Amy Lu's View

I often say I don’t read (which is funny, because I’m a librarian, right?)

It’s true, I rarely read fiction books with my eyes, either in paper or eBook formats. I listen to audiobooks instead, mostly when I work out. (I got through a lot of audiobooks during marathon training).

Sometimes I will actually read a nonfiction book, or at least skim it.

And I love to read magazines. So much so that I hoard them until I make sure I’ve thoroughly read them. (Haven’t made much of a dent in my goal to read up on old issues while hiding out at home).

One of my favorite magainzes is The Week (theweek.com). I love the bite-sized snippets of information pulled from a variety of credible media sources. It’s a good mix of national and international news, with some arts and entertainment thrown in. Plus, the “Good Week for/Bad Week for” items often end up as questions on “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” (Did you know that sales of pants have recently dropped?) Settling down with The Week and my lunch is one of life’s little joys for me.

A “story” from the April 10 issue titled “How to boost your immune system” particulary caught my attention so I thought I’d share it. Think of it as a bit of a public service announcement (without the guitar). The Week’s staff distilled it from The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/08/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-to-avoid-colds-and-coronavirus). Basically this is my recap of a recap.

How to boost your immune system (and how I measure up):

• Feed your microbiome: Eat a diet rich in fiber and fermented foods. Check!
• Stay active: Check! Even without being able to run, I’m still exercising.
• Lay off the liquor:…um…The advice is “Don’t booze through the coronavirus crisis.” Does it matter if I’m not drinking just because of coronavirus?
• Skip supplements: Eating your five-a-day fruits and vegetables is the best way to maintain vitamin and nutrient levels. (Only 5?!) Check! (Although I do also use Nuun Immunity Support).

Stay as healthy and well as you can everyone!