WorkFromHome -Cook -Eat -Binge on Netflix -Do the Dishes -Repeat!

If this sounds familiar, then Bingo! – you’ve settled into this new
Lockdown way of life! From trying out new recipes and binge snacking
to virtually hanging out with friends – everyone has found a coping
mechanism to this unprecedented situation we are in. But the caveat
here is that we are now at risk of getting into a pattern of unhealthy
food intake, reduced physical activity, digital over-use and insufficient
sleep.

While most of us are clued onto building our immunity to fight the virus,
the lockdown life can spring onto us some unsuspecting ailments that
we need to watch out for. Day to day seemingly small health scares but
the effects of which may transcend beyond the lockdown!

Experts at Curo Wellness, have listed down 5 ailments that the
lockdown lifestyle may cause and what you can do to avoid them:

1 Constipation

Constipation (which is also an otherwise persistent digestive disorder)
can be triggered by a lockdown lifestyle that has increased amounts of
processed, refined or low fibre foods, decreased water/veggies/fruit
intake, reduced physical activity and augmented by disturbed sleep
patterns.

Read more about what causes and how to prevent Constipation

2 Water Retention

With a sudden surge in the consumption of packaged foods, there is a
resulting disguised increase in sodium intake causing water retention. Long hours
of continuous sitting while working from home or while binge-watching
TV also contributes to increased water retention.
Increased Water Retention may be hard to notice when you’re in
lockdown until the next time you try your favourite pair of jeans.

Read more about what causes Water Retention

3 Bloating/ Flatulence & Acidity

The Lockdown has caused a complete change in the daily routine –
breakfast often ends up being brunch, lack of outdoor entertainment gets
replaced by snacking. Overall – eating at odd hours, unhealthy snacking,
eating more than the regular number of meals and reduced physical
activity results in abdominal discomfort like flatulence, persistent bloating
or can cause Acidity.

Read more about what causes Acidity & how to treat acidity holistically

4 Vitamin D Deficiency

Outdoor activity has been significantly reduced with the Lockdown (thus
reduced exposure to sunlight). That along with reduced mobility of main
joints and an overall Vitamin D deficient diet can lead to Vitamin D
deficiency at the end of the Lockdown.
This deficiency can lead to Osteoporosis, impaired immunity, fatigue & tiredness, hair loss and also an increased risk of heart diseases.

Read more about what causes Vitamin D deficiency & what foods can help manage

5 Insomnia

The Lockdown lifestyle has brought with it – increased digital use (often
closer to bedtime), change in sleep patterns, and a caffeine overdose for
some. All these contribute to insomnia or poorer quality of sleep.
Exercise and fitness activities are known to release endorphins and
other happy neurotransmitters that induce sleep thus reduced physical
activity during lockdown also impacts the quality of sleep.

A large proportion of the population is already sitting on a live pyre of
Lifestyle Diseases and poor choices made during the lockdown period
(food, fitness, sleep) will only add more fuel to it!

Simple Ways to avoid these Ailments during Lockdown:

Experts at Curo have suggested these tips that are easy to do, even
during lockdown:

• Increase your water intake: Especially to avoid Constipation and
Abdominal disorders like Flatulence/ Acidity. Measure what you drink
every day, in order to keep track.
• Increase your fibre intake: which you can do in your existing meals,
using vegetables/ fruits/ nuts/ dry fruits that as per availability. It can be
as simple as adding vegetables to your Idli batter or keeping a box of
seeds or dry fruits on your desk to snack on

• Vitamin D: Find that spot in your house where you can soak yourself
in sunlight everyday and include Vitamin D rich foods in your diet
based on what is available (Mushrooms, Cheese, Cow’s milk,
Fish like salmon/ cod/ sardines/ herring)

• Draft a new daily routine specifically for lockdown: and then stick to
that routine – that way you have timely meals and sleep times.

• Increase your Activity Levels: Walk indoors, follow a home workout
video, take short strolls at home (especially after meals or during work
calls). Set yourself a step target (make it a family contest!)

• Avoid these Food Patterns: Caffeinated drinks, sugar-laden foods,
alcoholic drinks, refined foods, packaged/ processed foods. Avoid
eating too heavy/ rich foods. Avoid binge eating while binge-watching –
one loses track of how much and what has been eaten.

With a little bit of planning and sensible choices in what we eat and do
during the lockdown, we can not only fight the virus but also ensure we are
healthy and free from other non-communicable lifestyle diseases.

Your body is the only place you have to Live in (long after the lockdown
is over) – so take care of it!

Visit curo.co for more tips on leading a healthier lifestyle.