PETALING JAYA: The Chinese believe that in every crisis, there is an opportunity. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it turns out, presents us with a chance to go healthy.
For those who usually eat out, this is an opportunity to change, Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) president Dr Tee E Siong told theSun.
“Seize the opportunity to learn to cook simple yet balanced meals at home,” he said.
“Hopefully, healthy eating becomes a way of life for us even after the Covid-19 pandemic has died down,” he added.
Tee said the priority now is to boost the immune system. “Eat a good variety of colourful fruits and vegetables as they contain essential vitamins, minerals and plant nutrients,” he said.
For a healthy gut, people should consume enough fibre and drink plenty of water.
Anyone, who needs additional advice on healthy eating or need recipes for healthy food, to visit the NSM website www.nutriweb.org.my or go to www.nutritionmonthmalaysia.org.my
KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital dietician Farah Farhanah Hashim sees this as an opportunity for individuals to choose their own ingredients and meals.
“People who had been busy before now have more of a choice,” she told theSun yesterday.
However Farah, who is a member of the Malaysian Dietician Association, said eating schedules could have been disrupted and people could end up eating more sweet foods to cope with the stress of being cooped up at home.
She also advocates drinking sufficient amounts of water.
Wellness celebrity coach Nana Al Haleq (pix) said fitness trends have changed as people now have more time to get active.
She said fitness coaches have begun offering free lessons on “live” streaming platforms such as Instagram Live. For the exercise enthusiasts, who are not able to go to the gym now, she recommends meditation, stretches and bodyweight exercises.
“Meditation helps to relax and detox your mind especially when you are stressed from being stuck at home,” she said.
Nana said yoga and stretches, like those she teaches on her Instagram page @nanaalhaleq, have received positive feedback in helping Malaysians with stiff muscles.
