Consume protein, vegetables, phyto-nutrients, adequate water to help body
regenerate in post-COVID period: Clinical Nutritionist Ishi Khosla
"If our food is not good for body, it also disturbs our mood, a reason for
psychological symptoms in post-COVID period"
New Delhi/Mumbai, June 15, 2021
Does the fight against COVID-19 really end once a negative
report comes? What early warning signs to look out for? What sort of food or
nutrition should be taken? PIB’s Webinar held today (June 15, 2021) had answers
to all these questions. Nutritionist Ishi Khosla and Pulmonologist Dr. Nikhil
Narayan Bante explained about Post-COVID symptoms, how to tackle it and also
how nutritious food can help us to fight COVID and in recovery post-COVID.
Dr. Nikhil Narayan Bante, Lungs and TB Specialist, pointed out
that a large number of COVID recovered patients are facing post-COVID-19
syndromes in the second wave of the pandemic. “Around 50%-70% of patients
may experience minor or even major symptoms up to 3-6 months after recovering
from COVID-19 and is observed more in those patients who had moderate or severe
form of the infection”, he added
Excerpts from the webinar on post-COVID as explained by Dr.
Nikhil Narayan Bante:
What is post-COVID-19 Syndrome?
Majority of COVID patients recover in 2 - 4 weeks. However, in
some patients, the COVID symptoms persist beyond four weeks – a condition known
as Acute Post COVID Syndrome. If the symptoms remain even after 12
months, it is known as Post COVID Syndrome
Most common post-COVID-19 symptoms:
- Weakness / fatigue
- Difficulty in breathing
- Palpitation
- High sweating
- Joint and muscle pain
- Loss of taste and smell
- Sleep disturbances
Psychological symptoms post-COVID:
- Depression
- Anxiety
Reasons behind post-COVID-19 symptoms?
There are two major reasons for post-COVID-19 symptoms:
1) Virus-related:- Coronavirus affects
not only our lungs, but can affect all organs including liver, brain and
kidney. So, our body takes time to recover from the infection
2) Immunity-related: - Our immune system becomes hyperactive due to the entry of the
virus. In the fight between the body and the virus, various chemicals are
released which cause inflammation in our organs. In some
patients, the inflammation persists for longer duration.
Some common post-covid syndromes
Thromboembolism is the most feared
post-COVID-19 condition. It is the obstruction of a blood vessel by blood
clots. It can even result in heart attack or stroke, depending on where the
clots occur. However, thromboembolism is being observed only in less than 5% of
patients recovering from COVID-19.
Pulmonary embolism is a condition in
which early signs of blood clot in lungs are shown. Symptoms include difficulty
in breathing and fall in blood pressure. Such patients need to be hospitalized
immediately and evaluated.
High D-Dimer levels:
Severe to serious patients and those with high D-Dimer levels
may require therapeutic anti-coagulants during hospitalization as well as in
the post-COVID-19 period for 2-4 weeks. But anti-coagulants should be taken on
physician's reference and in a guarded manner.
Chronic Cough:
Another major post-COVID-19 infection is chronic cough or post
infection cough. Dry cough can persist after recovery due to infection in our
airways and resultant inflammation. Cough can persist also due to stiffness of
lungs when recovery process begins. Deep breathing exercises for patients
experiencing dry cough is recommended.
Cough Fatigue:
Post-Covid patients often complain about cough fractures. They
may feel pain in the rib-cage towards the lower side of chest, due to chronic
cough. It is important to evaluate this condition also. Costochondritis or pain
in the rib-cage may be caused after recovery due to inflammation during COVID.
Pulmonary fibrosis
Yet another feared post-COVID syndrome which occurs due to
scarring which is when lungs recover from COVID. Scarring does not become
clinically significant in 90% of the patients. However, 10% of the patients may
need long-term supplemental oxygen. “It is more likely to occur in COVID-19
patients whose lungs got damaged to the extent of above 70%. Even among such
patients, lung fibrosis is found only in around 1% of them.
Those who had moderate to severe COVID-19 and were on oxygen
therapy, may get lung function tested after a month of recovery. To understand
whether lung capacity has been fully restored and oxygen extraction capacity
has been completely reinstated to previous levels, suggested the chest
specialist. He further informed that many patients recovering from COVID-19
experience chest pain and fear they are getting heart attack. But, heart
attacks have been observed only in less than 3% of the patients recovering from
COVID.
Post-COVID Nutrition Management:
Clinical Nutritionist Isha Khosla stated that 94% of
people who died due to COVID-19 had succumbed because of co-morbidities, which
has a common thread of inflammation. Hence, our diet should
be anti-inflammatory and we need to eat right, keep our body fit and keep our
immune system intact, she suggested.
Sufficiency of Proteins in diet
Proteins should be present in our diet in a focussed manner and,
atleast, in two meals, said Ms Khosla. Further, we should pair vegetables with
proteins, which will lead to digestion of food in a balanced manner.
Nutritional Supplements
The Clinical Nutritonist cautioned about the usage of
nutritional supplements and advised to use it judiciously. “Zinc, Vitamin
C and Vitamin D, Vitamin B Complex have gained tremendous importance in these
times. These should be taken judiciously and should not be overdone with”.
These supplements play an important role in the body's regeneration,” she
advised.
Protective food
These food help in defence mechanism of the body and contain
phyto-nutrients and fibres, which are important for the body's recovery. Hence,
protective food should also be taken adequately. There are live organisms found
in our intestines which determine our health and recovery. If there has been a
damage to those microbes, their food which is fibres should be provided to the
body so as to make those microbes grow.
Phyto-nutrients, which come in various
colours and are also known as rainbow diet, contain information about which
genes to make work, which far cells to activate and which are the ones to
suppress. These play an even more important role than vitamins and minerals. "Hence,
do consume colourful food and dedicate one meal to these protective food",
advised Ishi Khosla
Protective food include anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory food,
cold-pressed oils, turmeric, ginger, tea and so on.
Hydration: The nutritionist also specially mentioned
about the importance of drinking enough water. Hydration levels should be
well-maintained during the illness and also post-illness.
Mental health is also related to
our gut which has such a profound effect on our body that scientists are now
calling it "second brain". Hence, if our food is not good for body,
it also disturbs our mood, apart from our immunity
In short, maintain a healthy diet, take seasonal food and
organic food, she concluded.
