Expert Nutritional Advice From Dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman On COVID-19!

– Hi guys, I’m Tracy Lockwood Beckerman. I’m here today to answer all of your COVID-19 isolation and quarantine questions. Some of the questions that we’ve been getting are, what food should I eat to support my immunity? What supplements should I be taking? I’m here to answer those questions and more. (upbeat music) I’m gonna be giving you a breakdown of foods that are non-perishable, in addition to foods that have a long shelf life, starting with one of my favorites, eggs.

You can make them in ways that you’re probably not gonna get sick of, like scrambled, poached, hard boiled, soft boiled, and you can have it morning, noon and night. So you’re probably wondering how many eggs are too many eggs, and I’m here to tell you that there is no association between egg intake and cholesterol. Beans are one of my all time favorite foods because there’s so many options and there’s so many varieties, and they’re a great source of plant based protein and fiber and they even have calming magnesium and potassium, which we all need right now. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, you can get canned, frozen, fresh, or dried.

So when you get canned fruits, just make sure that it’s not going to have any syrup or sugar in the canned fruit. I’ve been eating a lot of canned peas, canned corn and even canned beets. So be sure to try those when you can. I’m sure you’re thinking what about pasta? Well, that is definitely on my list in addition to grains, and quinoa as well.

Right now when it comes to snacking, there really are no rules. So if you’re hungry between breakfast and lunch, go for a snack, if you’re hungry between lunch and dinner, go for a snack, just make sure that you’re eating real ingredients like fresh fruit and popcorn, but also get nuts. How many times do we want to actually feel full from food? (swoosh) The reality is is that you’re probably going to eat a little bit more than expected just because you’re bored and you’re around food all the time. So if you have no idea where to start, just eat a certain amount, like an amount on your plate that feels good for you.

(swoosh) Some people are good at intuitively eating, meaning they eat when they’re hungry, but others need more of a routine. So sticking to three meals a day, but remember guys, it is not the time to put yourself in a caloric deficit to lose weight. And why is that? Well because you don’t wanna be malnourished or not eating enough calories during this time because you wanna ensure adequate nutrition and defense to stand up to the virus, and to keep your immune system so strong. (swoosh) I would be lying if I didn’t wish that celery juice would help cure COVID-19, but no, that is not the case, and really there are no known at home remedies to cure or prevent COVID-19 at this time.

(Swoosh) It is so important for those of you that do have it to remember to eat throughout the day, even though you may not have an appetite. So I wanna let you know that I personally don’t care what you’re currently eating, whether it’s pasta, chips, pizza, none of that matters, because I would rather you focus on getting enough nutrients in the form of any food rather than a particular nutrient. Hydration is key, especially if you’re running a fever. Coconut water and watermelon water both have amazing electrolytes in the form of potassium, which can help replenish that and make you feel less dizzy and nauseous.

Other types of remedies that I would recommend are soups and comforting, warm food. You don’t wanna put your body through any type of more effort to actually metabolize and break down a food more than it should, so cold, raw salad right now is probably not the best option. (swoosh) We do know that foods have the ability to provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to our bodies to help support our immune system. So for example, when you’re eating some frozen seafood or nuts at home, you’re getting some zinc and antioxidant superstar selenium, which are super for our immune system.

When you’re eating canned peas or corn, or even frozen berries, you’re getting a ton of antioxidants and vitamin A, C, and E, which are all supportive of a great immune system. Foods that have an amazing amount of antioxidants but also vital nutrients that can help keep our cells healthy are ginger, garlic, parsley and herbs of that nature, so be sure to get that in food form, than rather than taking it as a supplement. So a lot of you are also wondering, how much of these immune boosting foods should I be eating? Well, I’m gonna give you my secret. Get a minimum of three different colors on your plate.

(swoosh) Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet. So there really is no evidence at this time suggesting that vitamin C, elderflower, ginger, zinc, can actually prevent or cure COVID-19. The CDC recommends that adults of legal drinking age should be drinking in moderation. Now that’s one drink for us ladies and two drinks for men.

Now because you may be in isolation, and are bored, and are just trying to bide the time, it’s likely you could be drinking more than this, but try to occupy your time with other things, like cooking a meal from scratch. How many of you have ever made homemade pasta? So let’s say none of that resonates with you, and you just want a few general healthy tips. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet, managing some good proper sleep hygiene, and also practicing things that are going to help lower your stress. I encourage you to also have virtual meals with not just your friends but your family that you just don’t see very often these days, so that would be another way for you guys to really bond and reconnect during this difficult time.

So follow me, the happiest nutritionist, for more tips, and of course, you’ve gotta read my book, “The Better Period Food Solution,” which is available on Amazon, and be sure to check it out, because you probably are gonna be home for another month. And check out betches for more of these amazing, informative videos, and stay safe out there guys.

Source: Betches