How I’ve Managed to Stay Well During COVID-19 and How You Can Too
Good Habits, Great Supplements, And Essential Oils Have Been the Secret to My Success
During these uncertain times, it is important to develop healthy habits, take control of what we can (our health and well-being), and prevent ourselves from becoming ill in the first place by employing all the methods we have at our disposal.
Of course, the most obvious habit is to stay clean and stay home until the “coast is clear” as deemed by the powers that be. That is what I have tried to do, save visiting my dad who has health issues and lives alone for the most part. I have felt completely safe since the second week of the pandemic because I have been isolated from exposure, I’m healthy as a horse because of my healthy habits, use of essential oils, and great supplements, and because he has to have help and I can’t afford for him to be alone for extended periods of time. Loneliness can kill too, you know. Besides that, he has Parkinson’s and can barely text me if he needs to due to the ever-worsening tremor in his right hand.
Other than basic handwashing and keeping high traffic areas clean, it is important to eat a healthy diet, I have been following a keto/paleo diet for years, abstaining from sugar as much as possible, and taking some fabulous supplements that have kept me in great shape, physically as well as mentally. I even weaned myself off of my antidepressant years ago because I stay well with essential oils such as Lemon and Frankincense, as well as Oregano and Peppermint oils. For anyone who views these practices as voodoo or some other nonsense, I’m living proof that they work, and not just because I believe it. Lemon and Frankincense gave me the energy I needed to begin walking and eventually walk up to three miles a day. In the process, I lost weight, more on that later. Anytime I felt a sniffle or the beginnings of a sore throat, I would use a drop of Oregano oil (nature’s antibiotic) in some hot tea and I stayed well. Peppermint oil has so many benefits and it smells wonderful in the diffuser, so I’ve been using it on a daily basis since the outbreak began, however, I have been starting my day with a whiff of it for months.
Disclosure: I am not a doctor or an aromatherapist, so check with yours before using essential oils internally. Mine wholeheartedly approve, therefore, I trust them. I am monitored by a nephrologist as well as other specialists and they all approve of my healthy habits; all of them!
At the beginning of my journey, I had to rid myself of a horrible systemic candida takeover, I did this with hours of research, several home remedies as I tried everything I could find in books and on the internet, and finally got my body clean and for that reason, I stay away from sugar as much as possible. I never want another yeast infection as long as I live. Staying off of bread, pasta, and sugar has helped me achieve my goal. I now make my own bread with almond and/or coconut flours, Chaffles-which are just cheese and eggs, and pasta made with vegetables or miracle noodles. (noodles made with shirataki) I began oil pulling, a habit I’ve been neglecting lately since I still get my daily dose of coconut oil in my coffee. I drink tea made with apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, Ceylon cinnamon, and stevia several times a week. This flushes toxins from the body and helps maintain weight. I brush and floss my teeth twice a day. Inhaling and or diffusing peppermint essential oil first thing in the morning helps energize me and keep me focused. I also get out and walk when weather permits and my knee isn’t bothering me. Below is one of the articles I refer to about the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar.
Yes, I follow famous gurus such as Mark Sisson at Mark’s Daily Apple and Dr. Axe, and I listen to the advice from others such as David Perlmutter and Dr. Mercola, they are the folks who inspired me to get healthy at the beginning of my wellness journey. For a brief history on me, I have PKD (polycystic kidney disease) and lost my mother to complications of it. It was then that I started behaving differently, lost a few pounds, and took control over what I put in my body to maintain my weight loss and become a more healthy, sane individual. I wrote an article on How I Lost 20 lbs. and Kept it Off for Paleo Flourish magazine back in 2016 which they published. I have since written four more articles on various topics for Therapeutic Thymes Magazine, a printed publication, which earned me $50 per piece. I have also written an article or two about the devil that sugar is and how it is more addicting than heroin. A while back I had several articles published in Ezine Magazine, you can see a couple of them here, and here. I also run the blog Alternative Lifestyle-a health blog and write about essential oils and their benefits, as well as other topics like CBD oil, and I advocate for the use of medicinal marijuana.
More recently, I had to have surgery on my right knee after several rounds of injections (including stem cells) failed, and this one supplement combined with physical therapy and other exercise made me able to return to most of my former activities. That supplement is turmeric, which I also use in food and drinks.
Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine has ended my pain and helped me recover from the surgery. Granted, my knee is so worn down from arthritis that several more years down the road will have me looking at knee replacement, however, my orthopedic surgeon bought me five years with the arthroscopic surgery he performed. This particular formulation combines Turmeric with Black Pepper for the absorption of curcumin. Because Turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it was a better natural choice for me than some medications like Celebrex with harsh side effects. I encouraged my husband and brother to start using it as well, they both have seen improvement. My husband has returned to working out and running, and my brother can walk several miles from his house to our dad’s with no problem.
It’s important to note that you should not use turmeric if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before first consulting your doctor. Turmeric can thin the blood, so don’t use it without consulting your doctor if you take blood thinners either. Always take the recommended daily dose, which is between 150–250mg per serving. It is also important to note that you want to purchase turmeric with BioPerine (black pepper) to increase the absorption of Curcumin. Three times daily with food is what is recommended. Turmeric has many other benefits as well including:
- Powerful Antioxidant- Boosts your immune system and helps prevent disease
- Improves Cardiovascular Health- May also lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol and triglyceride values
- Reduces Inflammation- One of the best anti-inflammatories worldwide and may ease arthritis, back pain, and reduces inflammation from asthma
- Weight Management- Enhances insulin sensitivity, targets adipose tissue, and regulates lipid metabolism
- Supports Cognitive Function- May be beneficial to those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease by working to preserve mental acuity as we age
- Improves Liver Function- By cleansing and detoxifying the liver
- Aids in Digestion- May reduce the severity of conditions like IBS-Irritable Bowel Syndrome and IBD Inflammatory Bowel Disease and also targets fungal infections with its antifungal properties
Fish Oil Supplements are another daily supplement we both take for heart health. Research suggests that fish oil supplements in addition to eating healthy can reduce blood pressure, help increase HDL cholesterol, and fight inflammation. That is the reason I wanted my husband to take it, to get off his statin drugs. Statins have negative long-term effects, just like arthritis drugs do. And we do eat healthily, we both love fish like salmon, tuna, and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Now his blood work is better and his doctor gave the ok to stop his statin drugs. We both take 1000mg twice daily, we prefer the odor-less brand from Nature’s Bounty. Fish oil also supports eye health, improves cognitive performance, and might boost bone density. All those are good enough reasons for us to keep on taking it, in my humble opinion.
The other wonderful supplement I take maintains my urinary health and combined with my use of apple cider vinegar, keeps those pesky urinary tract infections away. Cranberry pills have been my lifesaver, I used to get regular infections of my bladder and/or urinary tract constantly. Of course, I also drink water and/or iced tea sweetened with Stevia all day long to flush out my system as well.
According to an article in Medical News Today, cranberry juice will not do the trick as well as cranberry supplements.
“Cranberry capsules lowered the risk of UTIs by 50%. In the cranberry treatment group, 19% of patients developed a UTI compared with 38% of the placebo group.”
This is the reason I prefer the supplements over the juice, in addition, most popular cranberry juices are chock full of sugar, or have nasty sugar substitutes like aspartame. No thank you! And who can drink unsweetened cranberry juice, not me can you? The supplement pills provide the equivalent of eight ounces of cranberry juice. At best, the juice may flush your system and hydrate you, but that’s about the extent of it. The active ingredient in cranberries that prevents infection is A-type proanthocyanidins which prevent the bacteria from lining the bladder wall. The supplements are the best delivery system to get that job done.
I also switched from my antiviral medicine (Acylivir) to the supplement L-Lysine for tissue health. This because I have a viral condition that requires me to take antiviral meds forever, Acyclovir is by prescription and I was tired of the doctors holding my meds hostage until I came in for unnecessary office visits. So my pharmacist told me L-Lysine was showing promise in keeping the breakouts dormant, I switched then and have been fine since.
I have been taking all of these supplements, using a variety of essential oils and eating healthy since Mom passed away in 2014 and I am in excellent health. The only prescription drugs I take are my hormone, and low dose Lisinopril to keep the cysts in my kidneys from growing. (Lisinopril is normally taken to control blood pressure.) I have normal blood pressure values and the lab work of a nineteen-year-old. I’d say what I’m doing is working. Sure, I have creaky joints, however, I’m 59-years-old and my time in the military probably exacerbated the knees, but the supplements I take enable me to move very well. You too can benefit from a healthy diet, if anything removal or reduction of sugar intake will help a variety of ailments. I still enjoy plenty of sweets, I just make them from home using quality ingredients, and stevia or some other natural sweetener. Yes, I do a lot of food prep, but in these uncertain times, do you trust that the food you’re buying from that fast-food joint is even clean? I would rather cook my own food 80% of the time and enjoy an occasional treat on a date night just to reduce my chances. I also believe that my daily ingestion of Frankincense essential oil or Lemon essential oil kills whatever bacteria might be lurking in food that is bought from a restaurant.
Frankincense is sourced from the resin of the Boswellia carterii, Boswellia ferreana, or Boswellia serrata trees commonly found in Pakistan and Somalia. It has been found to have strong anti-inflammatory compounds and research shows the potential for anti-cancer effects. Direct inhalation through diffusion can lower anxiety, and improve mood. It has been shown to help with focus, energy, destroying dangerous bacteria, and even viruses.
I worked in the medical field for 22+ years as a phlebotomist/medical assistant, first in the Army, and then at several clinics before landing at Arlington Cancer Treatment Center where I worked on and off for 15 years. I have a good grasp of medical terminology, and I am a born caregiver. I’ve even held a job as such, for a sweet lady with FA, a type of Muscular Dystrophy. I’ve worked front and back office at several doctor’s clinics, given injections, drawn blood, ran lab tests, and input data, I can be trusted to know how basic and now alternative medicine works. I have chosen to work from home these past 18 or so years to save my sanity and lower my husband’s tax bracket. Besides, I would not be here now to help my Dad if I still worked a “regular” job. I’m lucky to live only five minutes away from him.
I realize also that I’m lucky my husband still works (he is considered essential personnel) and provides the income that keeps us enjoying our modest lifestyle. I try to supplement that when and where I can with side hustles and my writing. I hope this article is a shining example of what can be accomplished when one puts their mind to it.
