Nutrition Tips for Staying Healthy during the Covid-19 Lockdown
“Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food”
In these challenging times, staying healthy is at the top of everyone’s agenda. As we remain in lockdown, eating out or picking up a fresh juice from our local café is a distant memory now! So how can we ensure we are eating well and fuelling our bodies and minds, to put us in fighting fit form for getting through the pandemic?
Beth English, Sadhana’s Nutritional Therapist trained in the principles of Functional Medicine, is a firm believer that with challenge comes great opportunity. When it comes to nutrition, this means finding creative and fun ways to engage with food, find new recipes and share the enjoyment with our community.
Here are Beth’s top 5 nutrition tips to help you feel inspired and energised by your diet through the Covid-19 lockdown:
- Focus on what ingredients you can buy, not what you can’t – look for available vegetables and fruits, particularly greens, root vegetables and legumes to support your immune system. There are many ways to use and store fresh produce, from peeling and freezing your ripe bananas to blending them all up into soups and smoothies. If you can’t get hold of your favourite canned pulses, why not buy dried legumes instead? Avoid highly processed foods and keep it nutrition-rich where possible!
- Stay hydrated to support with recovery – take it easy and avoid dehydration throughout the day by sipping water, warm water with lemon, herbal teas, broth or homemade soup. Reduce caffeine and alcohol where possible.
- Keep it simple – healthy meals don’t need to take hours of preparation and hundreds of ingredients. Blenders and slow cookers are key for making cooking simple. Get creative with recipes you can make very easily such as chia puddings, stews or soups.
- Prioritise your sleep and movement – keep your body moving throughout the day. Make the most of your daily hour outside by getting some fresh air and going for a walk. Take advantage of access to indoor yoga classes and movement sessions. Give your body enough time to recover and rejuvenate in the evenings. Try to get to sleep before midnight to stock up on your essential 7-9 hours per night.
- Food for your mood – omega 3 is essential for supporting our brain and energy levels. Keep your mood high by including sources of omega 3 such as chia seeds, walnuts, wholegrain, lentils and tofu.
Watch Beth’s nutrition tips on Sadhana Live here.
