COVID Athlete
Messages from a quarantined woman to a very patient and helpful husband.
Just as we were approaching the 2-year pandemic mark (oof), I caught COVID. Fortunately, I caught it post-vaccine and booster and am a generally healthy person, so I was able to recover at home. Once I tested positive, I decided to treat COVID the way I always treat sickness, like a professional athlete would treat a big competition. If you have a severe case of COVID, or are experiencing GI issues related to COVID, you may need to make some modifications to these recommendations. I was also very lucky to have a healthy husband who helped to keep my fueled while in quarantine.
What does it mean to treat sickness like a pro athlete? I focus my energy on eating for performance and recovery. I focus as much energy as possible on fueling my immune system so it’s functioning at peak levels to fight off infection and aid in recovery.
HYDRATION: With athletes and sick people alike, there is no magic number or calculation when it comes to hydration. Just drink before you experience thirst and check the toilet to ensure your pee is a very light yellow to straw color. I mostly consumed water and hot herbal tea, which also soothed my sore throat. Hydration beverages, broths, and juice can help with thirst quenching and nutrition, especially when solid foods are less appealing.
PROTEIN: I experienced a partial loss of taste and smell while sick, so my appetite was slightly reduced. Though I was eating less than normal, I, like an athlete, chose to consume a lot of my calories in the form of protein. In addition to modulating immune response, protein is also required to prevent loss of muscle mass (I was very sedentary during this time), and amino acids aid in the anti-inflammatory responses our body needs to recover. If you aren’t feeling up to preparing a meal, a few easy and high-protein snacks include; cottage cheese, tuna, peanut butter, eggs, hummus, and canned refried beans.
EAT THE RAINBOW: Whether sick or healthy, it’s always beneficial to eat as many colors of fruits and vegetables as possible. Each color provides different antioxidants which bolster the immune system and help to reduce inflammation. Carrots, beets, oranges, and pomegranates are all rich in antioxidants and in season right now.
I hope you all stay well, but should you get sick, just remember to treat it like an athlete!
Do you have any go t0 recipes or snacks for when you’re feeling under the weather? Share them in the comments!
3 things I’m loving this week:
Hot and Sour Soup - This soup hit all of my “COVID athlete” needs last week! (1) Hydration in the form of broth (2) Protein from the tofu and eggs (3) Flavor for my impaired palette from ginger, chilis, garlic, and vinegar!
Wordle - I became obsessed with this game during my quarantine and have continued to complete it daily.
Electric Kettles - I HATE having single-use gadgets and extra stuff on my kitchen countertops, but I’m warming up (haha) to the idea of an electric kettle, especially during tea season. Do you have a favorite electric kettle? Or how about a favorite herbal tea? Please share in the comments!