Restrictions take a toll on Zimbabweans

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“The following are the five urgent actions to protect children’s rights to nutrition in the Covid-19 pandemic:

“Safeguard and promote access to nutrition, safe and affordable diets, invest in improving maternal and child nutrition through pregnancy, infancy and early childhood, reactivate and scale up services for the early detection and treatment of child wasting.”

Branca stressed the need to maintain the provision of nutrition and safe school meals for vulnerable children as well and to expand social protection to safeguard access to nutritional diets and essential services.

Branca noted that changes in dietary behaviours, increased food intake and unhealthy food choices including potatoes, meat and sugary drinks were noted during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“Food insecurity associated with financial reasons represents another concern,” he said.

“During the Covid-19 era, children, adolescents and young adults gained weight.

“Moreover, as the restrictions imposed reduced movements out of the house, physical activity was limited, representing another risk factor for weight gain.”

Holistic Health coach Rumbidzai Mukori said too much of good food could also be bad during times of Covid-19.

Mukori said it was important to be extra cautious when taking herbal remedies as medicine especially as more and more communities now regard home remedies as good and more effective than clinical treatment.

“Knowing the correct dose is just as important as taking the right remedy or food,” she said.

“Let food be the medicine and medicine be the food.

“But remember to take the correct dosage because too much of a good thing can also have negative impacts on your health.

“Have you heard that this food, tea, herb can prevent coronavirus?

“How many times have we heard this, and maybe even tried the different solutions advised by family, friends, social media and other sources of information that is claimed to be helpful?

“But very little scientific or research has been proffered to support these claims.

“Many of us have seen how the coronavirus has brought a range of health remedies that are said to be key for boosting immunity, some of which are legit and others that are merely a myth.”

Mukori also took time to explain how the most popular home-made remedy to fight Covid-19 — zumbani — is a crucial nutritional element.

“When asked to comment with regard to nutrition and the importance in the fight against coronavirus, the first herbal remedy that I always speak about is zumbani,” she said.

“This is one of the most popular herbal foods that are recommended for boosting immunity, both as a preventative and treatment food remedy.

“Zinc is found in a wide range of foods, but it is essential in higher doses when one is feeling sick.

“Foods such as lean meat, chicken, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, lentils and soya products are good sources of zinc too.

“These are your everyday foods, which we usually eat, so you can see how you are already taking immune-boosting foods daily already.

“The difference comes, when you feel sick or are diagnosed with coronavirus when it is mandatory for you to take some form of zinc supplementation.”

She said should the health workers up their game in terms of teaching about nutrition, there could be better immune systems to talk about in these pandemic times.