Covid-19 Safe Shopping Guidelines

Use these guidelines to shop safely throughout this Corona Virus pandemic. The China Virus is wicked!


1. Distance, distance, distance

By this point, you’ve heard me hammer on this dozens of times… but as a doctor, I really cannot stress just how important it is to keep your distance right now.

The CDC recommends staying 6 feet away from anyone outside your immediate household, but I say it’s worth taking that extra step to wait for others to pass by you on sidewalks or in grocery aisles.

Tip: If you want to protect your face, opt for a scarf or bandana, since face masks are becoming harder for hospitals to find.

2. Don’t forget to wipe down handles on doors and shopping carts

As you may know, viruses can live on hard surfaces for a very long time… so it’s very important you wipe down door and cart handles. I also suggest keeping a stack of tissues handy, so you can grab hold of handrails, gas pumps, grocery bags, and other high-touch surfaces.

Tip: If possible, always reach for items at the back of the shelf. These are usually handled much less, meaning they carry less of a risk.

3. Avoid foods that weaken your immune system, and eat foods that strengthen it

Unfortunately, grocery stores are riddled with bad, unhealthy foods that can really compromise your immune system. That’s why it’s especially important to pay extra attention to labels right now, and check for artificial ingredients, preservatives, and other toxins that could hurt your immunity.

Things to avoid include: Sucralose, aspartame, saccharine, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, sodium nitrate, trans fats, and monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Tip: Green bananas are perfect to stock up on right now. Not only are they rich in gut-boosting magnesium, they’re also a great source of immune-supporting resistant starch — which is excellent for gut health (where most of the immune system is kept). Just make sure you’re eating them green!

4. Stock up on lectin-free foods with long shelf lives

A lot of people are stocking up on beans and other legumes right now. But if you can live without them, I highly urge you to stay away from lectin-heavy foods like beans, pastries, bread, and cereal. (But, beans are perfectly safe when pressure cooked.)

Instead, try to stick to healthier options like frozen vegetables, fish, in-season fruits, and grass-fed and finished pasture-raised meats — all of which can be safely stored in your freezer.

They’re just as tasty as a normal potato chip, but FAR healthier — with plenty of micronutrients that support strong immunity and healthy digestion. And best of all? Since they’re delivered right to your door, you don’t need to leave home AT ALL to stay stocked up. And they're a great dipping chip for a batch of homemade guacamole!

If you want to learn more, check out the end of this email!

5. For now, leave your coins and bills where they are

If you can manage to get by with just your debit or credit card, I HIGHLY recommend it. Remember, one of the riskiest things you can do is touch something contaminated… so if you can, it’s worth playing it safe and going “cashless” for the time being.

Tip: For digital signatures, use your knuckle instead of your index finger. And for physical signatures, always remember to pack and use your own pen.

Oh, and of course the last thing to remember is to always wash your hands with soap before leaving and right when you come home…

But as a health-conscious subscriber, I know you’re already doing that. ;)

So, be sure to follow these basic steps the next time you need to head out and stock up on food for the week.

As for myself, Penny and I are pretty stocked up at home with plenty of frozen goods and healthy snacks… and we hope you are as well.

I know sometimes, it can feel like this is never going to end — but believe me, this too shall pass…

And once it does, we’ll look back on this as a time we all paused for a moment to focus on the one thing that matters most: Your health.