The Hindu diet is practiced by adherents of Hinduism, the third largest religion in the world (1).

Its a primarily lacto-vegetarian diet, which means that it includes dairy products but excludes meat. Still, some people who practice Hinduism choose to eat certain meats or other animal products.

You may be curious about its history, how it compares with vegetarianism, and whether it offers health benefits.

This article tells you everything you need to know about the Hindu diet.

The Hindu diet is the eating pattern usually followed by adherents of Hinduism, most of whom live in India. Yet, as an estimated 1.1 billion people practice this religion, there are many variations of the diet (1).

In general, Hindus follow a lacto-vegetarian diet, which excludes meat, fish, shellfish, and eggs but includes dairy.

Hindu religious texts advocate for ahimsa, a practice of nonviolence toward all living creatures. This tenet justifies a lacto-vegetarian diet, as the killing of animals for food can be considered violence in Hindu cultures (2).

Additionally, Hinduism considers cows sacred, as theyre representative of maternal gentleness. As such, even among Hindus who eat meat, beef and byproducts like beef lard are taboo (3).

There are no universal, mandatory dietary restrictions for practicing Hindus with the exception of abstinence from beef.

Thus, the Western concept of vegetarian diets, with its rigid bans on certain food groups like meat, fish, and poultry, doesnt apply to the Hindu diet.

All the same, a majority of Hindus follow what could be considered a lacto-vegetarian diet. Some may follow a stricter diet while others may have more relaxed practices even eating meat, such as chicken or goat.

In fact, many Hindus living in India report including at least some meat in their diet particularly those who are poorer or lower in the caste system (4).

The Hindu diet is followed by adherents of Hinduism. While its primarily a lacto-vegetarian diet, many Hindus may eat meats like chicken or goat.

The traditional lacto-vegetarian version of the Hindu diet may provide several health benefits.

Lacto-vegetarian diets can be associated with heart health, as they tend to be higher in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants than omnivorous diets.

Indeed, vegetarian diets are linked to lower blood pressure levels than diets that contain meat (5).

Additionally, one review found that vegetarian diets lowered levels of total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart disease. All the same, vegetarian diets also reduced HDL (good) cholesterol (6).

However, the Hindu diets inclusion of dairy products may help maintain or increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. That said, dairy products may also raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, depending on what types of dairy products are involved (7, 8).

In Hinduism, moderation of food intake is considered an important virtue called mitahara. This practice emphasizes diet and nutrition as keys to healthy living (9).

This focus on food moderation may promote healthier attitudes about food. In fact, dietary moderation is associated with lower calorie intake (10).

In turn, a lower calorie intake may aid weight loss.

Indeed, the traditional lacto-vegetarian Hindu diet is linked to lower body weights in India, compared with other eating patterns common in the country (11).

The traditional Hindu diet may be richer in fiber and antioxidants than other diets due to its high concentration of fruits and vegetables (12).

Fruits and vegetables both boast fiber, which has several health benefits. These include lowering cholesterol and promoting healthy digestion (13).

Fiber intake is also associated with a lower body weight because it promotes feelings of fullness. High fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, likewise tend to be lower in calories than low fiber foods (13).

Additionally, fruits and vegetables are some of the best dietary sources of antioxidants. These plant compounds may help prevent or reverse cellular damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals (12).

Antioxidants may decrease chronic inflammation and lower your risk of illnesses like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers (14).

Notably, a study in 100 people in India revealed that those who followed lacto-vegetarian or ovo-lacto-vegetarian diets which include eggs had higher antioxidant levels in their blood than non-vegetarians (15).

The Hindu diet is primarily plant-based, but the addition of dairy products helps ensure that your body gets adequate vitamin B12 and zinc, which may help your body fend off anemia and certain chronic illnesses (16, 17).

Specifically, due to their fiber, nutrient, and antioxidant contents, plant-based diets are associated with a decreased risk of heart disease, autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes (18, 19, 20, 21).

One study in 32 vegetarians and non-vegetarians in India found that the non-vegetarians had ratios of gut bacteria similar to those of people with colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (22).

From these results, researchers inferred that a vegetarian diet may protect against these conditions. All the same, more research is needed (22).

The traditional Hindu diet may be associated with improved heart health and antioxidant status, as well as reduced body weight and chronic disease risk.

The Hindu diet is primarily lacto-vegetarian, though some practicing Hindus eat meat.

Generally, the only food completely banned for Hindus is beef. That said, many Hindus refrain from alcohol, and some may avoid onions and garlic, as these plants are tied to anger or passion according to certain religious doctrines (3).

Here are some foods that are commonly eaten or acceptable on the Hindu diet:

Ghee is a type of clarified butter widely used as a cooking fat in India.

Some Hindus follow a strict vegetarian diet, while others eat meat. Generally, the only food strictly off-limits on the Hindu diet is beef.

The Hindu diet is practiced by adherents of Hinduism and primarily lacto-vegetarian.

However, theres a large degree of flexibility, as some Hindus strictly abstain from meat while others eat certain meats, such as chicken or goat.

Thus, theres not necessarily one right way to follow the Hindu diet although its usually associated with a high intake of whole, nutritious vegetables and high fiber grains and legumes.

In general, lacto-vegetarian diets are associated with lower body weight and a decreased risk of several diseases.

Thus, the traditional Hindu diet offers a number of health benefits.

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Hindu Diet: Practices, Benefits, and Foods - Healthline

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From Women's Health

If youve already given keto or any other low-carb diets a try, you might be eager to test out the Slow-Carb Diet, which is *somewhat* similar.

The eating plan is included in the book The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss (an entrepreneur, author, and podcast host), which was published in 2010. In the book, Ferriss details his Slow-Carb Diet approach. But the diet has also gained lots of followers who haven't necessarily read about it in The 4-Hour Bodyit's a buzzy diet that makes the rounds.

So what's the Slow-Carb Diet all aboutand can it really help you lose weight in a safe and sustainable way? Let's get into it, with the help of a registered dietitian.

The Slow-Carb Diet involves eating five food main groups (animal protein, vegetables, legumes, fats, and spices) and teaches to eat four meals a day for six days of the week. You also get one cheat day, on which you can eat whatever you want, explains Brigitte Zeitlin, a registered dietitian and owner of BZ Nutrition in New York City.

Basically, the idea is to follow a very low-carb regimen on the premise that it will increase your bodys ability to break down fat for energy and reduce your overall fat stores, says Zeitlinand in turn, reduce your body weight.

Ferriss also talks about various supplements (like calcium and magnesium) you can take while doing the diet, but they aren't a requirement. Now, a break down of the Slow-Carb Diet eating rules.

The slow-carb diet is based on the following five fundamental rules, which Ferriss also detailed on his blog:

Avoid white carbohydrates. If you are on this diet to lose weight, then you need to avoid all processed carbohydrates (like breads, pastas, cereals, baked goods, etc.) for six days per week. If you are on the diet to increase your muscle and strength, then youre allowed to eat these foods within 30 minutes of finishing a resistance-training workout.

Eat the same meals over and over. Basically just re-make the same meals from the approved five groups of foods (animal protein, vegetables, legumes, fats, and spices).

Watch what you drink. This diet boasts the importance of drinking water and other unsweetened tea or coffee. Consuming alcohol, juice, smoothies, sodas, or any calorie-filled beverage is discouraged.

No fruit. This diet bans all fruit intake on the premise that they contain too much sugar for weight loss. (Psssst, many other experts still recommend fruit on a weight-loss plan, though!)

Take one day off per week. One day a week of your choosing, you can cheat and eat and drink anything you wish. (More on that later.)

Story continues

Turns out, there are no foods that are actually dubbed slow-carbohydrate foods. "I believe the name of this concept comes from the approved-food lists and the fact that the carbs that are allowed are all complex carbohydrates, meaning they have fiber in them and therefore take your body longer to break down and process," says Zeitlin. "In other words, they move through your system at a slower rate than the simple, or white, carbs that are off limits on this diet."

For anyone unfamiliar with the concept of simple versus complex carbs: White-flour items or simple carbohydrates move through the body at a faster pace than complex ones like legumes or dark leafy greens, Zeitlin explains. So, simple carbs end up being less filling and satiating, plus they spike your blood sugar, compared to complex ones due to the removed fiber. So, complex carbs = slow carbs. Get it?

Foods allowed on the Slow-Carb Diet include:

Animal proteins: Eggs, cottage cheese, chicken, beef, pork, and fish

Legumes: Lentils, black beans, pinto beans, red beans, and soybeans

Certain vegetables: Spinach, asparagus, peas, green beans, sauerkraut, kimchi, and cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts)

Fats: Butter, olive oil, grapeseed oil, nuts, ghee, and dairy-free creamer

Spices: Salt, pepper, herbs, and seasonings

FYI: Several food groups are off-limits on this diet, including fruit, dairy (except for cottage cheese), fried foods, white-flour products, and alcohol.

One of the main aspects about this diet is that you must take one day "off" to eat whatever you want. The book calls it a "free day," during which you can eat and drink anything you wish.

"[Ferriss] believes this eases the mental stress that often comes along with dieting and that it may help to boost your metabolic rate, which can sometimes slow down with calorically restrictive diets like this one," says Zeitlin.

One of the principle rules of the diet is that you will eat the same things over and over. A variety of meals is not the goal or purpose.

The following are a few examples of meals you could enjoy that would fit the Slow-Carb Diet bill, provided by Zeitlin:

Slow-Carb breakfasts

Slow-Carb lunches

Slow-Carb dinners

Salmon with roasted broccoli

Stir-fry with all the allowed vegetables and soybeans

Grilled steak with cauliflower

The diet cuts out processed foods, sugary beverages, and other less-nutritious foods, and doing so can certainly yield weight-loss results. Allowing for a day of eating whatever you want may help some people feel less deprived, too. (However, the opposite can also be arguedsee the cons comin' up!)

The reviews about the Slow-Carb Diet online are mixed, but there are certainly lots of positive ones. "Even if you don't actually apply any of the techniques, this book will likely make you think about your overall health in a different way," one reviewer wrote on Amazon. "There is a wealth of information in this book, and it has helped me lose weight, gain strength, and run faster in the last 12 months."

The same reviewer went on to explain: "Like most of Ferriss' work, it could easily be misunderstood. Be clear that it isn't about shortcuts or 'hacks'it's about efficiently getting maximum benefit from the minimum inputbut that 'minimum input' still requires effort and dedication. You'll get out what you're prepared to put in." (That's only *one* person's opinion, of course, but valid points.)

There are very few pros to fad, restrictive diets like this one, according to Zeitlin. You can definitely lose weight, but she warns it may not be sustainable for everyone. As soon as you reintroduce the healthy food groups that have been removed, like whole grains and fruits, you will regain weight and likely gain back more weight than you originally lost, Zeitlin says.

Zeitlin also warns that you may feel guilty about falling off the plan, and you may end up going overboard on the restricted foods if you feel deprived while omitting simple carbs, alcohol, and more six days of the week. Additionally, the concept of a free or cheat day can create a messed-up relationship with food, reinforcing the notion that they are 'good' foods and 'bad' foods, when some of those 'bad' foods are vitamin-rich fruits and whole grains," she adds.

The choice is ultimately yours, and you know your body and personality best. Some people have an easier time losing weight by following structured guidelines and grocery lists, while others (like people with a history of disordered eating) may find that type of heavy guidance and rigidity harmful or even downright dangerous.

Zeitlin personally doesnt recommend trying an overly restrictive diet like the Slow-Carb Diet. "Diets that encourage cutting food groups out completely dont support your health-goals long-term and can leave you yo-yo-ing up and down with your weight," she says.

If you are trying to lose weight, Zeitlin recommends "concentrating on foods you should be adding in versus taking out," she says. This includes adding in more veggies, lean proteins, whole grains instead of white flour, and fruits. "Keep your grains and fruits to two servings each per day and dont forget to add in more water, along with sleep and physical activity," she says.

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Original post:
The Slow-Carb Diet Is All About Eating Fiber-Rich Carbs, But It's Pretty Restrictive - Yahoo Lifestyle

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Emily Y. Chew, M.D.Director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical ApplicationsDeputy Clinical Director at the National Eye Institute (NEI),National Institutes of Health

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Dementia is a common disorder that was estimated to have a worldwide prevalence of 44 million in 2016 and is projected to hit 115 million by 2050. Many phase 3 trials of various therapies have failed and we have no treatment currently available for the prevention or reduction of the course of dementia. A slow neurocognitive decline throughout life is part of the normal process of aging. However, there is a subset of individuals who may have accelerated aging and is at high risk of development dementia. If the course of such accelerated decline could be altered in any way, it would be important to evaluate. The role of diet with biologic aging has been studied and diet has been also found to be associated with age-related conditions linked to dementia, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

We were interested in the cognitive function of our participants who had another neurodegenerative disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We had conducted two randomized controlled clinical trials designed to evaluate the role of oral supplements for the treatment of AMD. We also studied cognitive function in both clinical trials of nearly 8,000 participants who were followed for 10 years. We also evaluated the dietary habits of the participants with food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) at baseline. Cognitive function testing was conducted in the first study, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) near the end of the clinical trial while the AREDS2, the second study, evaluated cognitive function testing at baseline and every 2 years until year 6. AREDS study evaluated cognitive function with in-clinic study visits while AREDS2 was conducted using telephone interviews.

Our aim was to determine whether closer adherence to the alternative Mediterranean diet (aMED) was associated with impaired cognitive function these two studies. We were interested in the particular components of the Mediterranean diet that may be important. We also evaluated the interaction of genetics with the diet.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with decreased risk of cognitive impairment. There was a dose response relationship in that the higher the adherence, the better the beneficial effect. The results were consistent between the two clinical trials of persons who did not have cognitive impairment at the baseline of the study but did have varying degrees of severity of AMD. The strength of this relationship of diet with cognitive function was fairly large with 40 to 50 % reduction.

Higher fish consumption was associated with decreased risk of cognitive impairment and slower cognitive decline. Fish may be the component that drives the effects of the Mediterranean diet on cognitive function to a certain extent. But in general, the Mediterranean diet with all its components may play a very important role in cognitive function.

MedicalResearch.com: What role did theApoE gene have on the results?

Response: Although APOE risk haplotypes were significantly associated with faster decline in cognitive impairment scores (p<0.0001) in general, APOE status did not influence the association of the Mediterranean diet with decreased risk of cognitive impairment and nor did it have an influence on the association of fish consumption with decreased risk of cognitive impairment and slower cognitive decline.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: It is important to consider possible modification with your diet. These are not the results of a randomized trial but the data are quite compelling. And other studies have supported this theory that you are what you eat. Eating fish twice a week has beneficial effects and having a Mediterranean diet has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of heart disease and impairment in cognition.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: This is a study of association so it would be important to have randomized controlled clinical trials to test the effect of a Mediterranean Diet on cognitive function. A randomized trial (PREDIMED) conducted in Spain with comparisons between Mediterranean diet vs. low fat diet found that participants randomized to a Mediterranean diet had higher cognitive function scores after 6.5 years than those randomized to a low-fat control diet. The NIH is also supporting the Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Study. This is a Phase III randomized controlled trial designed to test the effects of a 3-year intervention of a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, called MIND, on cognitive decline among 600 individuals 65+ years without cognitive impairment who are overweight and have suboptimal diets, as described the clinicaltrials.gov. That would be the gold standard for establishing a potential treatment for cognitive impairment. This study is done in persons who are high risk of developing cognitive decline.

I have no financial disclosures or other relevant disclosures to report.

Citation:

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The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.

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Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Function in Patients with Age-Related Eye Disease - MedicalResearch.com

Life expectancy cannot be predicted with absolute certainty but informed predictions can be made based on your overall lifestyle. That's because the leading causes of death in the world are mostly attributed to unhealthy lifestyle habits. The most obvious being heart disease, which is directly caused by eating an unhealthy diet.

Committing to a healthy diet can therefore provide some guarantee of a long life.

There is no single miracle worker but evidence suggests certain ingredients provide numerous health benefits so it would be wise to include them in your diet.

One such superfood is sage, a staple herb used to spruce up various dishes.

Sage has shown promise in combating the mechanisms that may lead to serious health conditions, such as heart disease.

READ MORE:How to live longer: Limit one necessary, daily activity to increase your lifespan

The herb has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, a fatty substance that is a precursor to heart disease.

In one study, consuming sage tea twice daily lowered bad LDL cholesterol and total blood cholesterol while raising good HDL cholesterol after just two weeks.

HDL cholesterol counters the negative effects of LDL cholesterol by transporting the harmful cholesterol to your liver where it is flushed out of your body.

The perennial herb has also been shown to lower blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity, factors that underpin type 2 diabetes, another precursor to heart disease.

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In one study, sage leaf extract lowered blood sugar and improved insulin sensitivity with comparable results to rosiglitazone, another anti-diabetes drug.

Another study in mice with type 2 diabetes found that sage tea acts like metformin a drug prescribed to manage blood sugar in people with the same disease.

What's more, it may boost memory and brain health, factors that may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain condition.

In one study, 39 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimers disease consumed either 60 drops (2 ml) of a sage extract supplement or a placebo daily for four months.

Those taking the sage extract performed better on tests that measured memory, problem-solving, reasoning and other cognitive abilities

The benefits are partly attributed to the compounds found in sage, which can act as antioxidants.

Antioxidants are compounds that intercept unstable molecules called free radicals in the body.

Free radicals cause cell damage and are associated with the negative effects of ageing, such as brain decline.

In addition to packing your diet with healthy items, it is important to exercise regularly to ward off heart disease and other serious health conditions.

"Regular exercise will make your heart and blood circulatory system more efficient, lower your cholesterol level, and also keep your blood pressure at a healthy level," explains the NHS.

It also helps you to maintain a healthy weight, which is also essential for longevity.

Obesity is linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer, warns the NHS.

Read the original here:
How to live longer: Sprinkle this 70p herb on your meals to increase your life expectancy - Express

SCOTS have been urged to give up smoking and cut down their alcohol consumption in a bid to reduce complications linked to conroavirus.

The countrys interim chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith, has called on people to cut their intake of alcohol and tobacco during the lockdown to reduce the likelihood of becoming more unwell if they contract Covid-19.

Dr Smith had called on the public to enjoy a balanced diet during the lockdown.

He said: Now more than ever, its important that we all take the steps possible to look after ourselves. Eating well, staying active are really important for both our physical health and our mental wellbeing.

Eating a balanced, healthy diet which includes a variety of different foodswill help ensure that you get all the essential nutrients and energy you need throughout the day. Foods an important part of our daily lives and something that many of us enjoy.

Dr Smith has he understood many found it tempting to turn to cigarettes or alcohol during times of stress, such as the lockdown.

He said: This is a stressful time for people. Sometimes, when we feel this way, we use substances like tobacco or alcohol more than we usually do.

READ MORE:Coronavirus in Scotland: SNP MSP says Covid-19 could have 'positive impact'

We know that both these habits can be harmful - particularly in relation to coronavirus.

Evidence suggests that smoking may contribute to the severity of Covid-19 disease. We know that people who smoke are much more likely to experience other respiratory infections such as flu.

READ MORE:Warning over 'backlog of surgeries' that could 'break' NHS as 72% cut in urgent cancer referrals revealed

Please, if you can, try to cut down or even stop your smoking. If you continue, please remember to wash your hands before and after so that theres less opportunity for the virus to spread.

He added: Alcohol can also reduce the immune systems ability to fight off infectious disease and also have an impact on your heart and your lungs.

Choosing to cut back on how much you drink may reduce some of the complicationslinked to coronavirus.

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Coronavirus: Scots told to give up cigarettes and reduce alcohol from lockdown diet - HeraldScotland

There is no single food item that can prevent or cure coronavirus (COVID-19) at present, the Dietitians Association of Nigeria has said.

The association, however, said an adequate diet would help support the bodys immune system to fight infections. It said its attention was drawn to several claims regarding nutrition and COVID-19, and that dietitian-nutritionists have also received several questions concerning what to eat to prevent coronavirus infection.

The dieticians said their association and relevant regulatory agencies have also not approved any single supplement or combinations to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19. There is no evidence that any supplement or health product will protect the body against the coronavirus.

Nigerians are hence advised to be wary of unregulated supplement claims, the association said in a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Elizabeth Kanayo Ngwu.

Nutrition, immunity and COVID-19

The dieticians said the immune system depends on both macro and micro-nutrients (substances in foods) for proper functioning and as such, many nutrients were involved in the proper functioning of the immune system.

These nutrients cannot be sourced from a single food rather by consuming a variety of healthy foods. A healthy diet will, therefore, strengthen the immune system and enable it to play its role of defending the body against infections and fight diseases. Examples of these nutrients include proteins, vitamins A, B6, B12, C and D, copper, folate, iron, selenium and zinc, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, etc, they said.

They advised that to obtain these nutrients, food selection should be done from different food groups and that these groups are:

Cereals and grains: The foods in this group include rice, maize, wheat, bread, pasta, hungry rice (acha), sorghum and others.

Roots, tubers and plantain: Examples of foods in these groups include yam, cassava, garri, fufu, plantain, alubo and others.

Legumes and nuts: Examples of foods in this group include beans, bambaranut (okpa), yam, bean (Azam or Ijiriji or Ozaki), soybeans, walnut, cashew nut, groundnut and others.

Meat, poultry and fish: Examples include beef, chicken, eggs, fish and meat.

Milk and milk products: These include milk, yoghurt, cheese, nono, and other milk products.

Fruits: include banana, avocado pear, mango, watermelon, pawpaw, orange, apple, African star apple (udara or agbalumo), Velvet Tamarind (icheku, awin, tsamiya) and many other common ones in various states.

Vegetables: include all leaves used in cooking meals, carrots, garden eggs, cucumber, green beans, onions and many others.

Water: Drink clean uncontaminated water, at least three litres a day (about six sachets). Do not wait until you are thirsty.

According to the experts, in order to keep the immune system functioning optimally, people should maintain the consumption of an adequate diet with lots of variety.

An adequate diet should supply nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals, among others in the right quality and quantity. Fruits and vegetables are especially important; selecting a colourful array; such as carrots, green leafy vegetables, fresh tomatoes, oranges, will provide you with vitamins which play important roles in immune function.

Once you are consistent with an adequate diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle (exercise, not smoking, adequate sleep, managing stress etc.) you would not need any supplement marketed around COVID-19.

The dieticians association also called on the government to come to the aid of Nigerians who could not afford food to eat, especially numerous daily wage earners and unemployed youths.

While citizens do their best to stay at home to help reduce the spread of the disease, it is also important that necessary measures be taken to cushion the effects of staying at home, especially as it concerns food supplies to the poor, the association said.

Food safety and hygiene

The dieticians said there was no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 was transmitted through food handling or food preparation, adding that the primary aim of food safety and hygiene was to prevent food poisoning and other food-borne illnesses.

Poor food handling and inadequate food safety can cause infections especially in young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune system, they stated.

They said some of the ways to maintain adequate food safety and hygiene include:

Washing hands thoroughly with soap and running water.

Cleaning surfaces regularly with disinfectant.

Keeping appliances clean.

Washing food products like fresh vegetables and fruits with salt and water (under running water if available) before usage.

Use separate cutting boards for raw meats, vegetables and cooked foods.

Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.

Protective measures against coronavirus

They advised the public to protect their health and that of others by doing the following:

Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Sanitise with an alcohol-based hand rub or sanitiser. This would kill viruses that may be on your hands.

Maintain social distancing. This means keeping at least two metres (six feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing, to protect you from liquid droplets which may contain the virus from coughs or sneezes of people who may have coronavirus disease.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth unnecessarily. The hands pick up viruses from surfaces and once contaminated, can transfer the virus to the eye, nose or mouth and make you sick.

Practice respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow when you cough or sneeze. If you use tissue, dispose of it immediately.

The dieticians also advised the public to improve physical and mental activity as they remained in the confines of their homes. There is the need to find space for little indoor exercises appropriate for our age and physiological states, eg aerobics, rope skipping etc.

You are also encouraged to exercise your mind and emotions for general wellbeing through games like ludo, scrabble, chess etc. Reach out to loved ones and engage in heart-warming and cheerful conversations.

They advised the public to receive information on nutrition from trustworthy sources, adding that Registered Dietitians-Nutritionists (RDNs) are the health professionals trained in providing evidence-based information and individualised dietary advice/counselling.

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COVID-19: Diets that boost immune system - Experts - Daily Trust