Wellingborough author shares his thoughts on how our diet could help in the fight against Covid

"Improving the immune system alone helps us defend our body against various infections, not just coronavirus"
Ian Andrews of Wellingborough with his second bookIan Andrews of Wellingborough with his second book
Ian Andrews of Wellingborough with his second book

A Wellingborough author has shared his thoughts on how our diet could help in the fight against Covid.

This is the first of three articles by Ian Andews MSc on how to keep your immune system healthy as the pandemic continues.

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Ian spent several years doing research for Imperial College, Shell, Beechams and Surrey University before becoming a college lecturer.

His first book was about the traditional foods of his home county Northamptonshire, which went on to become his publisher’s best seller.

And 20 years later, he published his second book, Nutrition for the Over Fifties.

Here's what Ian has to say on our diets and how it could play a crucial part in protecting us from coronavirus.

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Ian told the Northants Telegraph: "A healthy immune system is always important to us.

"However, in these coronavirus days it is especially important.

"The key to keeping the immune system healthy is to have a healthy body.

"The way to a healthy body is to eat well, sleep well, avoid stress, and have moderate exercise.

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"To eat well we have to consider three nutrients the immune system uses: protein, vitamin A, and vitamin D.

"There is no part of the body that can function without protein.

"If there is a deficiency of protein in our diet it can cause a wide range of health problems, one of which is a weakened immune system.

"Healthy young adults, eating a normal diet, can expect to be getting sufficient protein.

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"As we get older, we need more protein in our diet because we digest it less efficiently.

"If we do not have extra protein in the diet it can cause several health problems.

"Many of which are widely regarded as a natural part of getting older, so nothing is done about them.

"It is of concern, because they could so often be avoided if only a small adjustment were made to the diet.

"One such problem is the immune system becoming weaker.

"So how much protein do we need in our diet?

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"Adults under the age of fifty can take their weight in stones and multiply it by five.

"This gives a guide to the number of grams of protein they need each day.

"A young adult weighing twelve stones should aim to get around sixty grams of protein every day.

"People who are over fifty can multiply their weight in stones by their age, and divide it by ten.

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"A 70-year-old who weighs 12 stones would need around eighty-four grams of protein per day.

"Start the day with a good breakfast.

"It should contain at least a quarter of the daily protein allowance.

"Dinner should contain about half the daily allowance of protein, to see us through the night ahead.

"Getting sufficient protein in the diet will help older people avoid many of the ailments associated with old age.

"It is the first step towards a longer, healthier life.

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"Improving the immune system alone helps us defend our body against various infections, not just coronavirus."

In Ian's next article he will be talking about the importance of vitamins to the immune system.

For more information about Ian and his books, click here.

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