Opinion

Be Prepared

Cintia Martins

Happy New Year, readers! How exciting it is to jump into a new year with so many new possibilities! It was incredible to see how, in just the snap of a finger (or a few), our lives in Macau seem to have returned to what they were three years ago. I’m sure many of you have already made the most of your new found freedom and traveled, experiencing a dream come true and refilling all your SOS energy tanks that have lasted for so long.

Nevertheless, what I want to share with you this time is something many of us seem to be feeling in common: Post-Covid symptoms! After sharing my thoughts with friends and health experts, I put my arms to the sky and thanked God that I’m not the only one. Do you feel that every time you try to focus, your brain seems much foggier than before? Is it harder to remember things or follow a cognitive routine? Do you still have an irritating cough even though it has been a month since you finally tested negative for the bug? Out of breath? Still congested? Developing ‘out of the blue’ sinusitis? Hard to catch your breath during workouts or simply walking up a hill? Well, join the club!

The whole world is still figuring out this post-Covid-19 syndrome, now referred to as “Long Haul Covid”. My recommendations are based on studies that brain clinics and functional doctors have been revealing since 2021. Luckily, we have had time to wait for these studies that are constantly providing new findings.

As you may know, the infamous bug attacks the respiratory system, but can also impact the brain and the nervous system, causing neurological symptoms. This happens either by triggering new symptoms or aggravating pre-existing ones, meaning, there’s no way out! New or aggravated symptoms are said to take up to six months to recover from. What?! Isn’t that more or less the length of immunity once you catch it?!

Ok, so catching Covid is basically inevitable, so my goal here is to tackle some protocols to minimize the symptoms and get your health back on track (maybe a whole new healthy track).

1. Quit tobacco use: Since the virus mainly attacks your respiratory system, oxygen is your life right now. Your cells need oxygen to combat deadly ones (including cancer cells) and build new ones. Start reducing smoking and, at the same time, add more leafy greens and foods full of enzymes, such as wheatgrass shots, spirulina and avocados.

2. Exercise daily: this will pump up your blood flow to eliminate waste toxins (even from medication) and encourage brain healing. You don’t need to go all in all at once. Maybe start with two times per week to feel your muscles have made an effort! You may need a day in between to recover and not accumulate any sort of inflammation.

3. Eliminate fast and processed foods: adding more toxins and inflammation to your body will not cure anything. Also, if you think you are intolerant to certain foods (dairy, gluten, nuts), this is the perfect time to eliminate them for at least three weeks to see how it affects you. This includes alcohol, so minimize drinking as much as possible.

4. Increase your Vitamin D & C: Invest in a good Vitamin D supplement (search for one that has K2 to stimulate calcium absorption and support inflammation control). Also, add some Vitamin D food boosters such as egg yolks, beef liver and fatty fish. As for Vitamin C, oranges are a good call, but you can vary with kiwi and bell peppers that have much higher Vitamin C levels than orange juice.

5. Take prebiotics and probiotics: Remember, your gut is your second brain and is directly connected with neurons that communicate with your brain. A leaky gut will increase inflammation in the body. Clear it up by consuming daily prebiotics (bananas, garlic, artichoke etc) and probiotics such as quality kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, kombucha and/or supplements.

6. Up your Omega 3 supplements (and food): Your body needs DHA and EPA found in fish protein to enhance neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to new or old stimuli).

7. Sleep and relax: Switch off things earlier and hit the sack earlier. It’s while we are sleeping that our body and brain are taking time to heal. Sleep deprivation may lead to mitochondrial dysfunction that has a crucial role in generating ATP which provides energy to drive processes in living cells. Avoid scrolling through news and social media that only makes you feel miserable and envious of something/someone. ‘Bad stress’ will not help your cells to work at ease.

The list could go on and on with new and easy protocols to follow up… but I’ll save it for those who really want to know.

And besides giving you some tips to get your brain and body back on track, my biggest advice for this upcoming year is: Don’t wait for a miraculous vaccine or cure, or to get sick from a new variant. Fight for your life today. This means having a lifestyle that keeps you well prepared. Take one practical action and be consistent. Explore and find the things that give you joy to be alive, joy in feeling your heart pumping harder as a sign of life, joy in nourishing your body with the right foods, joy in waking up fresh, the grit to be one percent better. And thank your Creator that you’re alive! Don’t take health for granted, tomorrow is not guaranteed.