What should we eat to enhance immune system and reduce the risk of coronavirus infection

People are very confused about the spread of coronavirus quickly and there is no specific medicine or vaccine. Besides wearing a mask, avoiding crowded places, washing your hands often or disinfecting the throat, improving the body’s immune system through foods is considered to be the most effective “weapon” to protect body. So what should we eat to increase our immune system? Let’s find out!

Supplementing essential vitamins

According to Dr. Le Quoc Hung – Head of Tropical Medicine Department of Cho Ray Hospital, said: “To enhance the immune system, we need to provide our body with enough vitamins D, A and C. Accordingly, supplementing vitamin A by consuming vitamin A periodically, or eat more carrots, pumpkins. Vegetables, tubers, fruits, especially fruits such as guava, orange, kiwi contains a large amount of vitamin C. Vitamin D could be obtained from sunbath or from medicine as required. In additional, we should have a proper diet and sleep, drink enough water”. (Source: Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper)

Dr. Nguyen Trong Hung – National Institute of Nutrition also recommends that to increase the immune system, everyone need to eat a variety of foods, prioritize foods that contains high amount of vitamin A and vitamin C. Dr. Hung emphasizes: “Vitamin A is an oil-soluble vitamin, they have a vital role to the body. Especially for children, vitamin A could help protecting the eyes, preventing night blindness (nyctalopia) and dry eye syndrome, ensuring the normal development of the bones, teeth, protecting the mucosa and skin, enhancing immune system fighting infectious diseases. Therefore, we should provide our body with foods that contain high amount of Vitamin A, especially during this time. ” (Source: Vietnam Life Newspaper)

Banana contains a lot of vitamin C

There is some kinds of fruits and foods that provide our body with essential vitamin:

• Citrus fruit: Normally, when we have a flu, cold, most patients choose to supplement vitamin C by citrus fruits. This is a wise choice because vitamin C is capable of enhancing white blood cells, so the immune system works more effectively. You should supplement daily to have a healthy body. However, do not overuse it because it can affect your stomach.
• Papaya: Papaya contains a large sum of vitamin C and papain – a digestive enzyme that could combat inflammation. In addition, this is also a source of potassium (Kali), vitamin B and folic acid – nutrients that play a very essential factor in strengthening the immune system.

Solo Sunrise papaya are grown and distributed by Unifarm

• Cauliflower: Cauliflower contains vitamins A, C, E and sulforaphane that can reduce oxidation in the body.
• Bell pepper: Bell pepper provides the body with a large amount of vitamin C and beta carotene. This is considered to be a special “armor” of the body to help fighting against harmful bacteria, especially the virus that causes disease.
• Mushroom: Mushroom contains unsaturated fatty acids and large amounts of substances that can be converted into vitamin D, which helps increase the immune system. Eating mushrooms regularly helps to protect and fight against natural viruses. Mushroom also contains polysaccharides – a compound that supports the immune system. You can use shiitake mushrooms, maitake mushrooms to increase the immune system and prevent respiratory infections.
• Sweet potato: This is the most ideal source of vitamin A – meeting up to 561% of the daily nutritional value of the body. Amount of vitamin A in sweet potato will help to boost immunity, protect the skin and mucous inside the digestive system / lungs.
• Turmeric, ginger, garlic: Because many viruses such as corona can affect the respiratory system seriously, eating turmeric and ginger regularly is a good option to reduce bad symptoms in case of infection. Besides, the easy-to-find food in the kitchen is garlic, which contains allicin – a compound against pathogens, which not only kills viruses but also helps prevent the penetration of other microorganisms.

Beef, Seafood – Secret “weapon” to fight against disease

Beef contains high levels of zinc, which is beneficial for the prevention of diseases that may cause. Zinc stimulates the body to produce white blood cells that help the immune system to work better.

In addition, you should not ignore chicken dishes because it contains many nutrients, sweetness, and prevents water retention in the body. Seafood such as clams, crabs, oysters, oysters, lobsters, etc. have a large sum of phosphorus, protein, vitamins A, C, iron, and zinc, etc. which are also good for health.

Honey – A source of food that enhance the body’s immune system very well
One of the common benefit of honey is anti-inflammatory, which alleviates common throat problems such as sore throat, burning pain, itchy throat – the original cause of pneumonia. You can add a little honey to lemon drink, orange juice drink and drink every morning to improve your immune system. Also do not forget to drink plenty of water every day because when you dehydrate, your body will no longer be resistant to disease as usual.

What to eat to increase our immune system? Remember to add nuts

Providing our body with Zinc is essential because this one boosts the immune system and quickly fights off the virus. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds are a good source of zinc and vitamin E respectively, boost the immune system very well.

Oatmeal and yogurt

Like other grains, oatmeal contains high amount of vitamin E and polyphenols – antioxidants that are good for the immune system.

If you do not know what to eat to increase the body’s immune system, fermented foods, typically yogurt is an ideal suggestion. Yogurt contains beneficial probiotics and calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and healthy proteins. You should choose unsweetened yogurt or make your own yogurt at home which is both nutritious and safe, hygienic.

(*) Some notes need to know to avoid the risk of disease transmission

• In parallel with the nutritional supplement, you need to pay attention to a few notes below so that the virus does not have a chance to enter into your body:Firstly, you need to clean the respiratory tract (nose, throat, dental …) clean with physiological saline.
• Always keep your home clean and well-ventilated to help prevent diseases effectively. Fumigating aromatic oils is one of the wise choice to kill viruses, bacteria, and also create a natural aroma in the house.
• In order to prevent viruses effectively, everyone should also form a habit of using cooked foods, washing your hands with soap and clean water under. Furthermore, we should avoid crowded places and wear mask when you go outside.
• You would better not to talk to others within distance of 2 meter if you don’t wear any mask and 1 meter for wearing mask.
• In public, don’t spit indiscriminately. Do not get close to wild or domestic animals.
• Go for a regular examination and do exercise.
• If you are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or breathing trouble, you should avoid traveling. In case of appearing suspicious signs of the disease, it is necessary to go to the hospital immediately for diagnosis and treatment. Besides, you need to share information about your travel schedule with the medical staff.

(Source: Vietnam Life Newspaper)