Recovered from COVID-19? Here’s your Recovery Diet & Nutrition guide
As the pandemic rages on, many people have contracted the COVID-19 infection globally. If you were one of them and are currently on the path of recovery, congratulations for beating the infection!
Recovery from COVID-19 is one of the less discussed topics, with more emphasis put on prevention and treatment instead. However, as it stands, COVID-19 has been shown to leave with long-term effects that require a proper recovery plan.
One of the main elements of bouncing back from COVID-19 involves your diet and nutrition. Here’s a short but essential guide on how you can accelerate your path to recovery through the food you eat.
#1: Keep yourself hydrated
Severe COVID-19 infection is likely to make you dehydrated. During the recovery period, it’s important that you consume a good proportion of fluids and stay fully hydrated.
This includes not just increasing your water intake, but also milk-based drinks and oral rehydration solutions that may be helpful to provide your body with extra nutrients that plain water lacks.
#2: Eat smaller, frequent portions
COVID-19 is known to affect your appetite. Even after the infection is over, you may find it overwhelming to consume food in the same quantity as you did in your pre-COVID state.
One smart way to condition your body to eat healthy without overwhelming it is by eating smaller, frequent meals throughout the day instead of the typical 3 meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
#3: Include more dairy in your diet
Dairy foods like cheese, milk and yoghurt are excellent sources of nutrients that can help you regain your strength. A nourishing meal can include cottage cheese, Greek yoghurt, eggs and milk.
If you are lactose intolerant, you may consume vegetables that are high in calcium such as rhubarb, spinach, broccoli, and certain greens like kale.
#4: Build your strength with protein
Protein-rich foods like meat, fish and chicken should be taken in adequate amounts to combat post-COVID fatigue and weakness.
#5: Supplements can be a great add-on!
If your appetite is still small, perhaps it’s a good idea to get the nutrients you need through oral nutrition supplements. Taking a multivitamin-mineral may help make up for some gaps in daily intake of a variety of nutrients yet will not interfere with or create an overabundance of any nutrient.
However, a food-first approach is always recommended because food provides more than one nutrient and nutrients often work better collectively, rather than in isolation, to keep us healthy.
