A Well-Balanced Diet: Health Aspect You Should Never Ignore
- Claudyne Li
- Jun 13, 2020
- 2 min read
article by Claudyne Li in Kemdikbud National Student Opinion Contest 2020
The COVID-19 outbreak as a global epidemic has caused many changes to various lives in society. Many things can be done to always maintain health in the midst of this plague. However, most people only prioritize the appeal of physical distancing without regard to other aspects such as nutritional intake. In fact, at times like this, the body is vulnerable to disease so it requires extra and balanced nutrition. At present, there is no food or supplement that can prevent COVID-19 infection. Meeting your nutritional needs and maintaining a healthy diet might reduce viral infections and have an effect on treating an infected body.
Maintaining a nutritious diet is an important part of supporting a strong immune system. There are several ways you can do to maintain a healthy body by meeting daily nutritional needs. Eating a variety of foods that contain major food substances such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are recommended to ensure adequate nutrition. Eggs or side dishes that contain other proteins such as chicken, fish, red meat, and consumption of unsaturated fats also provide immunity. Unsaturated fats can be obtained from whole grains or nuts. However, we are also encouraged to limit the consumption of foods with excessive fat, sugar, and salt because they will trigger various diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables supplies nutrients in the form of vitamins and minerals and fiber that the body needs. As with oranges and guavas, the antioxidant content of flavonoids in the fruit can ward off disease and provide endurance. We can also buy frozen or canned fruits and vegetables to reduce shopping activities outside the home. It should be noted that this canned food content because usually there are additional substances such as preservatives or artificial sweeteners.
Apart from macro food substances, water also has an important role in the body. Water plays a role in the transportation of nutrients and compounds in the blood, regulating body temperature, cleansing toxins and impurities, and lubricating the joints. Drinking water can boost the immune system and keep the body hydrated. It is recommended to drink eight to ten glasses a day. Instead of drinking sugary drinks, water consumption also helps reduce the risk of excess calorie intake to maintain healthy ideal body weight.
Although COVID-19 is not a food-borne disease, it helps us to always implement sanitation and aseptic measures of food products such as the application of hygiene measures in cleaning, separation of raw materials with mature ingredients, cooking, and food storage. In addition, supporting adequate intake of nutrients for the body at the time of lockdown also needs to be balanced with regular exercise, adequate rest, and doing stress relief activities. Obtaining a wide range of nutrients in sufficient circumstances, not lacking or excessive can help the body to stay healthy and reduce the risk of disease. (CL)
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