Maintaining Digestive Health during COVID-19
The COVID-19 is causing many changes in the daily lives of people around the world and in turn affecting the gut health due to various reasons. Lack of activity, erratic diet patterns and stress related to the pandemic seems to be affecting people in different ways. Gut health disturbances is very common due to these factors.
Gut health influences our immunity, and general sense of well being. (About 70 percent of the immunity system is housed with gut). Sedentary lifestyle and poor diet choices have led to variety of problems like abdominal discomfort, acidity, indigestion, and constipation. We have seen an increase in IBS cases. Obesity is on the rise and leading to problems like fatty liver.
Hence, experts around the world recommend maintaining a healthy gut to promote immunity and prevent several flu and bacterial attacks in the longer run.
Dr. Vikrant Kale is the best Gastroenterologist (stomach specialist), who has extensive experience in dealing with gut problems. He has identified these points to spread awareness among people on “how to maintain their gut health in pandemic situations in simple ways”.
7 Expert's Tips to Maintain your Digestive Health:
Eating the right kinds of foods, in the right amounts at the right time is very crucial for our health. While no foods or dietary supplements can prevent COVID-19 infection, but by maintaining a healthy diet we can keep our immune system strong for fighting the disease. Dr. Vikrant Kale shares 7 tips to maintain your digestive health in COVID-19 Pandemic
1. Maintain a healthy diet:
Adding more fibre, protein, and vitamins to your diet and cutting down on sugar and fat can influence a healthy gut. Avoid oily and spicy foods. You can eat a combination of different foods including whole grains such as wheat, maize, and rice, legumes like lentils and beans, fruit and vegetables, and some foods from animal sources (e.g. meat, fish, eggs, and milk).
2. Chew your food well:
Chewing your food properly and slowly is of utmost importance to boost better digestion. This helps in mixing the saliavry juices, which are important for digestion of food and maintain overall health.
3. Exercise whenever possible:
Even if your gym is closed, you must find ways to regularly exercise. Exercise helps to maintain several normal body functions and it also helps you to reduce stress. Walking around your neighborhood, or doing yoga in your home are all great stress relievers—and you can do them for free. Meditation is another way of relaxation to help with mental and physical health.
4. Drink enough water and stay hydrated
Good hydration is crucial for optimal health. Drinking 3 to 4 Ltrs of plain water is a simple way to get hydrated. This helps in digestion of food, excretion of toxins from your body and keeps you energetic all day.
5. Limit Alcohol:
This has two-fold importance: Alcohol can not only suppress your immune system and trigger both IBS and GERD but also acts as a depressant, which can exacerbate stress, anxiety, and depression.
6. Get Enough Sleep Consistently:
Sleep is a restorative process that helps to ensure a number of health systems are functioning properly. If you don’t get enough sleep on a consistent basis, your body can’t appropriately flush toxins and waste out of your system, and that can throw off your digestive health.
7. Socially Distance Yourself:
Stay at least six feet from people who don’t live in your household, wear a mask in public, and frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 25 seconds. Knowing that you’re taking care of yourself and others and minimizing the chances of contracting the virus will help keep your stress levels low.
If you might face any difficulties in handling the digestive health of yourself or your family, then you must call/visit Dr. Vikrant Kale. For more information about our comprehensive treatment options, or to request an appointment with the best Gastroenterologist in Pune call 09763635252 / 07558423708 or Click on Book Appointment for online booking with your near hospital. We are extremely careful of sanitation and ensure a very COVID safe surrounding in our clinic. Appointments are spaced out and social distancing is strictly enforced.
