01/8COVID-19: Foods you must eat to recover fast
What should you do, if you test positive for coronavirus? The second wave of pandemic has made us vulnerable to the life-threatening effects of COVID-19 so much so that it has been an awakening for most of us to build our immunity and strengthen the body’s ability to fight the dreadful virus.
However, recuperating from this life threatening disease is not easy, but if you manage to take the right steps at the right time your way to recovery can be fast and effective. According to experts the key to faster recovery is by tweaking the diet and adding health enriching and nutritious foods that help in improving the slackening immunity. Here are a few tips you must follow if you are trying to recover from COVID-19.
02/8Why is it essential to improve immunity?
The second wave of COVID-19 has created a scare among the masses with the severity of cases affecting lungs, respiratory system, heart health and other vital organs. While good nutrition is essential to fight the ill effects of virus, a healthy diet along with simple breathing exercises can help in reviving the depleting health condition and helps in boosting strength and immunity. Here are a few foods you must add to your diet, if you have been tested positive for coronavirus.
03/8What experts suggest?
According to Dr Vishnuraj Prakash, Head of Ayurveda, Vana Retreat, Dehradun, our immunity helps our physiological system to resist any bacterial or viral invasion. One needs to understand that a balanced immune response is vital to ward off these infections and bounce back to health.
Majority of viral infections turn serious either due to lack of immune response or else due to hyper immune response. The following practices and food choices help in modulating a balanced immune response and may facilitate a faster recovery from COVID-19 infection.
Simple tips
Hydrate yourselves – Drink at least 3 to 4 litres of water infused with a few leaves of tulsi and thin slices of ginger. Try to avoid sleeping in supine position as it can increase chances of chest congestion. Try to sleep in either a prone or lateral position.
Chew 3 to 5 raisins 3 to 4 times a day which can improve digestion and help in improving or bringing back your taste.
Always prefer to have light and easily digestible meals like a khichdi fortified with cinnamon and turmeric powder which can be assimilated quickly.
Taking a piece of fruit, especially a pomegranate or orange or an apple will be energising. Include asparagus, drumsticks, garlic, beetroot, celery, zucchini, cucumber, radish, mung bean in your diet. Always prefer to have warm and cooked meals.
Avoid cold foods, excessive sweet, spicy, sour, and salty foods during an active infection. Try moderation of all tastes in a meal.
04/8Increase the intake of Protein
Protein helps in building muscles and repairs cell damage, which further helps in boosting your immunity. The reason why experts suggest increasing the intake of protein rich foods is because it helps in healing the cell damage caused due to COVID-19.
Adding protein rich foods like fish, lean meat, bananas, nuts and seeds, legumes and pulses to your diet during or post COVID-19 will help in replenishing the lost nutrition. These protein rich foods are also a great source of omega 3 fatty acids that help in boosting metabolism and improve gut health.
05/8Include calorie dense nutrients
Most of us are addicted to counting calories after every bite to stay in shape, but if you are suffering from COVID-19 and are on the path of recovery, then you will have to let go of your habit of counting calories as the phase of recovery calls for some nutrient dense foods that help in revving your depleting health and strengthen your immune system.
The absence of healthy calories in this phase can slow down your recovery rate. Thus, it is essential to include calorie dense foods like nuts, seeds, and whole grains. In fact, dry fruits and nuts help in boosting overall health.
06/8Vitamins are essential
Adding fresh produce like fruits and veggies help in faster recovery, this is the reason why experts suggest to include fresh veggies and fruits. Adding fresh fruits and veggies rich in vitamins and antioxidants help in strengthening the body’s resistance to combat deadly virus attacks like COVID-19. The addition of Vitamin C and multivitamin rich fruits like oranges, mango, pineapple, lemons help in reviving lost nutrients, hydrates the body and helps in boosting respiratory system.
07/8Add soy based foods
The addition of protein rich soy in your daily diet can help in healing and faster recovery post COVID-19. As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, it has been suggested that adding high protein soy based foods can help in boosting immunity naturally. Also going for a nutrient dense vegetarian diet can improve overall health and immunity, post COVID-19.
08/8In a nutshell
Apart from adding these healthy foods to your daily diet, you must keep a check on the intake of sugar and salt as they may lead to a spike in sugar levels or blood pressure levels, which eventually slows down the recovery process. Thus, for a faster and effective recovery, make sure you add healthy fruit, veggies, protein rich foods and reduce the intake of oil, sugar, spices as an execss of these foods may have adverse effects on your overall health.
