Impact on Immunity during Quarantine and ways to Improve it.

By Dr. Alefiya Bootwala,
Doctor of Naturopathy.

Immunity plays a major role in maintaining health. During quarantine, we isolate ourselves from others and be at home. This can have an effect on our physical and mental health, which can cause an overall reduction in immunity. It is very important for us to maintain ourselves during quarantine as it will boost our immunity, which is an important factor in fighting any kind of pandemic.

To fight any kind of virus, it is very important to have strong immunity. If immunity is not strong enough, even a simple microbe can cause infections to us. Any deadly virus cannot survive the human body if he/she is having a strong immunity.

While quarantining ourselves at home, we tend to leave our jobs, and being around favorite people which makes one feel stressed as they no longer do what they really love, which reduces the interest, this has an effect on our mental level which directly affects our immunity.

Since we are not able to do any kind of physical work, our body is not able to balance our immunity, which reduces the overall health of an individual and therefore is more susceptible to get any kind of virus.

How to develop immunity during the quarantine.

1. YOGA: Yoga is considered in maintaining overall health that is physical and mental level, hence it boosts your immunity by affecting the mental level and physical level.

Yoga asana, which are beneficial to perform during quarantine, are:

1. SURYA NAMASKAR ( SUN SALUTATION).

2. YOGA POSTURES:

• Uttita trikonasana. (Half triangle pose).
• Veerbhadrasana.(Warrior pose).
• Parvttasana.(Mountain pose).
• Dhanurasana.(Bow Pose).
• Ustrasanaa.(Camel pose).
• Bhujangasana.(Cobra pose).
• Vrukshana.(Tree pose).
• Pranayama

Yoga helps the body at the physical level, which reduces muscle tension and increases flexibility and pranayama helps at a mental level reducing stress.

3. HAVE A BALANCED DIET:

Having a balanced diet is very important while quarantining ourselves, Due to no more physical work our body becomes loose and heavy, so it’s necessary to have a balanced diet. A balanced diet includes 50% carbohydrates, 30% fat and 20% proteins.

Diet should also include:

• CITROUS FOODS: It is important to have a lot of citrus fruits during the quarantine. Citrus helps in boosting our immunity and maintain the ph of our body. Eg. Lemon, amla, orange, sweet lime, etc.

• PROTEIN CONTAINING DIET: It is important for us to have more proteins as it will build our muscles which are necessary due to no physical exercise.

• REDUCTION IN FAT CONSUMPTION: Fat reduces the mobility of muscles and therefore makes our immunity lower, it is necessary to skip fat from our diet during the quarantine.

• MORE CONSUMPTION OF FRUITS: Fruits consist of maximum vitamins and minerals which help in maintaining immunity and remove toxins from our body.

• MORE CONSUMPTION OF RAW VEGETABLES: Having raw vegetables increases the movement of the intestine which reduces the strain on the digestive system and helps in proper absorption of minerals and vitamins. Having salads are an important part of the diet. It should compulsorily include carrot, cucumber, beetroot and cabbage with lime(if necessary).

4. COMMUNICATION: During quarantine, it is important to communicate with people, as it reduces stress and releases anxiety. Communication has found to be very effective during crucial times. It also stimulates immunity.

5. TO PERFORM HOBBIES: During these times, one should start doing their hobbies or any kind of art which they wanted to do in their life. Such kind of activity increases the release of endorphins and helps them during the quarantine crisis.

6. REGULAR PRACTISE OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS: Religious rituals help the person to develop positive vibrations and make them feel in peace. Performing religious practices should be consisting of quarantine.

OPPORTUNITY DURING QUARANTINE:

The quarantine can help us to connect to our families, improve our skills and understand the nature around us.

Making us understand our responsibility as responsible citizens.

It helps us to improve ourselves in all ways and to analyze our mistakes.

Making ourselves positive spreads positivity around our people. Be responsible and isolate by staying at home.

To change the world, first, we have to change ourselves.