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. 2020 Oct 3;1(1):e7. doi: 10.1002/lim2.7

Table 1.

Recommended Lifestyle Interventions for COVID‐19

Lifestyle categories Recommendations
Nutrition
  • Fiber‐rich, nutrient‐dense, antioxidant‐rich whole food plant foods such as green leafy vegetables (3‐5 servings/day), fruits (2‐4 servings/day), whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds

  • Moderate intake of foods with unsaturated fats (like fish, avocado, nuts, olive oil, soy/canola/sunflower/corn oils), white/lean meat and low‐fat dairy products

  • Limit salt consumption, soft drinks, or sodas

  • Avoid foods/snacks containing saturated fats (fatty/red meats, butter, palm/coconut oils, cream, cheese, ghee, lard), trans fats and processed carbohydrates

  • Maintain a healthy weight keeping BMI 18.5‐24.9 kg m−2

  • Aim for optimal hydration: drink 2‐3 L water a day

Physical activity
  • Engage in moderate‐intensity aerobic physical activity (eg, brisk walk/dance) 30 min‐1 h/day or 150‐300 min per week, plus resistance exercise (eg, press‐ups, situps, and weights) for 1 h, two to three times/week on nonconsecutive days

  • Exercise caution with patients in moderate stage of COVID‐19 who may be breathless on exertion

Sleep
  • Improving sleep hygiene, aiming for 7‐8 h uninterrupted, restorative sleep every night

Harmful substances
  • Avoid any form of tobacco products, or any other harmful substances

  • Drink modestly (ensuring alcohol free days) or no alcohol

  • Smoking, vaping, or inhaling any substance can damage the lungs. Make the most of available support for quitting

Stress management
  • Adopt a variety of measures to keep stress levels low, including favorite music, videos, and movies

  • Talking to a trusted person can help when feeling afraid or sad, avoiding such feelings becoming overwhelming

  • Use reliable sources, such as the World Health Organisation. Minimize anxiety by limiting news, current affairs, and stressful drama.

  • Keep a positive attitude, accepting we cannot control events

  • Consider relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, and mindfulness, using apps or online resources

Social connectedness
  • Stay socially connected with loved ones, family and friends by phone, zoom, WhatsApp, and social media if government advice prevents physical meetings

  • Avoid social isolation

Positive psychology
  • Do activities and direct your thoughts to enhance well‐being and create positive emotions, such as counting blessings, kindness practices, focusing on personal goals/strengths

  • Always find joy, meaning, and purpose, focusing on what makes life worth living

  • Think about the things that call for gratitude and bring happiness

  • Keep your reflections happy and be optimistic about recovery

This article is being made freely available through PubMed Central as part of the COVID-19 public health emergency response. It can be used for unrestricted research re-use and analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source, for the duration of the public health emergency.