stay healthy

Weight, COVID, and Steps YOU Can Take

Image Source: Getty Images

Image Source: Getty Images

In this time of frustrating headlines and things around the world spiraling out of control. There are things YOU can control to prevent and lessen your risk of severe illness from Covid-19 and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is on the list.

Data is showing that there is a much higher risk (7-fold increase) for the need for mechanical ventilation in patients with Covid-19 that have a high body mass index (BMI >30) and increased risk for being admitted to critical care. (Sources: CDC) Scientists and researchers are concerned as well that the vaccine may not be as effective in those with a higher body weight (Source: CNN).

Here are some ideas to help you be the healthiest version of you:

ADD-IN ACTIVITY

Image Source: Getty Images

Image Source: Getty Images

Being routinely active is an important part of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Plus being physically active helps with mental health as well and can lessen feeling stressful. In fact, there is consistent research that links exercise with stress reduction - for example, people report feeling calmer after a 20- to 30-minute bout of aerobic exercise and even better yet, the calming effect can last for several hours after exercise. (ACSM Health & Fitness 2013)

In need of some workout ideas that you can do at home? Check out Fitness Blender, which is a great free platform for all different workout ideas from yoga to high intensity interval workouts. There is a wide variety of workouts too for all fitness levels.

Or check out walking or hiking trails at local or regional parks where you live to enjoy the beautiful summer days, it can be easy to social distance while walking or running!

TRY NEW RECIPES

Image Source: Getty Images

Image Source: Getty Images

Challenge yourself and your family to try new recipes! Healthy eating CAN taste great and there are so many wonderful resources to find new recipes from sites like: Delish.com, EatingWell, and check out my blog archive for lots of recipe ideas too.

This is a perfect time to learn a couple of new recipes to have in your rotation! Or if you have kitchen gadgets that are in your home that you haven’t used in awhile, get them out of the cupboard and learn how to use them! Like an air-fryer - here is a favorite new recipe for Jicama Air-Fried Fries or Instant Pot - here is a delicious Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe!

DRINK MOSTLY WATER

Image Source: Getty Images

Image Source: Getty Images

Over half of your body is water! EVERYDAY your body needs water! While all beverages (other than alcohol) - yes, even coffee and tea - are hydrating to the body… too often a whole day can go by when all someone has had to drink is anything but plain, hydrating, and refreshing WATER!

Plus if all you are drinking is sweetened drinks (even if it’s sugar-substitutes like diet beverages) you aren’t necessarily helping your health. Researchers are still trying to sort out why but there is a link between diet soda and diabetes - so surely, diet beverages are helpful to reduce sugar and calorie intake,yet data still suggests there is a need to limit diet beverages. (Journal of Curr Dev Nutrition 2018)

Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day to make hydrating with water an easy choice. And if you do have diet beverages - limit the amount and frequency.

For more tips and ideas to help you be the healthiest version of you, check out my book, The Skinny Rules (Harlequin Non-Fiction 2011) and for recipe ideas, Skinny-Size It (Harlequin Non-Fiction 2014).

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Quarantini

Going stir crazy waiting for the world to open up? This is a lightened up “quarantini” that is refreshing but keeps the calories in check - only 120 calories and 12 grams of carbs. Plus you can easily make them kid-friendly by skipping the vodka! Cheers and stay healthy!

Quarantini - Image Source: Molly Morgan

Quarantini - Image Source: Molly Morgan

Quarantini

Serves 1

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup 100% tart cherry juice (or any juice will do!)
1 cup ice
lime seltzer
1 oz vodka

Directions:

  1. Combine the lime juice, cherry juice, and vodka in a glass, stir. Add ice and top with seltzer!

Nutrition facts: 125 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 10 milligrams sodium, 12 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 10 grams sugar, 0 grams protein

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Nutrient-Rich Foods to Include

Beyond washing your hands, cleaning surfaces, what else can you do to help keep your body ready to fight against illness? Focus on including plenty of nutrient-rich foods! There isn’t any one “magic” food, rather it is important to include a wide variety of foods that can help to support your immune system.

Check out examples of foods to include below and more on how they can help your body.

Nutrient-Rich Foods To Include - Rich in Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E

PROTEIN

Include a wide variety of protein-rich foods as protein is an important player in the immune system.

Food examples to include: yogurt (especially Greek yogurt), peanut butter, seafood, poultry, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, and seeds.

Quick ideas:
- 3 Bean Salad: combine 1 can each (drained and rinsed) of chickpeas, black beans, and kidney beans. Then toss with 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and season with sea salt and black pepper.

- Snack on Bada Bean Bada Boom - roasted broad beans (available in a variety of flavors) that deliver 7 grams of protein per 1/4 cup

- Have a cup of Greek yogurt as a snack and top it with granola, nuts, and/or fruit

VITAMIN A

Think of vitamin A as a regulator - it helps in the body to regulate the immune system. Plus it helps to keep skin and tissues in the respiratory system, intestines, mouth, and stomach healthy.

Food examples to include: apricots, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, spinach red bell peppers, apricots, or eggs.

Quick ideas:

- Roasted sweet potatoes as a side dish at dinner. Place cubed sweet potato on a baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and roast at 425 degrees F for 25 - 30 minutes. Stirring throughout.

- Combine dried apricots with almonds as a snack

- Have a hard boiled egg as snack or sliced on top of a salad

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant and it is a protector - plus it helps to stimulate the formation of antibodies.

Food examples to include: green peppers, red peppers, yellow peppers, strawberries, tomato juice, oranges, grapefruit, clementines, or Mandarin oranges.

Quick ideas:

- Slice red pepper and have them with hummus or guacamole

- Stir fry peppers with your favorite stir fry sauce and protein for dinner

- Have an orange sliced as a snack or a quick side dish with a meal

VITAMIN E

Vitamin is also an antioxidant which can help to neutralize free radicals in the body.

Food examples to include: sunflower seeds, almonds, vegetable oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, peanut butter, and hazelnuts.

Quick ideas:

- Use vegetable oils to make your own homemade salad dressings - a quick ratio to use: 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup oil, 1 tablespoon honey mustard, season to taste with garlic powder, sea salt, and cracked black pepper.

- Snack on sunflower seeds or top salads with shelled sunflower seeds

- Have a peanut butter and banana sandwich as a quick meal or snack

Bottom-line is switch it up and get a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods. AND KEEP WASHING YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY (at least 20 - 30 seconds with warm soapy water!).

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