National Nutrition Week 1st to 7th September 2020

By Dr. Lavanya Consultant Dietitian, KIMS ICON Hospital Vizag

Visakhapatnam, September 06, 2020: National nutrition day is observed every year from 1st September to 7th September to create awareness among people on the nutrient values of food. People can lead a healthy life by taking proper and nutritious food, says T. Lavanya, consultant dietician, KIMS Icon hospital, Visakhapatnam. As no vaccine is ready at this moment, people are facing so many issues. One can overcome COVID-19 only by taking food that can give rich nutrition. The human body needs nutritious food the most. With that only one can perform the best whatever their duty may be. Most of the Indians are suffering from malnutrition. Proper food is needed for proper growth and a healthy body.

Food that COVID patients need to take should be like this…

Fresh and hot food should be taken.
Patients will lose their appetite. So, they should be given hot soup and soup that is made of turmeric sticks frequently.
8-10 glasses of water regularly
Foods that have rich antioxidants, most importantly beta carotene foods, leafy vegetables, carrot, pumpkin, and capsicum.
-Vitamin C rich food. The RDA of vitamin-c should be (as per doctors’ prescription) 900 mg
Vitamin-C (per 100 gm) Amla-600mg, Guava-228mg, capsicum-80mg, orange and lemon-53mg, cabbage-30mg, tomato-14mg, onion-7.4mg, carrot and apple- 6mg
Lemon water, raw capsicum in salads, whole fruit of orange, fresh guava should be given
Vitamin-c is very sensitive. So, When we cook vegetables, 60% of it’s vitamin-c will get reduced. It will also go away while washing these. Vitamin-c density also decreases with the temperature at which foods are stored.
Egg white from 2-4 boiled eggs are advised for proteins
A handful of dry fruits. Most of them should be Almonds and Acroots.
Most of the COVID-19 patients will be given steroids. They increase glucose levels in one’s blood. So, food that has a less glycemic index like barley water, vegetable soup, rajma chat shall be taken as snacks.
-Low-fat milk and milk products should be taken twice a day.
200 ml of milk with turmeric powder and pepper powder every alternative day
Curd should be taken twice a day with food. That increases good bacteria, which is good for the digestive system.
Gastric reflux may arise because of highly powerful antibacterial and antiviral medicines. So, oily foods should be avoided or limited.
Ginger, garlic, and holy basil (tulsi) should be taken in breakfast, food, and tea.
Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and bioactive compounds will save the respiratory system.