The Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic has left us all shell shocked. With news of casualties becoming only more rampant and regular, we are all looking for ways to combat this pandemic.
The safety regulations listed out by global health organizations and governments like avoiding crowds, keeping distance and wearing masks are extremely vital to combat and control the contagion of the virus.
Keeping with these safety measures, there are a few other ways in which we can safeguard ourselves, our families, and those we care about during these alarming times.
The right food habits are vital for a safe and fit lifestyle and become even more crucial to be mindful of during a state of illness or infection.
Improving our daily food habits can help strengthen our immunity against a range of diseases from the common cold or flu to dangerous viruses like Covid-19.
From incorporating various antiviral viral foods to your meals to optimizing the nutrients and vitamins your body requires, it is critical to be careful and conscious about your daily food habits.
Understanding How Diet and Nutrition Can Help in Protecting You From Viruses and Infections
Diet and nutrition cannot prevent the infection of any virus, let alone COVID-19 – only strict adhesion to the protection measurements like masking up, maintaining distance and avoiding congregations and getting vaccinated when you can do so can. Then why are food habits so essential?
Although food habits can’t save you from getting infected, they can enable you to fight it efficiently in case of infection.
A powerful immune system is efficient in battling any foreign forces that enter the body like bacterias and viruses. A sick or unhealthy immune system stands weak in front of bacterias and viruses and might succumb easier to them.
Building nutritious food habits and maintaining a healthy diet help strengthen your body against viruses. By improving your immune system through healthier food habits you improve your chances to win the fight against the virus.
Changes To Incorporate Into Your Daily Food Habits
Here are some of the changes you can make in your daily food habits that will strengthen your immunity and aid you in combating the virus.
Add Antiviral Foods to Your Diet
Antiviral foods like legumes, seafood, and a range of meats contain healing properties that can help nourish and strengthen your body and immune system.
Legumes, beans, pulses, and lentils are extremely beneficial to add to your because of the plant-based proteins that they carry within them.
Foods like chickpeas, kidney beans, black-eyed beans, black beans, green beans, and peanuts are a substantial source for getting vitamins like Vitamin B6 and Vitamin A and for calcium too.
Legumes aid the body in the production and creation of immune cells, making the immune system stronger and help in breaking down antibodies for easier use.
Seafood and fish like salmon have a nutritious amount of omega 3 fatty acids that can help improve the functioning of immune cells in your body, in particular, white blood cells which help combat viruses and bacteria.
White blood cells don’t work properly without zinc. Meats like beef, oyster, and lambs should be incorporated into your diet due to their high zinc content which works in harmony with the proteins found in the meats to build a stronger and resistive immune system.
Make sure your diet is balanced
Balance is important in all aspects of life. Maintaining a balance of different vitamins, foods, and nutrients in your daily food habits is essential to building a tough immune system that can better fend off any foreign organism that invades your body.
Going for a holistic approach to nutrition rather than only focusing on some areas is crucial. Remember, both macro and micronutrients are valuable.
Make sure your diet includes various important vitamins, different nuts, proteins, and other foods that support combating viruses and creating a stronger immune system.
Yogurt is a great way to increase your body’s creation of antibodies which help in resisting and fighting viruses. This is because yogurt has an abundance of probiotics which are a type of safe bacteria to consume and enhance the capacity of immune cells.
Vitamins are necessary for a healthy human body. Eating foods that are packed with vitamins like Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E helps in bolstering the immune system.
Vitamin C can come from many organic sources like green vegetables and citrus fruits. It is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties, and encourages the development of immune cells like lymphocytes which creates more antibodies in the system.
Vitamin A can come from many organic sources like broccoli, carrots, and fish. It helps in maintaining a healthy intestinal and respiratory system and is crucial in fending off infections and viruses because they generate and support white blood cells.
Vitamin E can be taken from nuts, seeds, and avocados is also an antioxidant and helps support immune cell capacity and function.
Be mindful of safety measures to take when handling and cooking food
Aside from focusing on your daily food intake, it is imperative during COVID-19 times to examine the treatment and cooking of the food you eat.
Safety is essential and although many health organizations say that the virus likely cannot be transferred through food, they do stress upon appropriate food hygiene and safety.
Remember to clean your hands throughout for about 20 seconds with soap, before and after cooking. Hands should also be washed during cooking if preparing or using poultry, eggs, seafood, and raw meat.
Make sure your utensils, cooking area, surfaces, and kitchen are clean and safe before and after use. Fresh produce should be washed and cleaned under warm water but without the use of soap.
Segregate raw food from cooked food. In particular, fresh produce and raw meat should be kept apart and not make contact as this could lead to contamination of germs. Cook food thoroughly and to the right and safe temperatures.
Lastly, don’t share used utensils, beverages, or food as they may be contaminated.
Final Thoughts
Remember that the assured way to decrease the likelihood of being infected and affected by COVID-19 is to follow the safety regulations like washing your hands, wearing masks, social distancing, and getting vaccinated. Although these food habits aren’t a cure for the virus they help build more immunity in your body against infections and viruses.
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