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Thoughts on the Wuhan Virus (COVID-19) and hand sanitizing

Andre' Maginot was a French politician in between World Wars I and II. He was rightly distrustful of the Germans and lobbied for a series of obstacles, bunkers, and other fortifications to be built along France's border with Germany to halt any invasion.

This "line" of defensive works was built in the 1930's and came to be called The Maginot Line, in honor of the man who lobbied so hard for it. The French military thought the Maginot Line to be failsafe and it gave the French a false sense of security.

Unfortunately for the French, the Germans did invade in World War II by simply bypassing the Maginot Line to the north and exploiting weak points in the French defense. As a result, the French and British troops were routed all the way to Dunkirk and had to evacuate by sea (Note: The recent movie Dunkirk depicts this retreat).

This episode of history has parallels with the current Coronavirus Pandemic now making its way around the world. We are being told to wash our hands frequently and sanitize any and every surface we contact. This is a good idea and will help prevent the spread of many viruses to some extent. However, like the Maginot Line, this massive sanitization effort may be giving us a false sense of safety and security.

The fact is the experts in the field still know very little about this Virus. COVID-19 seems to have incredibly high virulence. In a matter of months, it has spread across the globe. We really have no idea how many are really infected, especially since many of the infected are asymptomatic. These asymptomatic patients may be the most dangerous because they are infecting others without knowing it.

So, while washing hands and sanitizing your home may be helpful, what you really need, like the French needed in World War II, is stronger defenses. What do I mean by this? You must have a strong immune system to fight off this, and any other pathogen that comes your way. It seems likely to me that a majority of us may be exposed to COVID-19 at some point. Some experts estimate up to 70% of the world's population will be infected with COVID-19. If that is the case, you want to have the strongest immune system possible to fight off the infection and make this no more than a minor health issue for yourself and your loved ones.

How can you build up the strongest immune system possible? There are several simple practices you can start today!

  • Get more sleep. Eight hours per night of sleep can do wonders for your health.
  • Eat a healthy, whole foods diet and minimize sugars, and industrial oils (ex. Trans fatty acids). Avoid overeating. Stay hydrated.
  • Get plenty of Vitamin D. Several scientists have noted that many countries currently experiencing summer months are seeing much less spread of COVID-19 and this may be due in part to the higher levels of sunlight exposure and Vitamin D production in those populations. Try to get some sun every day and if you can't, consider supplementation.
  • Exercise. A strong body is typically a healthy body. You need to strengthen your skeletal muscles, improve your cardiovascular efficiency and enhance metabolic function. Doing these will have the added benefit of strengthening your immune system. Of course, you can achieve all of this with high intensity workouts here at Total Results. I also recommend a significant amount of low-level daily movement (ex. walking 3 miles per day, gardening, etc.)
  • Green Tea, Zinc and a few other products are thought to be beneficial for fighting off viruses. Do your own research and consider making some of these products part of your routine.

In summary, you must take steps now to optimize the strength of your immune system, so you can appropriately fight off COVID-19. Don't be like the French in World War II. If you wash your hands all day long, but don't take care of your body, the CoronVirus may cross your Maginot Line and wreak havoc with your health.

Posted March 13, 2020 by Matthew Romans