Health and Wellbeing, Naturally.
Looking after your health and wellness during Covid is vital to give yourself the best chance of recovery in case you catch the virus.
Eat all food groups to get a balance of nutrients:
Colourful vegetables and fruits, legumes, high fibre whole-foods like breads, cereal, rice, pasta, quinoa and other ancient grain foods.
Occasional and a mix of lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts, seeds, beans.
Milk, yoghurt, cheese or healthy alternatives. Healthy oils like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, oils from nuts, seeds, avocado, hemp seeds and deep-sea fish oils.
Eat a wide variety of foods that you tolerate well or within your medical condition and that give you a broad range of nutrients.
It's important not to overeat which can put pressure on digestive organs and surrounding structures and tissues. Keep a healthy weight and evidence has it that the occasional fasting has its health benefits. That's easy to do if you occasionally wait till 11am for your first meal. You would have already fasted during sleep time!
Maintaining a healthy microbiome may help improve immune outcomes by eating lots of pre, pro and post biotic foods. We have a G'Day Gut blend that can assist with this. Otherwise try to eat whole fibre foods such as a variety of fruits, veggies and legumes to provide these. It's important to eat a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibre foods for the best outcome.
Try to limit consuming foods that may compromise your health like overly processed foods, sugar, salt, saturated fats, unhealthy fast foods and try to limit your intake of alcohol.
It's satisfying making your own meals and you know what's in them. Buying seasonal produce connects you to your environment and nature can provide you with the nutrients you need at the right time of the year.
Drink lots of water, healthy smoothie blends and fresh juices to keep hydrated and nourished.
Purchase foods which are nutrient dense or include superfoods in your food and beverages to optimise nutrition intake. Foods like Kakadu Plum powder can provide high vitamin C, antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals which can benefit immune health.
Getting plenty of exercise during the day can move and shift energy and nutrients around the body. Relaxation and good sleep are also vital for a healthy immune system. It's difficult to tune out of all the social media on what's happening in the world around us, but time out and a walk in the park can bring anxiety levels down.
Nature is a wonderful place to get some positive mindfulness, switch off and tune in with the plants, animals and your immediate environment.
It's so tempting to sit in front of the TV during lockdown but finding a new hobby, learning an instrument, taking up singing or dancing or even just cleaning out the cupboards and rearranging the rooms can keep you active at home.
Tune out of social media if you can an hour before bedtime. Try to switch off and relax your mind. Tell yourself that you are in control of your immediate environment. Focus on your breath and take control of your thoughts by allowing them to pass. Centre and try to ground yourself, focusing on this moment as you head towards your sleep rhythm.
In normal good health our bodies are naturally self-healing and want to return to homeostasis or a state of balance. Providing our body needs to be able to do this means actively participating and taking responsibility for your own health, what we put into our bodies and how we think about things.
One day we will look back at these covid days and feel empowered that we got through it. Everything will naturally and constantly change in our own lives, our environment and in the world and universe around us. It's only natural.
Stay safe, stay well and stay positive.
Julie Merlet - Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, Native Food Nutrition.
NATIF Philosophy - HEALTHY MIND, BODY, EARTH, UNIVERSE
We are what we eat, think, learn, feel, believe, what we do and how we connect.
*This is general advice for people without any underlying health issues. Seek professional practitioner advice if you have any current ailments or ill health.
