Are you among the many people panicking due to shortages in your local grocery store? Maybe you’re stockpiling toilet paper. Or, you might be feeling a lot of anxiety due to not knowing if your job is at risk.

With the uncertainties caused by COVID-19, people are going through high-anxiety. Yet, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Now mind you, this post is not at all to minimize what is going on. Rather, it is intended to minimize your stress and anxiety by arming yourself with tools and resources to help you manage.

The reality is, life as we knew it as recently as a week ago, is over. It’s natural not to like the changes, but the fact is, not liking it is not going to change it back.

It’s essential to take steps to manage stress. Equally important is managing your health by the foods you consume. Amazingly, the foods you eat will either contribute to your stress or minimize it.

The Shortages are Real… but…

While lots of people are in panic mode due to food shortages in their local grocery store, the shortages are primarily of unhealthy processed foods…and toilet paper as well as other paper products. Sure, healthy foods are likely in short supply, but overall it’s sugary foods, highly processed foods and chips and sodas and other disease causing foods.

Consider this, running short of garbage foods may actually be a good thing.

Why? It’s simple. The very foods stores are running out of are the very foods that compromise the immune system.

Now is a great time to get on board with healthy eating to give yourself a greater chance of staying healthy during these uncertain times.

One of the best things you can do is increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, beans, legumes and healthy fats such as nuts, seeds and avocados.

Soon, fresh fruit may not be readily available but dry goods likely will be.

Buy In Bulk

Buying in bulk does not mean hoarding foods. It means buy in the bulk department of your grocery store. Dry beans, brown and black rice and legumes are a great addition to your pantry.

Get creative with what you can cook in bulk and then freeze some of it for meals to last a week or two.

For example, in the last couple of days, I’ve been cooking up a storm with my crock pot making soups, veggie and rice dishes. Best part of all, I’ve been having a fun time doing so and you can too.

Here’s the deal…

People can continue to eat the way they have or take a different approach to strengthen your immune system. The best eating you can do is WFPB… whole food, plant based.

When you look at where viruses come from, often they can be tracked to animals, but more importantly, to consuming animal products including beef, pork, fish and dairy.

There’s no two ways about it, eating animal products increase your health risks. To pretend otherwise is foolish.

When you eat WFPB you will get lots of great vitamins and you definitely increase your ability to fight off illness.

If you are eating junk food, fast food and processed food you are compromising your immune. The sooner you realize this, the better.

Right now is such a critical time to do all you can to minimize your health risks.

A couple of great reads during this down time would be Eat to Live AND Fast Food Genocide both by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. https://amzn.to/2WeRUs7 https://amzn.to/39QGfUs

Right now, how you handle things will either add to your stress or reduce it.

Here are a few things you can do.

***Eat as close to whole foods as possible
*** Drink to hydrate (no this doesn’t prevent COVID-19 but is just a good health practice)
*** Get outdoors if possible. Go on a hike, walk, bike ride, ski, anything that gets you moving
*** Meditate (one I enjoy is by Dr. Wayne Dyer – I AM https://youtu.be/HiTtEQ_X2o8)
*** Spend quality time with family
*** Instead of watching the news 24/7, read an uplifting book (Currently, I’m reading Success is Easy by Debbie Allen – https://amzn.to/2TRFTHz)
*** Journal

There obviously is more, but truth be told, one of the most important things you can do is focus on health and how you can become your best self ever.

According to the experts, the people most at risk are those who have compromised immune systems including those who smoke, obesity, diabetes, and other things that can be turned around.

What are you doing to stay healthy during these uncertain times? Please list ideas and recommendations for others.