Amid the ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the UAE, it is important for community members to consume the right nutrients, have proper sleep, drink plenty of water and exercise regularly to build their overall immunity to fight the infectious disease.

According to a survey conducted by Dr Hadia Radwan, assistant professor of clinical nutrition and dietetics at the University of Sharjah, people became more conscious about boosting their immunity and started consuming more fruits and vegetables during the lockdown. More than 2060 UAE residents participated in her survey that panned over three weeks in May 2020 when the UAE was under pandemic lockdown.

Dr Radwan presented her research findings at the 6th edition of the Dubai International Nutritional Congress organised by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) that took place virtually due to pandemic restrictions. Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the DHA, the three-day event took place under the theme: ‘Your Immunity your treasure’.

Speaking to media, Dr Radwan stated that the survey was conducted in collaboration with the Sharjah Supreme Family Council - Health Promotion Department and the University of Sharjah. During the survey, it was observed that consumption of home-cooked food increased to 90 percent, while there was a significant decreased in the number of people ordering takeaways in May.

At the same time, she stressed the need for raising awareness among the people about health and nutrition, noting that many people increased their portion intake during the lockdown period. It was also observed that many were sleep-deprived after staying up till late while watching movies, many did not exercise and had stress, and were dehydrated due to deficiency in water intake.

“All these factors play an important part in boosting immunity. This study was exploratory and we are still analysing the results which we might publish soon. People need more training on ways to increase their immunity," Dr Radwn added.

DHA Director-General Humaid Al Qutami addressed the opening ceremony of the event, stressing the significance of boosting the immunity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the pandemic has resulted in several institutions and societies reconsidering healthcare policies and procedures in a bid to protect their wellbeing and prevent communicable diseases from spreading.

"Perhaps the messages that we highlighted in our previous five editions, where nutrition experts emphasised the importance and the necessity of protecting public health, and enhancing immunity through healthy dietary patterns, are the same messages that the world is focusing on right now to protect ourselves," Al Qutami added.

Dr WafaAyesh, Director of the clinical nutrition department at DHA and chairman of Congress also underlined the significant role played by proper nutrition in mitigating the prevalence of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs). She further noted that taking care of our immune system is a natural line of defence protecting the body against any diseases, adding that efforts must be made to strengthen its ability to fight the infections.

Many-a-times, patients recovering from COVID-19 infections experience symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue and loss of appetite. It makes it difficult for people to eat properly, resulting in nutritional deficiencies during the recovery process. Taking note of the issue, Ruba El Hourani, Head Dietitian at RAK Hospital, stressed the need for a personalised diet plan after consulting an expert that details all nutrition and fluid intake according to the immune system of the person.

During the event, she spoke about her experiences in treating patients recovering from COVID-19 who projected a significant change in their diet pattern as they faced difficulties in eating normally. El Hourani listed several post-Coronavirus symptoms, out of which dry skin and discolouration of nails can be a result of insufficient fluid intake, and sudden hair loss can be caused due to lack of proper diet.

Here are a few ways through which a person can gain back their immunity and stamina:

·        Include more protein-rich foods, whole grains, nuts, seeds, dairy products and lentils in the diet. In addition, chicken, eggs and fish provide several benefits.

·        It is important to follow all necessary safety and hygiene guidelines while preparing the food

·        Eat smaller portions through frequent meals if it is difficult to eat large portions in the initial phases of recovery. If you face difficulty in swallowing food during the recovery period, include more liquids, soft or mashed foods in the diet

·        Try to cook at home and avoid eating out of takeouts

·        Make simple, healthy, and nutritious food at home to incur maximum benefits