They say it’s inevitable. Most of us will contract COVID-19 at some point. If you do, keep in mind that good hydration and nutrition play an important role in your body’s response to, and recovery from the virus.
Even though you may experience a lack of appetite or thirst, it is important that you eat foods and drink liquids that support your immune system. Here are some tips to help keep you hydrated and nourished.
- Drink water or clear liquids every hour. Be aware of the signs of dehydration: increased thirst, dark coloured urine, reduced urine output, dry mouth, increased heartrate, sluggishness, and confusion. Increase fluid intake as necessary. You should be passing light yellow urine every 3-4 hours. Consider changing up the type of fluids to avoid taste fatigue. Also, keep liquids by your bedside at night.
- Eat a high calorie, high protein diet. The body’s calorie requirements typically increase by 400-500 a day above normal intake during illness. Even though you may not be hungry, it is important to get those calories in your system to fight of the breakdown of muscle tissue. If you lack appetite, try to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Choose energy rich dense foods such as dried fruit, granola, avocado, cream cheese, etc. If you can’t stomach food, try energy rich dense drinks such as smoothies or fruit juice.
For more detailed information, including hydration and nutrition tips and suggestions, please refer to this article https://family-medicine.ca/images/Tips-for-Nutrition-and-Hydration-while-recovering-from-COVID19-ANF-edits.pdf
We hope that you find this information to be helpful. As always, we recommend you consult your health practitioner for advice related to your specific case and conditions
As always, we recommend you follow the guidance of a natural health practitioner when making decisions regarding which supplements would most benefit you.