‘FOOD CAN BUILD YOUR CAPACITY TO RESIST COVID19'

Beenish Zohra, a practicing dietician and a clinical nutritionist,tells Farzana Nisar that good food plays an important role in building the immune system in the pandemic

-  Farzana Nisar

KASHMIR LIFE (KL): How important is food and nutrition in times of health crisis like Covid-19?

BEENISH ZOHRA (BZ): It is said that we are what we eat. Although food cannot prevent one from getting infected by Covid19, it can play a vital role in building our immune response. Covid19 is harsh and lethal for patients with co-morbidities like diabetes, cardiac issues, hypertension, etc. In such patients, diet is of utmost importance to have pre-existing issues under control.

KL: How does our daily diet affect our immune system?

BZ: Malnutrition impairs the production of immune cells, while a proper diet rich in all nutrients, multivitamins, and antioxidants, increases the production of healthy immune cells and their response to infection. Adequate and appropriate nutrition is required for all cells to function optimally and this includes the cells in the immune system. Eating a varied diet helps to ensure that you receive all the nutrients and antioxidants, which are necessary for a healthy diet. This increases the immunity of the body to fight against infection.

KL: What would be an ideal diet chart for a Covid-19 patient?

BZ: Always prefer unprocessed foods, a fiber-rich diet, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of fluids as hydration is very important

Breakfast: Try to eat healthy carbs, which digest slowly and make you feel full for a longer time include eggs, dairy, and dairy products. One should try not to consume food that has been labelled as “refined”.