By Helen Nielsen
We all have known that “having a healthy immune system” helps you fight off the viruses of the common cold and seasonal flu. And taking the precautions to “distance yourself” from the airborne exposure to tuberculosis, and physical contact with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and genital herpes has long been considered “normal precautionary behaviors.” Yet we seem to have lost the focus on the importance of both of these “immune system” and “distancing” precautions.
This “new-to-us” Coronavirus is making taking all those important mask wearing and physical distancing precautions seem less pertinent as the reports of “Underlying Health Conditions” dominate most all Covid-19 death, hospitalization and rates of infection statistics.
Meanwhile politicians debate issues ranging from the government’s right to mandate the list of defensive measures from the closing of various business venues, to whether to have children return to the classroom, and the personal precautions prescribed in order to curb the Covid’s spread. Other politicians are providing political postulations of a “soon to be discovered vaccine and/or new therapeutics” which they contend will eliminate the dangers Covid represents.
Meanwhile, in Vista, The Real Santas United and the Vista Farmers Market have taken actions which embrace the time-tested measure of: Eating Healthy in order to Be Healthy.
While fully embracing the State and County admonitions of face-mask wearing, social distancing and avoiding crowding they have launched a series of measures reminding shoppers that “the shoppers themselves” can take pro-active offensive measures to curb Covid’s ability to inflict lasting harm, even death by “Eating Real Food” which will both boost their individual immune systems and help them rid themselves of those “Underlying Healthy Conditions” most of which are brought on by the consumption of the SAD (Standard American Diet) of Fast, Junk and Processed “food.” Where is “Real Food” available in abundance? At the Farmers Market, of course.
To help the Vista market farmers promote this “awakening” the Sustainable Santa Foundation, headed by the Real Santas United member who for the past 5 years has been “the Santa” at the Vista market at holiday time, has worked with the farmers to create “informational posters” citing the immune system and general health boosting values in the products they sell. From Garlic, to Mushrooms; Carrots to Kale; Collards to Swiss Chard and the host other greens, including Micro-greens, the posters tout the value of purchasing and eating the healthy locally-grown, responsibly-raised REAL FOOD made available by these conscientious Farmers in the market.
Plus while the value of eating a plant based diet is receiving considerable national attention, the availability of hormone and anti-biotic free fish, meats and eggs, fermented and dehydrated items and probiotic drinks, all of which contribute to building a nutritious, immune-system-boosting selection of dietary choices are featured. Plus they all represent the key ingredients in eliminating those pesky “Underlying Health Conditions.”
To set this effort apart from the normal “touts” of “healthy eating” the Sustainable Santa Foundation has created a “new Hero” to take on the dangers represented by Covid-19. He/she is The Kale Rider who throughout the summer and fall will be rallying healthy real food colleagues to do battle with Covid-19’s hero: The Pale Rider = the horseman of Death in the Apocalypse. Together with colleagues, such as “Let’s Gar-Lic Covid,” “Don’t leave Mush-Room for Underlying Health Conditions to develop,” “Let’s Yam-UP Covid’s ability to do harm.” “Let-us all be Healthy,” etc. the parade of Real Food warriors will remind market shoppers just how important their “personal shopping choices” can be with regard to their personal ability to battle the Covid.
It will be interesting to see how the Farmers Market shoppers respond to the healthy suggestion of abandoning the SAD diet of Fast, Junk and Processed “food” and embracing the consumption of “Real Food” instead – as if their life depended on it. Perhaps it does!
