Nutrition is an integral part of our health. It helps your body receive all of the necessary nutrients to make you feel good and have your body perform properly. Poor nutrition can increase the chance of chronic illnesses and general illnesses such as the flu or COVID. Take control of your health and learn proper health recommendations with AFC Burlington. Our center also provides COVID-19 tests to all patients in the area.
Risks of Poor Nutrition
Poor nutrition can impact both the short and long-term aspects of your life. It’s imperative to have the proper nutrition to avoid deadly diseases later in life. Some short-term conditions that can be caused or made worse by poor nutrition include poor sleep or inability to stay asleep, stress, and our capacity to focus on tasks. Some potential long-term conditions made worse by poor nutrition include:
- Obesity
- Tooth decay
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Cancers
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
How Poor Nutrition is Related to COVID
Since poor nutrition has short-term effects on our health, these can be related to COVID. Overall, a poor sleep schedule and stress will lower your immune system. Having a poor immune system can lead to more severe symptoms for any type of illness, including COVID. Since COVID is already deadly to those with health conditions, having a poor immune system can cause hospitalization or even death if you contract COVID.
In addition to improving your nutrition, it’s essential to get a COVID-19 vaccine. This is your best chance at preventing severe symptoms and hospitalization against COVID-19.
Tips to have Better Nutrition
Having proper nutrition can be overwhelming if you are not sure where to begin. The key to success is to start slowly and not overwhelm yourself. This can cause you to give up if it seems too difficult. Some steps to try when first improving your nutrition include:
- Drink fresh, clean water throughout the day instead of sugary drinks such as soda or sports drinks.
- Include more fruits and vegetables in your routine. Try to incorporate at least two servings of fruit, and have vegetables with every meal.
- Limit your intake of overly sugary or salty foods.
- Plan meals ahead of time and write out your groceries before heading to the store. This can help keep you focused as you shop.
- Focus on cooking meals you enjoy with limited distractions. This means don’t cook with the TV on or around others who may distract you.
