Diet – Post COVID-19 

Eating well – the first step to holistic wellness 

The key to quicker recovery of coronavirus patients lies in consumption of home-cooked food rich in protein and calories which - play a pivotal role in boosting their immunity levels; besides facilitating repair of damaged body tissues; and compensating for the muscle loss that occurred while the infection lasted.

Why only COVID-19, any disease for that matter, is taxing on the body and depletes it of nutrition and immunity; so during the recovery period one should largely focus on replenishing these through a proper diet. 

Protein is a mandate

Eating enough of protein can help overcome post-disease weakness. So a wise thing to do would be to include a portion of protein-rich foods, like pulses, legumes, peanuts, milk, yoghurt, cheese, soy, eggs, fish and chicken, in each meal thereby ensuring that one’s daily intake of protein ranges between 75 and 100 grams.

Nutritious is the way to go!

With COVID-19, one’s immune system has taken quite a beating. So an integral part of one’s recovery diet should be replenishing the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which the body needs. This can be done by including a plethora of fresh and seasonal fruits and veggies, as well as nuts and seeds in the diet; alongside grabbing 15-20 minutes of daily sunlight for vitamin D.

Abstain from calorie counting

In order to gather more energy to fight off the infection and recover faster include calorie-dense foods that are healthy carbs and not empty ones like - whole grains, potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, milk, avocados, jaggery and roasted chana.

Replenish your water levels

The infection and the fever would have depleted body fluids so hydrating is a mandate to speed up recovery. So, one must opt for drinking eight to ten glasses of water daily; besides including healthy and nutritious soups, broths, herbal teas, kadha, non-caffeinated drinks, etc. in the diet.

On a conclusive note, COVID-19 can affect one’s sense of taste and smell, which may end up putting one off food; add to this the fact that overcoming the infection may lull one into a sense of false security – all this may push one to opt for food delivery from favourite joints. But remember your safety and recovery should be your only priority now, so the safest bet in such a scenario is fresh, simple, home-cooked meals that are prepared in a hygienic environment.