COVID-19, a disease caused by a new coronavirus, is a disease that has rapidly spread around the world and turned into a pandemic. Coronavirus is one of the most important pathogens mainly targeting the human respiratory system. Age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, immunosuppression, and organ failure are risk factors for disease severity.
Fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia, diarrhea and pneumonia are the most common symptoms of COVID-19 and may include acute respiratory distress syndrome, metabolic acidosis, septic shock, coagulation disorder, liver, kidney and heart failure. At the individual level, the common thread that drives many of the nutritional and dietary proposals in dealing with viral infections, including COVID-19, lies in the middle contact between diet and immunity. In fact, the available evidence highlights that diet has a profound effect on people’s immune system and susceptibility to disease. It has been shown that specific foods or combinations of foods can affect the immune system in a variety of ways. Furthermore, dietary supplements are valuable determinants of gut microbial composition and ultimately shape the characteristics of immune responses in the body. Strength is associated with nutritional deficiencies of protein and specific micronutrients, suppressed immune function and increased susceptibility to infection. Adequate intake of iron, zinc, and vitamins A, E, B6 and B12 are predominantly vital for the maintenance of immune function. Therefore, the key to maintaining an effective immune system is to avoid deficiencies of nutrients that play a valuable role in immune cell triggering, interaction, differentiation or functional expression. Therefore, the responsibility of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic is to choose a healthy lifestyle, to eat a diet strong in fruits and vegetables, to exercise in their spare time, to try to lose a healthy weight and to get enough sleep. In addition to being mindful of one’s dietary intake, individuals’ collective responsibility is to prevent the spread of misinformation regarding nutrition and dietary intake and COVID-19. Since the outbreak, social media networks have been flooded with messages of single nutrients/herbs promising to cure or prevent infection. The effects of such baseless theses can lead to negative consequences ranging from a false sense of defense against infection to toxicity.
Nutritional Recommendations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Try to eat stable meals, avoid unsystematic snacks
• Choose foods that are strong in vitamins A, C, E, B6 and B12, zinc and iron, for example; citrus fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and dairy products.
• Try to do regular exercise (home exercises), regular sleep and meditation.
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Make sure you consume enough water.
• Avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs.
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Limit your salt intake.
• Avoid spreading misinformation about COVID 19 about nutrition and dietary intake.
