If ever there was a time to eat with purpose, it is now.
COVID is spreading like a bullet train through our communities and…
every bite we take can help us fight this virus or invite it to take hold.
Each day, Thrive will be featuring a COVID-busting nutrient and posting a shopping list with meal ideas that will help you boost your immunity, strengthen your respiratory system and keep you mentally resilient.
Today, we will be featuring:
VITAMIN C
Are you:
STRESSED?
PRONE TO BRONCHITIS & PNEUMONIA?
WORRIED ABOUT FALLING SICK & NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO WORK?
If you’ve answered YES to any of these questions, then you can’t afford NOT TO have a Vitamin C rich meal plan during this health crisis.
Here’s why:
STRESSED?
Vitamin C is utilized by the adrenal glands all your stress hormones, like cortisol. The more stressed you are, the more Vitamin C your body uses to make these hormones, leaving less and less for boosting your immunity.
That’s why we tend to get sick or get a cold sore when we’re most stressed.
So, show your adrenal glands and your immune system some extra love by eating more Vitamin C rich foods.
PRONE TO BRONCHITIS & PNEUMONIA
There have been many studies showing the benefits of Vitamin C supplementation on the duration and severity of respiratory infections. Three controlled studies recorded a reduction of at least 80% in the incidence of pneumonia in the vitamin C group, and one randomised trial reported substantial treatment benefit from vitamin C in elderly UK patients hospitalized with pneumonia or bronchitis.
WORRIED ABOUT FALLING SICK & NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK?
Multiples studies have shown that regular vitamin C supplementation (> or =1 g/day) has quite consistently reduced the duration of colds. More notably, in two of these studies, absence from school and work was reduced by 14-21% per episode, which has significant benefits for working productivity & earning potential.
Lucky for you - foods like cabbage, broccolli, brussel sprouts, chili peppers, oranges, dried apricots and grapefruits keep two weeks - at least. Items like blueberries and mangos are available frozen for smoothies; and you can even buy coriander and parsley in frozen packs. Leafy greens like kale, spinach and fresh herbs last about a week in the fridge making them perfect for a once a week shop.
Folks - I know you need the pantry stocked with non-perishable goods.
But we are STRESSED, ANXIOUS & more than ever, we need to make sure that a common cold doesn’t turn into a severe respiratory infections that require medical attention. So, don’t forget to load the shopping cart & your plate with Vitamin C rich foods.
Speaking of stressed and anxious -
did you know your DIET directly impacts your anxiety levels and mental health?
Tune in next time to get your shopping list and meal plan to boost your mental health resilience.
And if you need help boosting your immunity, reach out: cristina@thrivenutritionpractice.com
Sending much love to you all.