What to do if you get COVID

So, you’ve got a positive RAT.. now what? With omicron lurking in the community, here are some lifestyle hacks to help your immune system.

If you get diagnosed with COVID, start by reducing sugar consumption. Excess sugar increases the speed of viral reproduction within the body and reduces the activity of infection fighting white blood cells. A 2021 study also found that high blood sugar levels were a risk factor for severe COVID, even in otherwise healthy individuals.

So what should be eating to best fuel the immune system response?

If your unwell, now is the time to dial up the polyphenols in your diet. Polyphenols are plant compounds that can reduce inflammation and help with repair of damaged cells. Examples of these include circumin, found in turmeric, as well as onion and garlic which are well known to be an infection fighting polyphenols. 

When the body is fighting infection, the demand for vitamin c is higher.  Foods rich in vitamin c include citrus fruit and broccoli. Zinc is another key nutrient involved in a healthy immune system. Good sources of zinc are, pumpkin seeds and oysters. 

As general rule, consuming a large variety of plant foods in their natural state is the best possible thing to do for a healthy immune system and has been shown in a study to significantly reduce the risk of severe COVID infection.. 

If you have a fever, headache, fatigue or diarrhea or vomiting - staying hydrated is really important. I usually advise people to try soup because the broth contains minerals as well as salt which is necessary to prevent dehydration. Chicken soup is particularly helpful because it contains arginine, which has been shown to protect the body against stress caused by activation of the immune system.

Most importantly, if you have COVID, try to rest and not battle on working from home. Our immune system has an increased need for energy when fighting infection, particularly if you have a fever, so if you try to overdo it, you could take longer to recover.

To summarise, my recommendations if you get COViD are to reduce sugar, consume as many different types of plant foods as possible, stay hydrated with some home made soup andrest when you feel tired. Remember if you have any concerns that you or someone else is becoming more unwell, do contact your GP or phone 08003585453