- Joining us now is best selling author,

and gut health expert,Dr. David Perlmutter,

Dr. Perlmutter, thankyou for being with us.

- Delighted to be back,thank you for having me.

- Tell us, how importantis a strong immune system

right now, for surviving the virus?

- Well, you know it'sbeen said the best defense

is a good offense.

We don't really have anythingin the offense department yet,

so we've gotta strengthen our defense.

And that means our immune system,

that's our best line ofdefense, and how do we do that?

We get a good night's sleep,

we continue our exercise programs,

we get outside, as best we can,

and you know, there's a lottaresearch going on right now

that talks about what'scalled caloric restriction.

In other words, cuttingback on the amount of food

that we are eating,

because that tends toamplify immune function.

So in these times, whenpeople are looking at

how much food they'vestored in their homes,

to last whatever it maybe, the month or two,

it actually has a twofold approach there.

It's strengthening your immune system,

and you know, allowing youto let your food reserves

last a bit longer.

- Now it's interesting,you're saying a month or two,

because the guidance hasso far has been two weeks,

but I'm looking at some other reports

saying we have to extendthese time periods.

Why are you saying a month or two?

- Well, I mean if you listen

to what the president has been saying,

he's saying that this thing

is not gonna be wrapped up until August,

based on the intelligencethat he's getting.

And I think most of the reports globally

indicate that we've got acouple more months to go

while we are ramping up.

Predictions in the United States indicate

that the peak will happensomewhere around June the 20th,

but that is entirely variable,

really mostly based upon our behavior,

what we choose to do.

Turns out that the biggest thing

that can affect the timecourse of this virus,

and answer your question,

is really what we do, interms of our behavior.

And I know that was mentioned a moment ago

about this social distancing,

verses social isolation.

We definitely do notwanna isolate ourselves

in terms of contact with people,

but the physical contact, obviously,

is something that needs to stop.

- Well, tell us some thingsthat people can do in their home

while they're sheltered in place.

I know all the gyms are closed,

so how can we keep exercising,

how can we keep health apriority during this time?

- Well, let me not commenton the home exercise,

everybody I think, has their own routine.

I would say that it'simportant to distance yourself

from the media that's going on right now.

I mean it's good to checkin a couple of times a day,

but we don't wanna fan the flames of fear,

fear locks us into the part of the brain,

something you and I talkedabout a couple months ago,

that actually is destructive,in terms of immune function.

So back off on watchingthe newsfeed all day long.

I've been recommending forpeople to start reading fiction,

read some poetry, buy a jigsaw puzzle,

connect with the people thatyou're sheltered in with,

and really get back to the basics.

I think this is really important.

I think there are some

really important nutritionalconsiderations as well,

much as we talked about theother day on the "The 700 Club",

and that is really focus on a good diet,

at this point, lesssugar, less refined carbs.

And I personally believethat there's good merit

in adding a good vitamin D supplement,

as well as some zincto your daily regimen.

- All right, is thereanything we should do,

especially to make sureour homes are safe,

as we shelter, should welook at sterilizing our home?

- Well I think that youreally should consider

who's coming into your home,

and what is coming into your home.

A lotta people are ordering online,

getting a lotta packages,and I think it's,

you know, when we now recognize,

and the research coming from Yale,

that cardboard, for example,can keep the virus alive

for 48 hours, and plastic 72 hours,

we need to think twice aboutgreeting the delivery person,

and bringing that packageright into the home.

I'm doing a live podcast on Facebook,

David Perlmutter M.D.,everyday, at five p.m. eastern,

and going through all ofthese recommendations,

and updating what people should be doing.

And I think there are alotta holes in this system

that need to be thought about,

in terms of vectors, whereby coronavirus

can make its way into your home.

- Lorie Johnson told meyou're even concerned

about plastic wrapping on home deliveries,

that the virus can last longeron that, than the cardboard.

So what are you doing for home delivery,

are you leaving it outsidefor a period of time,

when it does come into thehome, will you sterilize it?

- That's exactly what you're doing,

and when packages arrive,

I spray them with a solution,

it happens to be a brand name Lysol,

And I leave them outside, unlessit's something perishable,

and if it is, I bring it in,

and leave it in the garagefor a couple of days.

You know, is that germaphobic?

Absolutely, because we need tobe germaphobic at this point.

We need to think about all of the vectors

whereby this can come into our homes.

The biggest vector are the people

who might want to come to your home,

and shelter in place.

You know, the realisticpart of this consideration

is that people need to bewatched for about 14 days,

'til you determine thatthey haven't been exposed.

That takes care of about 96% of people.

As you mentioned earlier in the setup,

these are different times,

and we are going through things

for which we have no experience,

that we've never had to deal with before.

But, take a deep breath,

there are some greatrecommendations out there,

you guys have been makingterrific recommendations.

Lorie Johnson is doing an amazing job

in disseminating pragmatic information,

and you know, we'll get through it.

But we have to prepare.

- Amen, we'll get through it.

Dr. David Perlmutter,thanks for joining us.