Dr. Christine Gonzalez is one of the many who are fighting COVID-19 from the front lines.

From her I’ve learned valuable lessons on wellness. While on active duty, she sent me this message: “All the blessings! Together with God’s grace, we can win this fight against COVID-19.”

This is possible, she said, if we continue to take care of ourselves with nourishing food and drink, get enough rest and sleep, exercise outdoors as much as possible under the sun, do steam inhalation with essential oils, strengthen our hope and prayers, increase compassion and concern for others in these challenging times.

Here are her COVID-19 prevention and care tips.

1. COVID-19 prevention and control tea:

Wash 25 pcs small or 13 pcs large fresh organic turmeric root, 3 inches ginger root, 1 bulb garlic (preferably native), peeled and crushed, 25 pcs calamansi or two organic lemons, juiced.

Thinly slice or grate turmeric and ginger, skin on.

Boil 3 cups of distilled water. Add turmeric, ginger and garlic. Turn off heat and add the calamansi.

Cover and infuse/steep for 15 minutes. Let it cool. Take 1 cup, three times a day if possible.

This drink rebuilds immunity and is the best anti-inflammatory remedy. It is proven effective for cough, cold, fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, etc.

2. Food functions to rebuild living tissues, supply energy, and preserve a proper medium in which the biochemical processes of the body can take place. If the food we eat fails to adequately perform these functions, then our immune system becomes compromised, the body cannot utilize the bioactive components of each food, and toxicity develops.

The food that fight viral infections and deter disease growth are generally the same: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, spices and micro-algae. All have important nutrients and other infection-fighting substances (phytochemicals) that strengthen immune function.

Choose different colors of produce to obtain the full spectrum of complementary nutrients your body needs.

Consider planting, eating, and buying organic food to avoid antibiotics, artificial growth hormones, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes made from tar and petrochemicals, artificial sweeteners derived from chemicals, chemical pesticide and fertilizers, genetically engineered proteins and ingredients, sewage sludge and irradiation. All of these weaken our immune system.

Feed the body with nutritious meals, and avoid junk, processed and fast-food and drinks.

3. Snack on boiled or uncooked banana, steamed sweet potato, or steamed/boiled cassava.

4. Stay with healthy, complex carbohydrates: black/brown rice, adlai, quinoa, root crops.

5. Hydrate well with coconut water, purified water with lemon or calamansi, cucumber, lemongrass, tarragon or peppermint teas.

6. Limit sweets to mangoes, local orange, jackfruit and soursop.

7. Go green: steam or juice leaves of sweet potato, moringa, malavar spinach, alugbati and other local veggies.

8. If meat cannot be avoided, limit intake but buy the high-quality kind.

9. Drink power teas: green, matcha, sencha, chamomile and ginger.

10. Use virgin coconut oil (VCO) for oil pulling which kills bacteria in the mouth and helps keep teeth healthy. Add 1 tbsp VCO to organic berry smoothie.

Download Dr. Gonzalez’s COVID-19 Action Plan at https://reggieaspiras.com/blog-archive/prevent-control-and-defeat-covid-19

More immunity boosters

To add to last week’s immunity-boosting treats are more anti-COVID-19 recipes from Dr. Jimmy Galvez Tan: ampalaya juice and a fresh Pinoy fruit salad.

Ampalaya has been scientifically proven to lower blood sugar with its insulin-like peptide cucurbitacins. High blood sugar is an aggravating factor in people infected with COVID-19.

Ampalaya is a good source of vitamins C, B, beta-carotene, iron, calcium, phosphorus.

Studies also show that the juice of ampalaya has antiviral properties even more effective than acyclovir, an antiviral drug.

Ampalaya Pineapple Juice

1 whole medium fresh pineapple, cut for juicing

8 pieces (1-ft long ea)

Fresh ampalaya, seeds removed and sliced for juicing

Juice with a juicer (best) or a blender (good enough). Pour into a pitcher and chill in the refrigerator before serving.

Pinoy Fruit Salad

This is rich in vitamins, minerals, high in fiber and offer a wide range of immune boosting antioxidants.

1 c each of bananas (sliced and mixed with 2 tsp of calamansi juice), sliced pineapples, papaya cubes, fresh guava bits, watermelon cubes, melon cubes, bignay berries

Cashew and pili nuts crushed, quantity depends on preference

Handful of fresh basil leaves

2-3 c of coconut cream, pasteurized, cooled and whipped with coconut sugar to taste

In a bowl, mix the fruits with nuts. Add whipped coconut cream. Add or garnish with basil leaves. Chill and serve.

Visit www.reggieaspiras.com; follow @iamreggieaspiras