The COVID-19 pandemic has put renewed importance on hygiene and health. A balanced diet that’s rich in vitamins and minerals is the best way to keep your immune system in tip-top shape.
Yet, many people aren’t sure what dietary steps to take to keep their immune system in good working order. To help, here are five nutritional mistakes to avoid:
1. Skipping breakfast
There’s a reason people say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives your body the fuel it needs to get started. What should you eat? Consider making scrambled eggs with veggies mixed in and a glass of orange juice. This meal offers great protein, vegetables, and Vitamin C.
2. Cutting out snacks
Snacks help you maintain your hunger levels, so they shouldn’t be cut out. However, what you snack on is important. Snacking on fruits, nuts, or yogurt, for example, is ideal. Ditch the high-calorie, pre-packaged snacks that are empty calories.
3. Not drinking enough water
Your body needs water to aid in digestion. If you’re not getting enough water, your body’s plumbing gets screwed up. When that happens, your body works to fix it and doesn’t have enough energy to devote to other things – like fighting off a virus.
4. Not planning meals in advance
When you’re pushed to make a quick meal decision, it’s usually something fast, and ultimately, unhealthy. By planning your meals, you can take time to prep the ingredients and enjoy a balanced, healthy meal.
5. Eating dessert (all the time)
Desserts are often high in sugar and if you consume too much of them it can cause weight gain. That doesn’t mean you have to eliminate cake and brownies from your diet, but make sure they’re consumed in moderation.
If you can avoid these nutritional mistakes, you can help your immune system stay as strong as possible.