Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020, many people have become deeply concerned about their health as the virus has caused fear among the masses because it can rapidly spread in the community.
Many people have tried different methods such as exercising, consuming healthier food, increasing their vitamin C intake and practicing alternative supplements to boost their immune system and lessen the chances of them contracting the virus.
Getting vaccinated is also a priority among people, especially since there’s still no available cure against the virus. It can help decrease the intensity of the virus should a person catch it.
Joel Lopez, the well-renowned Doctor to the Stars, believes that people don’t have to live in fear of the virus. Instead, they should exercise the right to take charge of their lives and prioritize a holistic approach to improving their health against the COVID-19 virus.
Identifying and dealing with nutritional issues
Although vaccination is what people consider against the virus, it is not for everyone. This means that their body isn’t compromised due to other reasons like existing diseases and injecting a vaccine directly into the bloodstream could do more harm than good.
Before people get vaccinated, they need to first determine whether or not they’re fit to receive it. If not, Lopez suggests other ways that they can raise their defenses against the COVID-19 virus.
“It’s important to strengthen your immune system through supplements and the basic things in life such as having a good diet, getting enough sleep and sunlight, exercising, and stress reduction,” Lopez said.
Taking supplements can also significantly boost people’s health if taken in the right doses. Lopez advises taking food rich in vitamins A, C, D, and E to help improve the immune system.
He adds that detoxification should also become a part of people’s lifestyle so they can get rid of harmful toxins in their bodies. Nutritional deficiencies should also be corrected before people can lead to a healthy lifestyle.
One of the most common nutrient deficiencies prevalent among Filipinos is vitamin D deficiency. According to Lopez, several studies have found that those who have a vitamin D deficiency are the most likely to get severely affected by the COVID-19 virus.
Stress management against illnesses
With the fear and panic that people are experiencing nowadays, it’s easy for people to get stressed. While some may dismiss and take it lightly, severe untreated stress can bear negative effects on people’s bodies.
People who undergo extreme amounts of stress can experience premature ageing and take a longer time to recover from wounds or illnesses. Stress can also make cancer spread faster and weaken the effects of vaccines.
Although stress is almost inevitable in every person’s life, Lopez highly recommends managing it by doing other activities that could take people’s minds away from disturbances.
The mind is just as important as the body. And for a person to achieve optimum health, their mind and body have to work in harmony to raise their defenses against diseases.
Rising above COVID-19
COVID-19 is just like getting the flu: nobody knows it’s there until it manifests symptoms. But although many have been afflicted by the virus, some demonstrated a great recovery from it. However, this does not completely guarantee that they won’t be affected by the virus again.
One way that people can avoid contracting the virus again is by working on their body’s defenses. Vaccines are still a viable option to decrease the severity of COVID-19, but it doesn’t completely eradicate the chances of getting the virus.
Moreover, Lopez said that vaccines only increase the antibodies that protect people against diseases. Antibodies are proteins produced by a healthy immune system. For a person to naturally and continuously increase their innate defenses against diseases, they have to focus on boosting their immune system.
In the two years that the pandemic has affected the Philippines, Lopez has seen many patients recover from COVID-19 and keep it from re-entering their system by switching to a healthier, holistic lifestyle that improves both physical and mental health.
How he became ‘Doctor to the Stars’
Joel Lopez, popularly known as Doctor JLo, is a US-trained integrative medicine physician and certified nutrition specialist. His field of expertise ranges from biological, preventative, age management, and regenerative medicine. He is also knowledgeable in holistic treatments of chronic degenerative diseases and age-related disorders.
Lopez incorporates various modalities in his practice including nutritional medicine, IV nutritional therapies, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, cytokine therapy, homotoxicology, oxygen therapies, and cell therapy.
He also promotes the importance of practicing the five Ss for holistic wellness. This includes supplements, sunshine, sleep, smile, and sex.
Born and raised in Manila, Lopez took up medical technology as a prerequisite before entering medical school at the Far Eastern University in Manila. To further his education, the young Lopez moved to the United States.
While studying overseas, Lopez did his residency program in internal medicine at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Eventually, he realized that merely treating the patients and giving them medicine to manage their symptoms was a repetitive cycle that could have negative effects.
He began seeking other ways to address patients’ concerns which led him to study complementary and alternative medicine after completing his residency. Lopez later received board certification in nutrition, anti-aging, and regenerative medicine.
Now back in the Philippines, Lopez is extending his knowledge and expertise through his new clinic in Centuria Medical Makati that offers a wide range of services that aim to transform, boost, and maintain overall wellness for his patients.
He continues his advocacy to help and educate more people about the science of holistic medicine and its benefits by training other doctors, leading roadshows and health talks, as well as guesting in TV and Radio programs, among others.
Lopez’s holistic approach to promoting health against diseases such as the COVID-19 virus provides people with a different perspective on how they can prevent it from causing serious damage to their bodies. And in a world where people easily panic because of what they see on news platforms and social media, a fighting chance is a refreshing option to have.
