This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Who would have guessed that we would all be singing happy birthday whilst constantly washing our hands in an attempt to stop the Coronavirus spreading. However I was dismayed to hear on BBC Radio 4 this morning that there is some suggestion of a new tune for Happy Birthday. Bad timing! That could really kill the government’s health advice to wash your hands with soap and hot water whilst singing Happy Birthday twice.
Of course there is an alternative you can sing the first verse of God Save the Queen, again twice, which would be more of a prayer as who wants our dearly loved monarch to be slayed by this virus. That could cause war with China. I was happy to see that she is donning long white gloves when she is bestowing honours on the general public. Though to be honest I don’t think they will prevent a droplet of infected moisture landing on her royal limb and thus being transferred to her face. However we can be confident that our Queen is not prone to wiping her nose with the back of her hand and has a little lace hankie up her sleeve. So we can relax.
Meanwhile the Pope, the one that is actually ‘popeing’ ie Pope Francis, is poorly. However we have been reliably informed that the 83-year-old Francis generally has good health but he just has a cold. He lost part of a lung to a respiratory illness when he was a young man. Italy is in the midst of a coronavirus emergency in the north, with more than 2,500 positive cases so of course when the Pope sneezed there was a big gasp from all Roman Catholics.
So now how do we protect ourselves? Isn’t it grand that good old soap and hot water are our first and last line of defence against this virus. Wouldn’t our grandmothers be proud? I can just hear mine saying what’s wrong with old-fashioned soap and water when I would get out anti-bacterial handwash. We have come to rely on all these anti-bacterial sprays and washes but now we are told to go back to basics.
Of course this virus is serious particularly for those with compromised immune systems or impaired lungs. I have two friends who have recently had pneumonia so they are vulnerable to such an infection and need to be very careful.
Maybe we feel we need to be doing a bit more than just washing our hands thoroughly and regularly, and not greeting everyone with a kiss.
SOME OFFICIAL TIPS:
- Try to avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands – something we all do unconsciously on average about 15 times an hour.
- Carry a hand sanitiser with you to make frequent cleaning of your hands easy (when washing with hot water and soap not available).
- Always wash your hands before you eat or touch your face.
- Be especially careful about touching things and then touching your face in busy airports and other public transport systems.
- Carry disposable tissues with you, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue carefully (catch it, bin it, kill it).
- Do not share snacks from packets or bowls that others are dipping their fingers into.
- Avoid shaking hands or cheek kissing if you suspect viruses are circulating.
- Regularly clean not only your hands but also commonly used surfaces and devices you touch or handle.
MY OWN TIPS
I have a few tips that some people will be sceptical about but I am doing them which makes me feel I am doing the best I can. They come with no scientific backing but since no-one truly knows what to do I feel we can only do our best. None of these tips will harm you and who knows they may stop you contracting Coronavirus.
I am taking regular doses of Vitamin C in tablet form i.e. not relying on just fruit. I hear that the Chinese are currently testing it to see if it will indeed help to stop the spread of this virus. The results of these tests will not be available for some time.
STERILE GLOVES
I would carry some of these in your car so that if you have to fill up with petrol and are therefore touching a pump handled by many others your hands are protected. Of course most petrol stations dispense their own but with all this panic buying I am sure these gloves are going to run out soon.
These particular gloves are commonly used by doctors and dentists for non-sterile medical use.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE FROM AMAZON
MISTIFY: BERRY JUICE SUPPLEMENT
Mistify is a drink packed full of tropical goodness and is a highly antioxidant berry juice supplement from the Synergy range. I take this daily and during the winter if I feel a cold coming I will take 2 doses per day.
If taken daily it is meant to enhance your vitality, reduce inflammation, increase your energy levels and enhance your mental focus.
Benefits of Mistify
- Protects from free radical damage – 43% reduction in 3 weeks
- Reduction in the ageing process of the skin
- Significant improvement in oxidative damage
- Supports the immune system
- Natural anti-inflammatory and pain suppressant
- Protects the cellular membrane and DNA
- Supports cardio and digestive tract health
TO PURCHASE FROM SYNERGY CLICK HERE
BALANCE MEALS
If you are worried about going to supermarkets because of infection then perhaps now is the time to try a home meal delivery service.
We recently tested and subsequently reviewed the service offered by Balance Meals. See post HERE.
“We use only the best, freshest and most delicious ingredients, making sure you can taste the quality in every bite. But our commitment to quality goes further than just food. We want people to have more quality time to themselves.”
The Balance Meals Team
There is a 15% discount for anyone making a first order just use the code balance15 at the checkout. Click HERE to go to the Balance Meals website.
MANUKA HONEY
I am a great fan of Manuka honey, apart from the delicious taste I do believe it has healing properties. I have recently been buying my honey from Manuka Direct. This rare and wonderful honey is brought to you from New Zealand, where the native Manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium) grows. It is produced by honey bees who pollinate the Manuka bush, which is also part of the tea tree family.
Manuka honey has extraordinary and completely natural antibiotic, antiseptic, antifungal and antiviral properties which are unique and make it different to other types of honey. The healing properties are believed to be up to 100 times more powerful than ordinary honey.
Amongst its many uses it is believed to be highly effective in the cure of sore throats and digestive problems, boosting the immune system and is also widely used on burns and cuts, mouth ulcers and cold sores.
TO PURCHASE FROM MANUKA DIRECT CLICK HERE
HOSPITAL GRADE ANTIBACTERIAL HAND GEL
If you really are worried and want to protect someone in your home who has a suppressed immune system then perhaps consider buying Defendol 600ml Antibacterial hand gel. It is a large enough bottle to keep in a busy area where hands need to be kept clean. Hospital grade sanitizing hand gel kills 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. Approved to British Standards EN 1040 and EN 1500. Tested to kill 99.9% of germs within 30 seconds. Easy to use. Gel can be used frequently and has a a moisturising formula that is kind to dry sensitive skin.
It is available (at time of writing) from Amazon. Click HERE (£70 for 600ml that can then be decanted into smaller containers) You can buy small bottles from Boots to decant it into.
WHO GIVES A CRAP
Finally if you are worried that tissues and loo paper have run out in your local shops because people are stockpiling then now is the time to try the recycled paper from Who Gives a Crap. You will be helping the environment as well.
Read our previous post on this company HERE.