Diet and nutrition is the first pillar of health. We eat to live, so we need to eat nourishing, nutritious food that has life in it. As much as possible we should be conscious about and grateful for what we eat and drink.
A regular, sustained habit of physical exercise is, of course, essential for good health. The particular type of physical exercise that you do is not important; what matters is that you do some type of exercise, for at least twenty minutes, most days of the week. Whatever exercise you’re doing, anchor yourself in your breathing: let your breath be your guide.
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND BODY WEIGHT
Yiqing Song, Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Fairbanks School of Public Health At this extreme moment, we began working from home, away from campus, and keeping social distance for as many people as possible. As we stay home and are stuck with the foods that have been in our fridge or pantry for a while, we are temporarily living a sedentary lifestyle with increased odds of physical inactivity, excessive eating and sitting, stress, anxiety, and depression. In particular, many of us will gain some weight during the pandemic and may keep the extra weight permanently, which may carry considerable health risks for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. Here, I’d like to share some basic tips and resources for how to maintain your healthy lifestyle, body weight, and overall well-being while staying home and engaging in social distancing.
1. Measure and Watch Your Weight Keeping track of your body weight on a daily or weekly basis will help you see what you’re losing and/or what you’re gaining.
2. Limit Unhealthy Foods and Eat Healthy Meals Do not forget to eat breakfast and choose a nutritious meal with more protein and fiber and less fat, sugar, and calories. For more information on weight-control foods and dietary recommendations, please check the following website: www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/diet-and-weight/.
3. Take Multivitamin Supplements To make sure you have sufficient levels of nutrients, taking a daily multivitamin supplement is a good idea, especially when you do not have a variety of vegetables and fruits at home. Many micronutrients are vital to your immune system, including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, and E, as well as zinc, iron, copper, selenium, and magnesium. However, there’s currently NO available evidence that adding any supplements or “miracle mineral supplements” to your diet will help protect you from the virus or increase recovery. In some cases, high doses of vitamins can be bad for your health.
4. Drink Water and Stay Hydrated, and Limit Sugared Beverages Drink water regularly to stay healthy, but there is NO evidence that drinking water frequently (e.g. every 15 minutes) can help prevent any viral infection.
5. Exercise Regularly and Be Physically Active At this time, at-home workouts may be a good idea. But you can also walk your dog or run outside. Be sure you know what’s going on in your area and if there are any restrictions or mandatory self-quarantines.
6. Reduce Sitting and Screen Time Exercise can’t immunise you from your sedentary time. Even people who exercise regularly could be at increased risk for diabetes and heart disease and stroke if they spend lots of time sitting behind computers. Practically speaking, you could consider taking breaks from sedentary time, such as walking around the office/room a couple of times in a day.
7. Get Enough Good Sleep There is a very strong connection between sleep quality and quantity and your immune system. You can keep your immune system functioning properly by getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night. For more information, please check the CDC website: www.cdc.gov/sleep/index.html.
8. Go Easy on Alcohol and Stay Sober Drinking alcohol does not protect you from the coronavirus infection. Don’t forget that those alcohol calories can add up quickly. Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation. Please see the recommendations by the AHA: www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/alcohol-and-heart-health.
9. Find Ways to Manage Your Emotions It is common for people to have feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty during a pandemic. To minimize stress-related weight gain, you use this information about stress
10. Use an App to Keep Track of Your Movement, Sleep, and Heart Rate
