COUNTERING COVID WITH PROPER HOME-COOKED PLATTER

COUNTERING COVID WITH PROPER HOME-COOKED PLATTER

Diet is both- one of the causes of the disease as well as remedy of it. Food can quicken the brain and lift our mood. Food can also attack bacteria and viruses with a vigour equal to that of lab-made drugs. As countries are taking strong measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, self-quarantine and temporary closing of food businesses is providing opportunity to have good food-related practices at home. While we should avoid food which produces lethargy and create fat-producing tendency, it should include food that make patient feel light and hydrated.

The COVID meal platter has to be:

• Low in oil
• High in fibre and protein
• High water content veggies like cucumber, lauki (Gourd), broccoli, torai.

Hydration and good nutrition is very important to flush out toxins. Patients should daily consume hydrating and fermented foods for body cell revival and rejuvenation like:

• Aloe vera juice
• Jeera Paani
• Wheatgrass juice
• Ash Gourd water
• Coconut water
• Fresh vegetable juices

Thanks to the good Samaritans, helpful neighbours and cooks who are feeding COVID-19 patients and families, patients are getting priority to nutrition over tasty and spicy food. Doctors urge to avoid:

• Spicy foods and stomach irritating food: cause of nausea and gastric trouble
• Junk and packaged treats/snacks: presence of preservatives
• Stale food and hard in digestion food

A nutritious, immune-enhancing, easy to digest COVID meal prepared with right combination of proteins and carbohydrates are well suited options for person recovering from Covid. Example-

• Wholesome vegetable soup
• Mixed daals/ seasoned daals, Sambhar
• Daal khichdi combined with fresh vegetables is protein-rich
• Soft boiled eggs with freshly cooked seasoned vegetables
• Citrus fruits, lemon, tomatoes, red capsicum are rich sources of vitamin C that helps to fight infection.

Make sure to add ingredients like – Turmeric

• Cinnamon
• Garlic (Zinc rich)
• Ginger in Covid patient’s meal.

Magnesium content in broccoli, peas and beans can be really helpful for the recovering patient.

Several doctors have mentioned that food is important part of recovery process and our body requires essential vitamins and minerals. So, make sure that we provide fresh, home-cooked meals (steamed rice, chapatis, salad and curd) and don’t fall for Whatsapp forwards and random diet plans circulating online. Always consult your doctor and nutritionist to fit diet plan according to your body as no single diet fits everyone’s body and immune system.