Unwind and De-Stress. What if we choose to unwind and de-stress by focusing on things we can control rather than dwelling on what we can’t? Why not use this gift of unexpected downtime to be purposeful and productive? Read a real book. Play family board games. Declutter. By making simple positive de-stressing choices, our stress levels will plummet, our brain will clear, our health biomarkers will improve, and our immune system will add another firewall.
Sleep. When was the last time you had seven to nine hours of quality sleep? With life curtailed by COVID-19, why not remedy that? Ditch the late-night screen time and “love your bed!” Ditch the nighttime snacks as well. Research studies show the benefit of five hours between eating your last morsel of food and bedtime. Your gut, brain, and immune system thrive on that down time in order to give you their best performance — and you’ll sleep better too.
Faith. The best way to combat fear is with faith. The Bible says, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind.” God wishes for us to “prosper and enjoy good health, even as our soul prospers.”
Evidence-based research confirms the connection between spiritual health and physical/emotional/relational health. While all the local houses of worship may be closed, the windows of heaven are still open.
We worked, prayed, and rebuilt together after Hurricane Matthew devastated our beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry in 2016. Once again, we are called to be strong! Together let’s make healthy lifestyle choices to combat COVID-19 and chronic lifestyle disease killers. Let’s together stand proactive, preventive, and strong.
Karen J. Holland of Hilton Head Island is a diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and board certified coach of health and wellness, relationships and intimacy, family and parenting, and nutrition.