Are you self-isolating?
All countries with the Coronavirus will eventually enter a lockdown phase and this will be to prevent the spread of the virus. But what happens if you have the virus and are told to self-isolate? If your symptoms aren’t severe enough, then you’ll be responsible for looking after yourself at home. You might be wondering what foods can help the symptoms of the Coronavirus.
What can you do at home to help you recover from the illness?
First of all, it’s important to remember that most of us who become infected by the virus will make a full recovery. The Coronavirus has very similar symptoms to the flu. We know that the virus causes a cough and also a fever. This is because of the tiny viral particles that when inhaled cause an irritation of the airways, subsequently followed by a cough. A high fever is your body’s natural immune response to a viral or bacterial infection and raising the heat of the body can help to kill off the infection. [1]
Irritation of the upper respiratory tract causes damage to the cells, so your body’s natural defence is to release immune mediators that cause inflammation of this area. Unfortunately, with inflammation, it can become difficult to breathe because of swelling and the blocking of airways. It’s therefore important to focus on inflammation reduction.
How to reduce inflammation of the airways naturally?
If you are self-isolating at home, then you can look at some natural ways of inflammation reduction.
Diet for the Coronavirus
Eating an anti-inflammatory diet could assist in your recovery. Here are some foods that could help:
- Chicken broth. Our ancestors have been cooking up chicken soup for the flu since the 12th [2] The Egyptian Jewish physician and philosopher, Moshe ben Maimonides, recommended chicken soup for respiratory tract symptoms in his writings back in the 12th century which were, in turn, based on earlier Greek writings. Back in the year 2000, scientists decided to put the chicken broth soup theories to the test with some amazing discoveries. They discovered that a range of chicken broth soups made using chickens and vegetables all had anti-inflammatory activity within the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, a reduction in inflammation will help oxygen flow to the lungs much easier. Check out our delicious chicken broth recipe.
- Eat purple foods [3]. All purple foods contain an antioxidant called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have anti-inflammatory compounds and could be beneficial in inflammation reduction. The best purple foods to include are berries – especially blueberries, pomegranate, beetroot, aubergine, elderberries, and passion fruit.
- Vegetables [4]. Some vegetables are better at helping to reduce inflammation, this is because of different antioxidant compounds. Consider eating broccoli, peppers and mushrooms. Remember, these could be a great addition to your chicken broth soup.
- Anti-inflammatory spices [5]. In Eastern countries, the use of spices is much more prevalent than in Western countries. For years, they have added spices to their meals. Now, we can confidently agree that some spices have anti-inflammatory properties. The best spices to add to your cooking are turmeric, cayenne pepper, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and black pepper.
- Drink plenty of water and kefir water. Drinking water will not only help to keep your body hydrated, but it will also help to lower your body temperature. [6] Drinking kefir water daily will help to replenish some of your depleted gut bacteria. Kefir water is a natural probiotic drink and has proven results in digestive health.
It’s best to avoid fatty, sugary foods and foods that are high in starchy carbohydrates. It can be too easy to reach for these foods during times of illness, but they can prevent your recovery.
For more information on our chicken broth and kefir water, please click below.