Covid-19 has engulfed over 38 million worldwide till date, with over 1 million deaths. In the number of active cases, India stands second, behind the USA. Not a distinction to be proud of. The coronavirus recovery path is slow involving quarantine and social distancing. However, as a precautionary measure, many of us are following good practices to build our immunity. Inculcating simple lifestyle changes like a balanced diet, eight hours of sleep, adequate water, and maintaining a positive attitude can help to fight off Covid-19.
Stressing the importance of food as a basic human right, October 16th. is observed as World Food Day. The date draws attention from over 150 countries across the globe. This makes World Food Day one of the most vital and observed days in the UN calendar.
Often to keep ourselves healthy and fight Covid-19, we have added a lot of superfoods to our daily diet like Vitamins, Turmeric, Golden Milk, Ginger, Black Pepper to our diet and the list goes on. But have we realized how much is too much?
Here are the ill effects of the Superfoods if consumed in extremities-
Excess of Vitamin D
Vitamin D has shown positive results in benefitting people with respiratory infections. Some experts believe that taking daily doses of vitamin D is effective for joint pain and osteoporosis too.
However, excess of vitamin D could prove to be potentially harmful. Vitamin D is not a water-soluble vitamin, it is fat-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamin means instead of being secreted as urine; the extra amount of vitamin D gets stored in the fatty tissue. Vitamin D is vital to control the blood calcium levels of the body while too much of the nutrient can cause high blood calcium levels leading to constipation, delirium, and kidney stones.
Excess of Vitamin C
Our body does not auto produce Vitamin C, which is a water-soluble vitamin supporting the vitality of our internal organs. Besides, Vitamin C helps to absorb iron which is crucial to produce hemoglobin. This explains why it is important to include vitamin C in our diet which may include adding kiwi, citrus lemons, strawberries, bell peppers, or broccoli to our meals. For adults, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Vit C varies from 65 to 90 milligrams (mg) a day 2,000 mg a day.
Excess of Vitamin C may cause Vomiting, Heartburn, Headache, Diarrhoea, Nausea, Insomnia, and Abdominal cramps.
Excess of Garlic
If consumed regularly Garlic can make you follow social distancing practices! Though, the root spice has no proven research that supports the premise that it can protect against COVID-19.
Garlic comes with antiviral and antibacterial properties that build to strengthening our immunity. You should be cautious with the amount of Garlic you have in the day, excess may lead to internal bleeding especially to those who are on blood thinners and hypertension (blood pressure) medications.
Excess of Turmeric or Haldi
Turmeric is long known for its healing and medicinal properties. Curcumin is the wonder ingredient in turmeric that makes it a superfood. One teaspoon a day is recommended for a healthy dietary allowance, anything in excess may cause nausea, dizziness, and upset stomach. Turmeric capsules or supplements in excessive amounts can prove to be detrimental to health, Turmeric powder, raw turmeric heats your body to cause stomach inflammation, abdominal pain, and cramps. You must know that Curcumin has a tendency to trouble the GI tract, which causes diarrhoea.
Turmeric contains oxalates that bind calcium to form insoluble calcium oxalate which may increase the probability of developing kidney stones. Excess turmeric consumption may inhibit iron absorption. Therefore, iron deficiency people should watch out for the turmeric they add to their daily meals.
Excess of Ginger
Ginger is one of the healthiest ingredients used in herbal teas, Ayurveda, and holistic meals. Consuming Ginger must be taken with caution, restricting to 4gms in a single day. Ginger if taken in large quantities can lead to gas, bloating, heartburn, stomach distress, or nausea. Those who have gallstones, bleeding disorders, ulcers, inflammation, and pregnant women should not be consuming ginger.
Ginger stimulates blood circulation and increases blood flow while preventing blood clotting. It could increase bleeding risk, especially when one is taking medications that slow blood clotting.
Those who are on blood-thinning medications, like warfarin and aspirin should avoid ginger completely. Unchewed fresh ginger can lead to intestinal blockage for hypertension patients, bedsides affecting people with gallstones Ginger can adversely affect individuals with gallstones because it promotes the production of bile.
If you are taking any medication, speak with your doctor before drinking ginger tea as it may interact with certain drugs. Ginger in any form must be avoided by those who are on insulin medications or those who are on antiplatelet therapy. Ginger can also affect medications for the heart, antihistamines, cancer treatments, and weight loss drugs.
Black pepper
To fight Covid-19, pepper is an integral ingredient of immunity tea, Black pepper contains antioxidants, enzymes, that can be benefiting if taken in moderation. However, there are several serious side effects of consuming too much black pepper including gastrointestinal troubles that can upset your stomach.
Overuse of black pepper can cause intense discomfort in the stomach with a burning sensation. Instead of soothing the throat, too much pepper can cause respiratory problems and breathing issues. The overuse of black pepper can often lead to throat irritation, asthma problems, and other respiratory problems.
Recent studies say that consuming too much of black pepper can lead to dryness and flaky skin. Black pepper may worsen the condition with those who have itchy and sensitive skin.
Consult Experts on Gigadocs
With the changing seasons and the wake of the ongoing pandemic, consulting a digital doctor from the comfort and privacy of your home will definitely go a long way in protecting yourself and your family from the seasonal infectivity and Covid-19 pandemic.
Gigadocs practice management app lets you book specialist doctors for respiratory infections, gastrointestinal diseases, asthma, skin concerns, hypertension, cardiovascular problems from your home. Gigadocs is available to download for free on the Play store and the App store and brings you experienced medical experts for all your medical concerns.
Gigadocs offers digital prescriptions, vitals tracking, online appointment booking, health record maintenance system, all integrated into a user-friendly app. For parents, Gigadocs has bought its Vaccination Schedule Chart to help them never miss the next vaccine schedule of their child.
By inputting your child’s date of birth, you can get the complete timesheet when your child needs to be vaccinated. It is that simple with Gigadocs
Download the Gigadocs app from the App Store and Play Store and register for free to avail a complete range of digital healthcare solutions-
To Download Gigadocs app-
- IOS App – apple.co/2W2iG4V
- Android App – bit.ly/33AQoRC
To know more and schedule a Virtual Consultation demo, e-mail, at info@gigadocs.com
