The Importance of Eating Healthy During Quarantine
Right now, all of us are doing our best to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. For most, this means staying
indoors as much as possible, whether or not you feel sick. While this is an excellent way to do your part, did you know that there are other things you should be keeping in mind during this pandemic?
In times of high stress, we often don’t prioritize our diets high enough. In fact, when we’re stressed, we’re much more likely to overeat or indulge in unhealthy foods. This can affect our overall health, which, in turn, can affect our immune system.
Now is not the time to be neglecting your health!
A diet of healthy foods can help you and your loved ones stay strong and healthy! The folks at Winter Sweetz would like to take this time to let you know how important a balanced diet is to helping stave off COVID-19 — even if Texas red grapefruit season is over.
Healthy Foods and Your Immune System
There are some common precautions when it comes to trying to get over or avoid a cold. Drinking plenty of water and eating healthy food may seem too simple of a plan, but it actually helps tremendously. Your own body’s immune system is your last line of defense against a virus, so it’s important to keep it in tip-top shape.
Fruits and vegetables that are rich in nutrients like vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc can help strengthen your immune system. Choose a variety of products to get the widest variety of nutrients: berries, citrus, kiwi, apples, red grapes, onions, kale, sweet potatoes, spinach, and carrots are all recommended additions to you and your family’s diet.
Other foods that can help you strengthen your immune system include fresh garlic and some varieties of mushrooms. Believe it or not, good old-fashioned chicken noodle soup can make a big difference, too!
Unhealthy Food and Your Overall Health
If good food can help your immune system, then it makes sense that a poor diet could harm it. Eating and drinking too much sugary food weakens immune responses that attack bacteria. Sugary foods can weaken your immune system for hours after you eat them.
Eating primarily unhealthy food can also lead to undernutrition, something which is well known to impair immune function. According to a study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the more malnourished an individual is, the weaker their immune response will be. The study also shows that some nutrients, such as vitamin E, perform a number of different functions in the immune system meaning missing any one nutrient could have significant effects. Excessive intake of some “micronutrients” can also impair immune function.
Winter Sweetz Values Our Clients
In this time of uncertainty, we all need to do our part to help each other. Winter Sweetz would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their years of support. We hope you and yours stay safe and healthy until all of us can return to life as usual.