Recover from flu and build immunity with these sample diet plans

Here are two sample diets that can help with flu recovery, and building immunity over a long time.

Recover from flu with this diet plan from certified health and nutrition specialist Mrigna Chawla.

Chawla posted on her Instagram Isahealthyvibe that it is necessary to take adequate precautions amid “third wave”.

“With so many people suffering with covid/flu symptoms, this post was definitely a need of the hour. Make sure you’re taking your medicines along with zinc and vitamin c supplements,” she said.

Here’s the sample diet plan.

On waking up

Ginger, black pepper and jaggery tea with a handful of soaked nuts (5 almonds, 1 fig, 3-4 raisins)

Breakfast

Eggs and toast or one panner paratha, one cup tulsi adrak masala chai

Mid meal

Apple (Sprinkle seed mix on top)

Lunch

Homemade chicken curry or dal

sabzi of choice

Roti with ghee

Evening

Vegetable soup or bone broth soup

Dinner

Indian seasonal cooked vegetables, grilled chicken, grilled fish, paneer or tofu, brown rice

Post dinner

Ajwain water

Meanwhile, nutritionist and lifestyle educator Karishma Chawla shared a sample diet plan with indianexpress.com that can help with immunity

Build immunity with home remedies (Photo: Getty/Thinkstock)

Non-negotiables for an immunity building diet as per Karishma are:

*Diet that helps with blood sugar control
*Remove food sensitivities and add foods that help with gut health ( 70-80 per cent of the immune system lives in the gut)
*Add foods rich in antioxidants

Morning on waking up

Lukewarm water + lime

Followed by

Green veg smoothie (can add a high fiber fruit like apple or orange to naturally sweeten the smoothie instead of sugar) can add a teaspoon of camu camu powder rich in vitamin C (antioxidant) to help with immunity

Breakfast

A combination of complex carb + protein with good fats work the best for stabilising blood sugar levels

Brown rice poha/moong dal chilla with eggs/ protein supplement (vegan or milk protein- subjective to gut tolerance) or

Almond bread/jowar bread with eggs or vegetable sandwich or

Quinoa upma with eggs

Mid morning

Can add a high fibre fruit like apple, orange, papaya and a teaspoon of cold pressed coconut oil + pinch black pepper + pinch turmeric powder (made as a paste)

Lunch

Experiment with cinnamon water or apple cider vinegar in lukewarm water

Make sure you have these foods in your diet. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Water

Start with soup or salad with some whole grains (rich in fibre) such as jowar/rajgira/brown rice with dal/pulse along with fibre – green veggies

Add 1-2 tablespoon fermented veggies like carrots, cucumber, cabbage, cauliflower (these are loaded with beneficial bacteria)

As per Karishma, the fibre is the food for the gut bacteria that helps to make immune building compounds, certain vitamins and helps to lower inflammation.

Evening snack

Protein like eggs/paneer/protein supplements along with salad and/or healthy nuts such as almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts

Salads can be sprouts/nut salad/avocado salad/chana salad

Dinner

Soup, vegetables with a portion of complete protein such as eggs/chicken with brown rice/quinoa

Post dinner ¨

Chamomile tea

Fluids

Can indulge in chia water, turmeric+ pepper + ginger herbal tea, lime water, basil water- all help with immunity besides plain water and infused water with
fruits and salads

Cut out

-processed or packaged foods
-soy
–gluten
-dairy ( on tolerance)
-sugar
-Limit alcohol
-Avoid excess consumption of anti-inflammatory pills and antibiotics

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