Nutritional requirements of COVID-19 patients | Fusion - WeRIndia

Due to loss of smell and taste, many COVID-19 patients feel it difficult to eat. This deteriorates their health further. Eating a nutritional diet is essential to recover from COVID-19 faster.

Here are the nutritional requirements of COVID-19 patients:

They shall take 2000 – 2500 calories per day. Avoiding food items high in sodium and sugars is essential. They shall consume fewer processed foods and more plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains etc.

At least three litres of fluids are needed. Drink 50 to 100mil of fluid every 15 minutes. Drink not just water, but also other drinks like fruit juices, oral rehydration solutions, sports drinks, protein shakes etc.

Some studies showed that oral rehydration solutions (ORS) help recover faster by easing symptoms like fever, vomiting, weakness, fatigue etc. ORS keeps your body hydrated for a long time and prevents the loss of electrolytes. It also prevents the need for hospitalization. ORS is available in different flavours. You can choose your choice of flavour.

They need protein of 75 to 100 grams a day. Dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, protein shakes, peanut butter or any other nut butter are some good sources of protein to add to your diet.

As most patients experience nausea and loss of appetite, they can’t eat at a time. Hence, mini-meals help them getting enough calories. Eat 6 to 7 times a day, every 2 to 3 hours, even if you are not hungry. It helps you give energy from time to time. You need more calories than your regular diet due to stress and avoid the breakdown of muscle for energy. Hence a high calorie and high protein diet is recommended for faster recovery.

Also, add more fat-rich foods like butter, cream cheese etc. You can also consume nutritional supplements to fulfil your nutritional requirement.

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