Food and nutrition tips during COVID-19
If are covid positive and doing home quarantine these eating tips will be very useful for you.
You are COVID-19 positive and your body has been drained of energy. Go for high high protein diet (soya/paneer/quinoa/eggs/fish/chicken soup), but avoid foods with empty calories – like all types of junk food.
You should eat a variety of fresh and unprocessed foods every day to get the vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, protein and antioxidants your body needs.
Eat fruits, vegetables, legumes (e.g. lentils, beans), nuts and whole grains (e.g. unprocessed maize, millet, oats, wheat, rice), and foods from animal sources (e.g. meat, fish, eggs and milk).
Snacks
For snacks, choose raw vegetables and fresh fruit rather than foods that are high in sugar, fat or salt.
Stay hydrated
Good hydration is crucial for optimal health. Drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages is a simple way to limit your intake of sugar and excess calories.
avoid eating when you are covid-19 positive
Limit your salt intake
WHO recommends consuming less than 5 g of salt per day. In order to achieve this, prioritize foods with reduced or no added salt. Avoid adding extra salt when cooking and to your meals at the table. Experiment with fresh or dried herbs and spices for added flavour instead.
Limit your fat intake
To achieve this, opt for cooking methods that require less or no fat, such as steaming, grilling or sautéing instead of frying foods.
Limit your sugar intake
limit the amount of sugar or honey added to foods and avoid sweetening your beverages. If you crave something sweet, fresh fruit should always be the priority.
Avoid alcohol or at least reduce your alcohol consumption
Alcohol is not only a mind-altering and dependence-producing substance, harmful at any level consumed, but it also weakens the immune system. WHO also says, alcohol use and especially heavy use undermines your body’s ability to cope with infectious disease, including COVID-19.
Counselling and psychosocial support
While proper nutrition and hydration improve health and immunity, they are not magic bullets. People living with chronic illnesses who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 may need support with their mental health and diet to ensure they keep in good health. Keep talking to your friends and relatives. If it is needed your family/friends can seek counselling and psychosocial support for you from appropriately trained health care professionals.