Corona is spreading around the world, with Sri Lanka being no exception. Within the first week, the number of patients has gone up to 28 at the time of writing this post. With the possibility of the country going into lockdown, and with the risk of newly diagnosed cases in the coming days, we hope everyone is staying safe. 

In this post, we are going to tell you how to stay safe during this time of coronavirus pandemic and suggest what to eat and drink to stay healthy. 

Stick to the basics

You should stick to the basics, as it will help a lot to stop the spread of the disease. These include,

  • Wash your hands regularly, if you went outside, or used public transport, wash your hands by using soap for at least 30 seconds. 
  • Don’t go to places of social gatherings.
  • Isolate yourself and avoid social interactions as much as possible.
  • Wear a mask whenever you are traveling outside.

These are some steps you can do to stop the spread of the disease. With that let’s talk about what you can eat and drink during the days of the coronavirus pandemic,

Stay hydrated, drink warm water

Infused water is a great way to stay hydrated
Infused water is a great way to stay hydrated

Coronavirus is similar to other viruses that cause common cold or flu. They spread via secretions from your mouth and nose, and they infect your airways, causing symptoms like sore throat, cough, and fever.

It’s always a good thing to drink warm water. It will keep your respiratory tract healthy, making it difficult for viruses to infect.

Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated. Keeping a well-hydrated body is essential to combat cold and flu.

Infused water is a great way to stay hydrated.

Chicken soup

Chicken soup is a great way to fight cold and flu
Chicken soup is a great way to fight cold and flu

Everyone knows that when you are down with cold, you will feel much better after drinking a bowl of chicken soup. And at this time of a pandemic, there is no better soup than chicken soup.

The fact that chicken soup is good for the cold and flu is also backed up by science. Several scientific research has shown that chicken soup contains chemicals that will boost your immunity and has anti-inflammatory effects on your body. 

Ginger

Ginger is an Ayurvedic medication used for centuries.
Ginger is an ayurvedic medication used for centuries

Ginger is an ayurvedic medication used for centuries, and brewing coriander seeds and ginger to make the traditional drink koththamalli is used by Sri Lankans as a cold remedy. 

If you don’t have koththamalli with you, you can easily add some ginger to your tea and have it as a drink. Ginger contains antioxidants that will help to keep your body healthy, and it has many vitamins and iron as well.

Vitamins C and Zinc

Oranges and mandarins are good source of vitamin C
Oranges and mandarins are good source of vitamin C

Vitamin C and Zinc also has properties that will help to boost your immunity and fight against any flu that will infect your respiratory system.

Oranges and mandarins are good sources of vitamin C. When you are going for shopping next time, make sure you get down some mandarins and oranges.

Zinc is also vital for the immune system, and you can find zinc in meat, fish, and eggs. So make sure you eat lots of them.

Stop smoking

Smoking weakens your immune system.
Smoking weakens your immune system.

One group of people who are at risk due to coronavirus are regular smokers. Smoking weakens the immune system of your respiratory tract, making it easy for infections to get into your body.

Smoking also destroys your lung tissue, making your lungs weak. Finally, it will increase the risk of getting coronavirus and also make your recovery difficult from the disease. 

So if you are someone who is a regular smoker, stop it immediately. 

Eat lots of fruits

Fruits contain lots of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory mediators.
Fruits contain lots of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory mediators.

Fruits contain lots of vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory mediators. All of them can help you to fight the disease.

So eat plenty of fruits while you are at home, and boost the immune system.

Let’s all stay safe during this time of the covid19 pandemic. Simple steps can go a long way to stop the spread of the disease.

Author

Dr Rukshan Ranatunge is a graduate from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya (MBBS). He is currently studying for his masters in health informatics.

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