COVID-19 seems to be disrupting every aspect of peoples’ daily lives all over the world. Some of us have lost jobs, some are worried about family members who have to continue to work due to being in an essential business, some are worried about family members who may be high risk or separated from us. At times, it feels overwhelming and like there is nothing we can do to fight this invisible enemy. That is not true, however.
Hopefully, you are following the guidelines put in place in your community as well as social distancing, washing your hands well and frequently, and sheltering in place as much as possible.
Is there more you can do? Yes, there is. You can take the best possible care of yourself during these uncertain times. Doing your best to eat healthy foods could lessen your chances of getting ill, keep you out of the hospital and from infecting others.
How do you boost your immunity to help fight COVID-19?
Unfortunately, there is no magical food or pill that is guaranteed to boost your immune system and fight off COVID-19. However, a healthy immune system will help. Nutrients that may help the immune response include selenium, vitamins A, C, D, E, B-6, zinc, iron, and folate; with additional potentially promising effects of whole foods like broccoli, goji berry, green tea, and turmeric. Some of these nutrients may help reduce inflammation and protect from tissue damage due to the virus that can lead to lung injury and failure, and even death.
It is too early to know what mixture of nutrients is the best to keep Covid-19 at bay. But we do know that several of these nutrients have shown promising effects for flu, common colds, and respiratory infections.
Which foods might keep me from getting COVID-19?
We know you may not be able to find just anything in the stores right now due to overbuying, but here are some foods that may help boost your immunity: spinach, berries, bananas, citrus fruits, broccoli, mushrooms, red bell peppers, shellfish, sweet potatoes, peanut butter, almonds, beans, hazelnuts, turmeric, and tea. Eggs, cheese, tofu, milk, and mushrooms are also great choices.
These foods may be especially important for those who are at high risk for contacting COVID-19.
Hydration is also important
Even mild dehydration can put stress on the body. A good goal is half your body weight in ounces of water. For example, someone who weighs 150 pounds should drink approximately 75 ounces in water. The water from soups, vegetables, and fruits also helps to hydrate the body.
Can I take supplements to protect me from COVID-19?
There has not been enough time to conduct significant research on natural alternatives to fighting COVID-19. However, some doctors believe that supplements such as elderberry could help. Elderberry has been shown to be effective in treating upper respiratory infections in some studies. However, you should always discuss supplement usage with your doctor. Elderberry may interact with some medications.
Even if just a small percentage of the population began eating healthier to help ward off this pandemic, think how much it could help our world! Let’s all do our part. We are all in this together!
If you have more questions about COVID-19 in Comanche county, visit our resources page: ccmhhealth.com/covid-19-resources/.
Disclaimer
The Comanche County Memorial Hospital website does not provide specific medical advice for individual cases. Comanche County Memorial Hospital does not endorse any medical or professional services obtained through information provided on this site, articles on the site or any links on this site.
Use of the information obtained by the Comanche County Memorial Hospital website does not replace medical advice given by a qualified medical provider to meet the medical needs of our readers or others.
While content is frequently updated, medical information changes quickly. Information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies or typographical errors. For questions or concerns, please contact us at contact@ccmhhealth.com.