Virtual Series of National Talks : Nutrition Self-Management during Pandemic
Date : 04 June 2021 - Fit India Club, Manipur University

The sixth and the last talk of the Virtul Series of National Talks, organised by Fit India Campaign Committee and Fit India Club, Manipur University as a part of Fit India Movement during COVID-19 Second Wave Pandemic, has been conducted today with Miss Ekkta Kundu, Nutritionist, Diabetes – Nutrigenomics – Clinical Specialist, QUA Nutrition, Bangalore speaking on “Nutrition Self-Management during Pandemic”.

The session has been moderated by Prof. T. Inaobi Singh, Dean, School of Education, Manipur University and co-moderated by Dr. Koijam Sobita Devi, Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education, M.U. Dr. Laishram Santosh Singh, Convener, Fit India Campaign Committee and Fit India Club, Manipur University, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, M.U. has welcomed all the panellists - the speaker of the day, Miss Ekkta Kundu, Moderator Prof. T. Inaobi Singh, Co-moderator Dr. Koijam Sobita Devi and participants of the sixth and last session. Co-moderator of today’s session, Dr. Koijam Sobita Devi, has introduced the speaker of the day to the participants.

At the very outset, Miss Ekkta Kundu explaining the importance of nutrition in someone’s life as other things, she said that one should not ignore it all as “WE ARE WHAT WE EAT”. Along with explaining the concepts of Wellness, Nutrition and Balanced Diet, she has suggested that while planning our plate of diet, ½ plate of grains for carbohydrates + 1/4th pulses/meat/eggs/dairy for proteins + 1/4th colorful vegetables for vitamins and minerals.

At the maximum 4-6 teaspoons of oils for fats per day should be taken and approximately 3 to 3.5 liters of water is also required. Explaining the importance of keeping our body hydrated, she mentioned that at least 8-10 glasses of water has to be consumed per day so that we can maintain electrolyte balance, to detoxify body, to prevent constipation, to prevent migraines and to help in digestive system. FAD diet should be avoided as it may be too restrictive to your food needs in the body; it may lead to missing out on essential nutrients; it can be expensive as well as non-sustainable and it may lead someone to unhealthy weight fluctuations.

Talking about sustainable eating, she has said that just as a car needs the proper gasoline to make it run, a body needs a healthy diet to develop and function properly. Concerning about the ever increasing food servings size, a healthy food serving size should be in the following manner – (1) A cup of fruit should be no larger than your fist, (2) A spoon of cheese in a dish is about the same as the size of your thumb from base to tip, (3) 1 serving of meat, fish or poultry is about the size of your palm, and (4) 1-2 servings of nuts equals your cupped hand. She encouraged one to take small frequent meals, to hydrate at intervals, to munch on fruits and nuts and eating light fat.

Specially during this Covid-19 pandemic, she has mentioned that we should be taking Turmeric as its antiviral property helps in slowing down the replication of the virus, Beetroot as helps in lung function by helping in relaxing blood vessels, reducing blood pressure and optimizing oxygen uptake and Garlic as it boosts our immune system by boosting the disease fighting response of WBC.

In our support our immune system, a healthy lifestyle should be followed which includes taking balanced diet, washing hands properly with soap, taking adequate rest, regular exercise of minimum 30 minutes per day and drinking of 8-10 glasses of water. In absence of the chances to go for gyms and others, simple home works out are also mentioned which really helps to burn calories like washing dishes, sweeping, mopping, watering plants and skipping.

Giving tips on pre and post vaccination nutrition, she has suggested that before Covid-19 vaccination, one should eat simple food, should avoid spicy food the day before the vaccination, should not do exercise on the day of vaccination, should not take overdose of Vitamins and minerals and should drink more water. After Covid -19 vaccination, one should eat more green leafy vegetables, fruits, soups, khichdi and poha.

Smoking, consuming alcohol and caffeinated beverages should be avoided and no should go for vaccination empty stomach. To beat the stress during this pandemic, one should drink milk, eat nuts and sunflower seeds, she recommended. She also advised to take more low calorie and easy snacks like mixed fruit salad, cucumber and carrots, mixed dry fruits, eggs, nuts, air popped pop corn, yoghurt, boiled channa, etc. Thanking every participants and organizers, she has stated that a healthy lifestyle is not about what you lose, it’s about what you gain.

Further, in her lecture, Nutrition is the scientific study of diet and food. A healthy diet throughout the life promotes health outcomes, support normal growth & development and extends the aging factors, help to maintain a healthy body weight and reduce the risk of chronic disease leading to overall health and wellbeing.

In the discussion session, he has answered various questions from, Kongbrailatpam Bidyarani Devi, Chanamthabam Rudrajit Singh, Thangjam Medha Devi, Okram Palin and others.

The sixth and last sessions has been concluded with a summarizing observation of the session from the Moderator and Co-moderator of the day and vote of thanks from Dr. Laishram Santosh Singh, the Convener, expressing his heartfelt and sincere thanks to Prof. S. Sanatombi Singha, Hon’ble VC (i/c), M.U., Prof. W. Chandbabu Singh, Registrar, M.U., Prof. K. Jugindro Singh, Chairman, Fit India Campaign Committee, M.U., Dr. L. Bishwanath Sharma, Chairman, Fit India Club, M.U., Shri Tilokchan Irengbam, Webmaster, M.U. for hosting the virtual talks, all the speakers of these 6 Virtual National Talks, all the participants and media partner Mami TV for making this Virtual Series of National Talks a grand success.

(Dr. L. Santosh Singh)
Convenor
Fit India Campaign Committee
&
Fit India Club
Manipur University
(A Central University)
Canchipur, Imphal – 795003