ABSTRACT
Long-COVID, or the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms for months after initial infection, has been shown to impact the lives of those affected. The current study sought to investigate the relationships between long-COVID, COVID-19 related stress, depression, anxiety, and comorbid depression and anxiety outcomes. Data were collected in Winter 2021-2022 from a population of adults enrolled in at least one course across multiple City University of New York (CUNY) campuses. Frequencies and chi-square tests were computed to assess for demographics and relationships to probable diagnoses of depression and anxiety, and binary logistic regressions were computed to assess for the odds of probable comorbid depression and anxiety based on demographics, stressors, and long-COVID. Women participants reported higher odds of probable depression outcomes, and stressor levels were significant correlates of probable anxiety outcomes. Women participants, 3.2 [1.5-6.9], as compared to men, lower-SES participants, 2.16 [1.1-4.2], as compared to higher-SES participants, participants with higher COVID-19 related stress levels, 4.8 [2.0-12.0], as compared to those with low levels, and participants with long-COVID, 3.7 [1.9-7.0], as compared to those without, all had higher odds of probable comorbid depression and anxiety. Findings highlight the importance of social location, stress, and long-COVID, in tandem, as correlates of psychological health during the shifting pandemic.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19, a disease caused by SARS-COV-2 virus was the reason for the pandemic and loss of many lives. The virus transmission from human-to-human touch led to outbreaks of this disease. World health organization has recommended a list of precautionary measures to avoid the major infection of this virus. This list includes various medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables which can boost the immunity and help in reducing the risk of infection. Due to this COVID-19, the food habits of most of the people changed which led to shift towards healthier lifestyle. As most of the Indian population is vegetarian, so the health based plant food including wild plant sources have been explored extensively. The wild fruits like bael, aonla, jamun, rubus, aakhe, simul and many more have the antiviral properties and immune boosting properties which could be incorporated in our diet. The bioactive compounds like polyphenolics, flavonoids, tannins, phytosterols, vitamins, minerals, etc., present in above mentioned wild fruits can be utilized to have healthful benefits. As these functional components can help in reducing various diseases like asthma, bronchitis, cold, fever, flu, inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and ultimately boost up the immunity to cope up with COVID-19 illness.
ABSTRACT
Pandemics have at all times been devastating due to their severity and rate of spread. December 2019, also witnessed a wide spreading havoc around the world whose emergence and outbreak was first reported in China's Wuhan area. Major role in the pandemic was played by a spherical virus with spike protein which was named as corona. Coronavirus disease is a viral respiratory infectious disease caused due to novel strain of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) which is accompanied by symptoms similar to common cold, Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome, etc. The elderly persons and people suffering from lifestyle diseases are more prone to severe COVID-19 and its respiratory complications. Immune system played a major role particularly in this disease as people having good immunity could tackle the virus more easily that too with high recovery rate. Essential macro and micronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, vitamins, bioactive compounds and polyphenols are found important to combat with COVID-19. These nutrients and phytochemicals are found in various foods like vegetables, fruits, dairy products, herbs, spices, etc. Different fruits (citrus, papaya, berries, etc.) and vegetables (broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, etc.) are rich in micronutrients like minerals, vitamin C, vitamin D and flavonoids. Herbs and spices (clove, cinnamon, tulsi, etc.) have been widely used for medicinal purpose from ancient time as they contain a diverse amount of bioactive compounds. Similarly, dairy products are potential carriers of phytochemicals and have an important role in regulating homeostasis related to the immune system. All mentioned sources possess positive effect on the human body by alleviating many chronic ailments like cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, cancer, etc., and strengthen the immune system. All these compounds work in such a way that they modify the metabolism or mechanism of the pathogens, thus restricting the replication and production process of the virus. This review particularly focuses on the food spectrum that has been used for prevention and protection against COVID-19 disease.