An immunity boosting diet plan is always the top priority of everyone to combat various deadly viruses.
The pandemic has made everyone acutely aware of the importance of strengthening one’s immunity by eating clean, sleeping well, and exercising daily. Especially in the wake of the new and fast-spreading Omicron variant, it has become crucial to give make health and well-being top priorities while following Covid-appropriate behavior.
To help simplify the process and make a start, nutritionist and lifestyle coach Karishmma Chawla has shared a simple immunity boosting diet plan to ensure good health.
Non-negotiables for an Immunity Boosting Diet Plan
- A diet that helps with blood sugar control
- Remove food sensitivities, and add foods that help with gut health (70 percent – 80 percent of the immune system lives in the gut)
- Add foods rich in antioxidants
Healthy morning routine
- Begin your morning with a glass of lukewarm water with a few drops of lime as a part of an immunity boosting diet plan
- Follow that with a green veggie smoothie (can add a high fiber fruit like apple or orange to naturally sweeten the smoothie instead of sugar)
- You can also add Camu, Camu powder (1 tsp) which is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to boost immunity
Breakfast
- For breakfast, a combination of complex carbs and protein with good fats works best for stabilizing blood sugar levels. You can try these healthy breakfast options, to begin with –
* Brown rice poha/moong dal chilla with eggs/protein supplement (vegan or milk protein- subjective to gut tolerance).
* Almond bread/jowar bread with eggs or veg sandwich.
* Quinoa upma with eggs.
Morning snack
- For a post-breakfast snack, munch on a high fiber fruit like apple, orange, and papaya. You can make it healthier by adding 1 tbsp cold-pressed coconut oil, a pinch of black pepper, and turmeric powder as a tasty and healthy dip.
Lunch
- Before having lunch, try cinnamon water or apple cider vinegar in lukewarm water. This cleanses the stomach and your palette before a big meal.
- After this, start with soup or salad with some whole grains such as jowar, rajgira, brown rice with dal along with some green veggies and salad to add to your fiber intake.
- Add 1-2 tbsp of fermented veggies like carrots, cucumber, cabbage, and cauliflower. These are loaded with beneficial bacteria. The fiber acts as the food for the gut’s healthy bacteria that help in building immunity, compounds, certain vitamins, and reducing inflammation.
Evening snack
- You can have eggs, paneer, or other protein supplements with a salad. The salad can be of your choice — sprouts, nut salad, avocado salad, chana salad
- You can also add some almonds, walnuts, or Brazil nuts on the side for extra crunch
Dinner
- A vegetable soup with a portion of complete protein like eggs or chicken along with brown rice or quinoa makes for a delicious, wholesome meal.
- A calming way to end the night would be with a cup of chamomile tea before bed.
Fluids
- If you find it hard to hydrate often, try something new like chia water, lime water, basil water, or herbal tea with turmeric, pepper, and ginger.
- You can also try infused water with fruits or vegetables of your choice. These help with strengthening immunity and keep you hydrated throughout the day.
Foods to avoid
- Processed or packaged foods
- Soy
- Gluten
- Dairy (based on tolerance)
- Sugar
- Limit alcohol
- Avoid excess consumption of anti-inflammatory pills and antibiotics
Fortify your health with immune-boosting strategies. Consult Karishmma Chawla for a tailored diet plan to support your wellness goals.
The above article was first published in the Indianexpress written by the nutritionist and healthy lifestyle coach, Karishmma Chawla.
