Here’s how you can build back your good health post COVID-19 in UAE

Integrated health approach

“What we need to do is take the integrated medicine approach which means every good thing, be it sunshine, music, nutrition and so on, that triggers well-being and healing is taken into account. Integrative medicine does not discriminate between medicine, nutrition or homeopathy. Instead, it embraces all forms of medicine and healing, keeping the patient in the center and the patient’s interest in mind,” explained Coutinho.

The inflammation pandemic

In the recent times non- communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardio vascular conditions have been manifesting in younger people. Dubbed as lifestyle diseases, they are attributed to chronic inflammation in the body.

Coutinho explained why inflammation was being triggered. “Inflammation is actually a natural immune response from our body to protect us from diseases. When the immune system senses a threat, be it an oncoming cold, cough or fever, it secretes an inflammatory response to repel the enemy. However, in modern times we are causing so much damage with constant invasion of our mental, physical and emotional well-being with sleep deprivation, wrong food choices, high stress, and overt physical workouts and so on that there is accumulated stress. Our immune system then responds to this with chronic inflammation and forgets to switch off the inflammatory response. Being in a constant state of inflammation gives rise to several diseases including cancer “

Good health is about common sense

Every individual can make some basic changes to their lifestyle to re-boot to good health. “we need to align ourselves back to the natural rhythms of life to regain health. A lot of healthy choices such as breathing right, chewing food slowly, rising with the sun, having a good breakfast and lunch but a very light dinner before sunset and getting a good night’s sleep are all inexpensive and easy to adapt choices,” advised Coutinho.

Sleep deprivation

He specifically emphasised on the need for proper sleep when the body is able heal and repair itself. “A sleep-deprived body is your biggest curse when it comes to health and wellness. The chronic deprivation of it can increase your risk of a heart attack or diabetes. Your heart is a muscle that needs recovery. Lack of sleep increases your insulin resistance and makes you more prone to type 2 diabetes and a gamut of metabolic conditions. So, adopt a fixed sleeping schedule and sleep deep.

“You could have access to the best diet and exercise regimens in the world, but if you are sleep-deprived all the time, your body is going to fail you at some point. When we sleep, our body takes time to heal and repair. The very fact that sleep is an inbuilt mechanism in our body establishes the fact that sleep is non-negotiable,” he elaborated.

Tuning the body to circadian rhythms

Getting the body in sync with the natural rhythms is also know as being in harmony with the circadian rhythms. Coutinho attached great importance to this.

“Circadian health is not just about focusing on sleeping well and on time. It is about several other activities we do through the day that affect our health, right from our meal timings, to workout timings, the amount and timing of caffeine intake, our snacking habits, how we spend our start of the day, the amount of time we spend in nature and more.”

Coutinho’s message to UAE residents is to maintain an easy to follow health routine that is designed to succeed. “It should be doable. The key is simplicity. The body is unique and so every day is different and so are its needs. Today, your body might need more carbs and tomorrow maybe less, so one needs to find out what works for them. Listening to your body and cultivating mindfulness is my biggest mantra. If you are mindful, you know what your body exactly needs, and that makes living a healthy life easier,” he concluded.