Consumption of good nutritious food is essential in forming a strong immune system. Boost your immunity and help protect yourself from infections, flu-like diseases (including the Covid-19) and other health problems by consuming nutritious foods in your daily meals.
Although food is not entirely as an antidote to viral infections, good nutrition will provide extra protection for your body. Focus on the consumption of balanced nutritious foods and healthy lifestyle can help protect you and your family from illness.
Here are some essential nutrients for boosting your immune system:
Vitamin A
Helps to regulate the immune system and as a protector against various infections by preserving skin and tissues in the mouth, stomach, intestines, and respiratory system to stay healthy.
Vitamin B6
Participates in over 100 reactions in body tissues and plays important role in body immune function.
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
Essential for nucleic acid and protein synthesis, crucial for the maintenance of Treg cells.
Vitamin C
Helps protecting from infection by stimulating the formation of antibodies and boosting the immune system.
Vitamin D
Essential mediator in maintaining a healthy and functional immune system.
Vitamin E
Acts as an antioxidant, it neutralizes free radicals and improves immune function.
Zinc
Help the immune system to work properly and can help heal wounds.
Selenium
Plays a very important role in the defense against infectious diseases.
Irons
Influence the functioning of the innate and adaptive immune system, also have direct effects on the growth and virulence of microbial pathogens.
References:
Alwarawrah Y, Kiernan K, MacIver NJ. 2018. Changes in Nutritional Status Impact Immune Cell Metabolism and Function. Front Immunol. 2018;9:1055. Published 2018 May 16. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.0105
Cherayil B. J. 2010. Iron and immunity: immunological consequences of iron deficiency and overload. Archivum immunologiae et therapiae experimentalis, 58(6), 407–415. doi: 10.1007/s00005-010-0095-9.
Mansouri R, Moogooei M, Moogooei M, Razavi N. 2016. The role of vitamin D3 and vitamin B9 (Folic acid) in immune system. Int J Epidemiol Res. 2016; 3(1): 69-85.
Zhang L, Liu Y. 2020. Potential Interventions for Novel Coronavirus in China: A Systematic Review [published online ahead of print, 2020 Feb 13]. J Med Virol. 2020;10.1002/jmv.25707. doi:10.1002/jmv.25707