Preventing Depression And Boosting Immunity During Corona!
Exercising To Alleviate Depression And Boost Immunity!
Today the world is going through it’s worse crisis since the World Wars. The COVID 19 crisis has brought the world on the brink of disaster. Millions have lost their jobs and millions more will lose them in days to come! Tens of thousands are going to die of Corona and many more due to starvation as economies are collapsing worldwide!
Naturally, a huge number of people are going to suffer from depression in months and years to come.
Depression causes the body to unleash stress hormones, notably cortisol.
High levels of stress hormones lead to hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. So more people will succumb to these illnesses in the coming days.
Depression lowers our immunity to fight infections and those with low immunity stand little chance of surviving a Corona infection.
Research has proved that exercise is the best and the most potent stress buster. Exercises like brisk walking, jogging, running, swimming, cycling, boost the levels of endorphins, the feel-good neurotransmitters.
Endorphins:
- Lower the levels of stress hormones,
- Boost energy levels,
- Eliminate fatigue,
- Act like analgesics and alleviate pain,
- Act as sedatives and improve sleep,
- Elevate mood,
- Alleviate depression.
Exercises:
- Boost the levels of endorphins, the feel-good neurotransmitters
- Reduce stress
- Lift gloom and depression,
- Improve self-esteem,
- Improve cardiovascular fitness,
- Improve lung function,
- Lower blood pressure, blood sugar, total cholesterol, and LDL Cholesterol and triglycerides,
- Improve HDL Cholesterol,
- Protect us from hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and strokes,
- And boost immunity.
Thus the best way to get fit and boost our immunity is to exercise adequately.
Most people can take up walking, spot marching, spot jogging at home during this lockdown, to get slimmer, fitter, stronger, more cheerful, more positive and get rid of depression and boost their immunity to fight off the threat of Corona, Also exercise help in weight loss in good health.
You can also use a cardiovascular exercise machine like a treadmill, elliptical trainer, or exercise bike if you have one at home.
And you don’t have to begin big, even one 10 minute session of comfortable paced walk in the morning, one in the afternoon, one in the evening is fine. Increase the pace and time of the walking sessions as you get fitter.
You can even brisk walk for 10 minutes six or more times, or 20 or more minutes thrice if you need to lose weight too.
It is necessary to exercise at least thrice a week, four to five times a week is even better, for alleviating mild depression.
Try walking six times a week to lose weight too.
Working out at a brisk pace and keeping the pulse rate in the aerobic zone will improve cardiovascular fitness, meaning the heart and lungs will become fitter, both vital in fighting off a Corona infection, should anybody contact the infection.
Jal neti and Vitamin D
The eminent head of the top hospital in Western Pune, suggests regular jal neti and Vitamin D supplements to keep our immunity against the virus high. His hospital hasn’t hasn’t suffered a single infection amongst it’s staff.
Jal neti has been well proved to boost the immunity against upper respiratory infections and allergies and Vitamin D bolsters immunity.
Vitamin C supplements too may help bolster immunity during this pandemic.
So it may be life saving to start jal neti and take Vitamin D supplements once a week for the first month, once a fortnight in the second and once every three weeks from the third month onwards.
So, gear up to fight this pandemic and don’t get depressed due to this mandatory homestay, instead use this opportunity to become physically active and get slimmer, fitter, and healthier!
Also, read the articles the ‘Science Of Exercise’, the ‘Slimming Successfully In Spite Of Corona’, and the ‘Mortal Threat Of Corona For The Obese’ on this website.