Covid-19: Chennai dietitians tweak these local foods to improve patients’ immunity

By Harshitha Kumayaa
CHENNAI: Diets that boost the immune system have been the primary means to protect oneself from contracting the Covid-19. Dietitians and supplement strategists have been designing special diets or tweaking old ones to help their clients and patients fight Covid-19.
Chennai-based dietitian and quality check in-charge Nihath Tazeen says, “We have a designed a seven-day diet chart for Covid-19 positive clients and those who are at risk.”
This diet plan includes nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and a sufficient amount of fibre.
“Superfoods such as nuts and green leafy vegetables form a crucial part of this diet,” added Tazeen, who works at Qua Nutrition, Chennai.
Qua Nutrition has also designed a document titled “immune diet for viruses” which gives information on the foods to include and to avoid in one’s diet to prevent the contraction of the virus. The document also includes a few easy recipes.
Ramya Kannan, nutritionist and founder of Good Health, Chennai, has introduced a wide range of immune-boosting beverages in her Covid-19 diet plan. Some of the few notable drinks include turmeric tea, tulsi green tea, pepper soup, and cucumber lemon and mint cooler.
“Drinking a tall glass of warm turmeric milk helps in a relaxed sleep” added Kannan, who believes insufficient sleep can decrease the level of immunity in fighting diseases.
Sufficient production of White Blood Cells (WBCs) is essential for protecting the body against infectious diseases, says Kannan, who adds spinach, nuts, broccoli and bell peppers in her chart to increase her clients’ WBC count.
According to Greata Sherene, tweaking regular meals by adding vitamin-rich ingredients such as capsicum, drumsticks, carrots, ginger, lemon and pepper can help build immunity.
“We now prepare pepper rasam instead of regular masala rasam and add drumstick to sambar and dal for our patients,” said the executive nutritionist from Cloudnine Hospital, Chennai.
Sherene, who takes care of pregnant women admitted for delivery, says, “While providing care for immunocompromised persons, it is essential to focus on every gram of their intake.” She mostly avoids refined, processed, and old cooked food for her patients.
Apart from following the Covid diet, Tazeen stresses on the importance of engaging in physical activity. “Exercising helps in the release of endorphins or ‘happy hormones’ which drives one to feel healthy,” she added.
However, practising a heavy intense workout for more than 45 minutes a day can decline the immunity and it would take three days to build back the immunity level, says Kannan. “A moderate workout such as yoga or walking is sufficient, as conserving energy is necessary during these times,” she says. Soaking in the sun for about 30 minutes each day is as crucial as following the Covid diet, she added.
Clients who follow the diet have also been feeling healthier. Dinesh Kumar, who has been following a Covid diet plan since May, believes it has enhanced his energy levels. “I used to get common cold and headaches very often. With this diet, I hardly fall sick and my fear of contracting the virus has gone down,” says the 26-year-old Chennai-based pilot.
“Whether a new diet plan or just tweaking old diets to suit one’s need, it needs to become a part of one’s lifestyle for long-lasting effects” added Kumar, who has been eating clean for over a year.