Kapanlagi.com - The Covid-19 pandemic is not yet over. On the contrary, the number of transmission cases continues to skyrocket. Many people are infected, showing various symptoms. Some are severe, some are mild, and some are even asymptomatic. Like other illnesses, food choices for Covid-19 patients are something that needs to be considered. This is because there are several foods that Covid-19 patients should avoid as they can disrupt the immune system.
As we know, Covid-19 is a virus that attacks the respiratory system. This virus can easily spread and infect anyone, especially those with weak immune systems. In addition, Covid-19 patients with stable immune systems also tend to have a greater chance of recovery. Therefore, maintaining immunity is a key factor in being able to recover and heal from this virus.
Therefore, paying attention to the nutritional intake of food is important for Covid-19 patients. As reported by liputan6.com, here are some foods that Covid-19 patients should avoid as they can disrupt the immune system.
Â
1. Fast Food (Junk Food)
(credit: freepik)
Basically, fast food or junk food is known to be unhealthy. This is because junk food is processed using deep fry method, making it very oily. In addition, junk food is also known to contain a lot of sugar, salt, and msg.
Covid-19 patients are not recommended to consume junk food. Besides being unhealthy, junk food is also suspected to cause throat and cough problems. However, sore throat and cough are symptoms of covid-19. Therefore, the consumption of junk food is feared to worsen the symptoms and condition of covid-19 patients.
2. Ultra Processed Food
The second type of food that should be avoided by covid-19 patients is ultra processed food. Ultra processed foods are packaged foods that generally contain high levels of sugar and salt. Therefore, ultra processed foods are feared to worsen immunity and disrupt blood sugar levels.
Moreover, covid-19 is also believed to worsen the condition of other comorbid diseases, such as diabetes in people with high blood sugar levels. For those of you who are still unfamiliar, some types of ultra processed foods are biscuits, chocolates, cereals, and soda drinks.
3. High Fat Foods
In addition to high sugar and salt foods, high fat foods should also be avoided by COVID-19 patients. High fat foods are believed to worsen metabolic syndrome, which can increase the risk of inflammation. High fat foods such as coconut milk-based dishes, butter, offal, and offal should be avoided, especially for COVID-19 patients with high cholesterol, heart problems, and hypertension.
Â
4. Sour and Spicy Foods
(credit: freepik)
Sour and spicy foods may be appetizing. However, these foods should also be avoided by individuals who are currently suffering from COVID-19. As we know, sour and spicy foods often cause nausea and digestive problems.
On the other hand, some COVID-19 patients also experience nausea symptoms. Therefore, COVID-19 patients are advised to avoid sour and spicy foods as they may worsen the condition. This is especially true for COVID-19 patients with underlying conditions such as gastric ulcers, GERD, and acid reflux.
5. High Salt Foods
As mentioned earlier, high salt content is also not good for COVID-19 patients. High salt levels can affect a person's blood pressure. This can certainly endanger the health condition of COVID-19 patients as it will disrupt the immune system.
Â
6. Caffeinated Foods and Drinks
(credit: freepik)
Coffee and tea are two types of drinks that are quite favored. Unfortunately, both types of drinks are also classified as foods to be avoided by COVID-19 patients. This is because tea and coffee contain a high amount of caffeine.
As we know, caffeine can keep someone awake and prevent them from feeling sleepy. However, COVID-19 patients need to get enough sleep and rest to maintain their immunity. Besides causing difficulty in sleeping, caffeine is also believed to make someone feel anxious. Meanwhile, to restore immunity, a person needs to have a calm mind.
Â
7. Foods Containing Refined Carbohydrates
(credit: freepik)
Foods such as white bread, pasta, refined flour, and processed sugar should also be avoided when infected with covid-19. The reason is that these foods contain refined carbohydrates which have a high glycemic index. Foods with refined carbohydrates can cause an increase in blood sugar levels, insulin, free radical effects, and inflammation.
Â
8. Frozen Meat
Meat is indeed known as one of the sources of protein. However, it is advisable not to consume frozen meat when suffering from covid-19. This is because frozen meat, especially in packaging such as cans, contains high levels of fat. As mentioned earlier, high fat can disrupt a person's immune system.
Those are among the 8 types of foods that should be avoided by covid-19 patients. Hopefully, it is useful and inspiring!
Â
(kpl/psp)
Disclaimer: This translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English has been generated by Artificial Intelligence.