*DISCLAIMER: The following article is meant to provide useful information only and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your medical professional with any concerns related to your health.

It seems like you can’t read the news without seeing at least one article (usually several!) about the coronavirus, or COVID-19. With so much information and misinformation out there, people are very concerned about getting sick. Here are a few basics about the coronavirus and how to protect yourself from getting sick, not just from COVID-19 but any flu this season.

What is coronavirus?

This description comes directly from the World Health Organization: Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that may cause illness in animals or humans.  In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19. It’s important to understand what COVID-19 is so that you know what your risks are, and aren’t, and how to protect yourself. It’s a virus, just like the flu, that we experience every year, is a virus. To help put it in perspective, here’s the CDC’s explanation of what the flu is: Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

How to avoid getting sick

Now that you have a better understanding of what these viruses are, knowing the fundamentals of how to avoid contracting a virus will help keep you from getting sick. Here are five great tips to start with:

  • Avoid large crowds or being in a confined space with a lot of people for an extended period of time
  • Wash your hands regularly. This is a must!
  • Strengthen your immune system. By eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and taking supplements that can protect you from illness (more on this later on)
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces. This doesn’t mean being a germaphobe! Simply keep your surfaces clean. This includes cell phones and keyboards!
  • Visit the doctor if flu symptoms arise.

If you look at these recommendations, they are tips that you should be following to stay healthy, regardless of whether it’s flu season or not. It’s just good common sense! However, with the coronavirus concerns, and how easily it appears to be able to spread from person to person, these commonsense tips become critical!

More about healthy eating and supplementation

Four out of five of those recommendations above are 100% in your control, but what if you simply can’t avoid large crowds or confined spaces? People travel or work in situations that may put them around a lot of other people for an extended period of time. That makes the other four tips so important! Healthy eating and supplementation might be the most important one of all to avoid getting sick. Be sure to eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet. Limit sugar, junk foods, and fatty foods. Instead, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, which are full of vitamins and antioxidants, to promote good health. A few flu-fighting foods include mushrooms, garlic, kiwi, pumpkin seeds, plain yogurt, and of course water, water, water! For supplementation, look for wild oil of oregano, which is best known for its impact on colds and flu as it’s a powerful antimicrobial. It has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. The key here is “anti-viral”! Research found that oregano oil can inhibit both human and animal viruses.

We’ve written several blog posts about protecting yourself naturally from colds and flu with Wild Oil of Oregano. While no one can guarantee you’ll never get sick, following these tips is a good way to do all you can to protect yourself. Stay healthy out there!