1/ Q: My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these "#Covid Cravings"?
A: You are not alone! Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves these days. Here’s a few reasons why + how to keep the comfort eats in check.
2/
🍩 The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us feel good.
🍪 Many of our favorite childhood foods were chocked with fat, sugar, and salt. The #nostalgia of these “comfort foods” can provide solace in times of uncertainty.
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🗓️ The #CoronavirusPandemic has disrupted all routines, including those around eating, resulting in different patterns of eating and food choices.
4/
SOME TIPS:
🫑 Don’t forget fruits, veggies, and protein. The french fry and corn dog diet does not provide the nutrients your body needs to thrive
🥣 Moderation is key. We all want the whole half-gallon of ice cream...but it’s best to get a bowl and monitor portion sizes.
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🚶♀️ EXERCISE. Less #PhysicalActivity paired with comfort eating is not going to help you return to real pants.
🍽️Try to maintain some routine around meals. Meals are a great time to bring households together to provide some structure in an uncertain world.
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1/ Q: Has almost everyone been infected with COVID by now?
A: Recent estimates suggest around 58% of the population in the US and over 70% in England have been previously infected, with BIG increases during the Omicron wave.
3/ ➡️ During the Omicron wave from December 2021-February 2022, this estimate increased from 33% to 58%.
➡️ Rates vary a lot by age, ranging from 33.2% for those over age 65 to 75% for those under age 18.
2/ Not likely. If your kids are suddenly getting sick a lot, this is likely due to “catching up” on exposures rather than a weakened immune system.
3/ Many families w/ young kids have been hunkered down for the better part of 2 years– a good % of a young child’s entire life. While isolation had *many* downsides, we can agree that not having to suction snot out of infant noses or clean up norovirus puke was a happy upside.
1/ Q: Are cases peaking? That means it’s all downhill from here, right?
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve).
2/ ➡️ And if the downward slope is *slower* than the rise, we will see *more* cases during the decline from a surge.
3/ Burning fast could be a silver lining of super transmissible #Omicron. Cases rose & fell quickly in S. Africa (w/ hospitalizations & deaths still lagging). The UK appears to have turned the Omicron corner. Many US states appear past their peak in cases, w/ regional variation:
Unfortunately, this includes New Year’s Eve plans. The perfect storm of a new variant & holiday get-togethers is hitting communities & health care w/ FORCE! Testing is in short supply.
3/ Health care is under extreme pressure with surging cases. If you can avoid even one additional contact, you are helping. This is a temporary and urgent request (from a health care provider).