Post-covid recovery is a prolonged affair, supported by the fact that even after testing negative most people experience fatigue. The novel Coronavirus takes a toll on the immune system, which leaves the person much weaker than before. And that’s the reason why good nutrition is important for your health when one is recovering from Covid.
Dealing with post-COVID fatigue is not an easy task, the struggle is very much real. Don’t make the mistake of jumping back to your ‘Normal life routine’ right after you have tested negative. Subsequently, you need to give yourself enough time to get back to the old everyday practice by taking one step at a time.
SLEEP
Do not forget, you have recently battled an illness that has critically attacked your immune system. Even if your reports come negative, the body is still fighting the underlying effects. And that is why one needs to rest well. Sleeping for at least eight to nine hours is mandatory.
HYDRATION
According to experts, exerting yourself physically or even mentally can be harmful. Hydration is another important key to make sure you’re keeping well. Drink a lot of water along with some chia or basil seeds. They would provide the much-needed hydration to the body.
NUTRITION
Since it’s vital to maintain one’s energy levels, it is important to include a sufficient amount of healthy carbohydrates in your diet. The best option is to consume more complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, millets and other similar items. Consume legumes and pulses regularly. Aside from these, incorporate fermented foods into your diet, such as yogurt, kombucha, kanji, fermented pickles and beans. This will help maintain a stable gut microbiota and improve immunity.
Just maintain a sufficient amount of carbs in your diet and don’t skip them. You should start your day with a handful of nuts and seeds such as walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds among others. This will give the body an immediate boost and will aid in recovery as the day progresses. These nuts, especially walnuts, are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Well, this reminds one of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s guidelines, which emphasises on consuming foods with omega-3, zinc, selenium, protein and vitamin B as they play a role in our body’s healing process, which would help us in maintaining a healthy immune system. And, walnuts are a great source of all these nutrients.
A prediction by the great inventor and businessman Thomas Alva Edison seems very relevant in today’s times, “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”
(Dr Naresh Purohit is advisor to National Universal Immunisation Programme and National Communicable Disease Control Programme. He is also Advisor to six other National Health Programmes. He is visiting Professor in five Medical Universities of Southern India including Thrissur based Kerala University of Health Sciences. The views and opinion expressed in this article are those of the author)
