ISLAMABAD – A balanced diet, regular exercise and getting enough sleep areimportant ways to combat the novel coronavirus, a medical expert said onMonday.
“It is very important to consume sufficient amounts of protein, especiallythose with high biological value such as milk, dairy products and eggs, toboost immunity,” nutrition and dietetics expert Dr. Nevin Sanlier toldAnadolu Agency.
Sanlier, who is the dean of the Health Sciences Faculty at Ankara MedipolUniversity, advised people to follow a balanced diet by consuming adequateamounts of dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese, meat, fish andpoultry, eggs, nuts, beans, vegetables, fruits, bread and cereals.
She stressed that one-sided diets or insufficient intake of nutrients wouldincrease a person’s vulnerability to infections.
“Consumption of probiotic foods becomes more important in strengthening theimmune system during mid-seasons and wintertime when the body is lessresistant. Fermented milk products such as kefir and yogurt are importantsources of probiotics,” she added.
Recommending 2.5 liters (roughly 10 cups) of water every day to preventdehydration, she also advised against eating fatty foods.
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It is important to continue physical activities and resting your bodythrough seven to eight hours of sleep, she added.
Reiterating the importance of hand hygiene, she warned not to eat fruitsand vegetables without washing them in water.
The novel strain of coronavirus known as COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, Chinalast December, and has spread to at least 146 countries and territories.
The global death toll is now over 6,500, with more than 164,000 confirmedcases, according to the World Health Organization, which has declared theoutbreak a global pandemic.
