Fight Against COVID-19 with these Immune Boosting Food Items

By now, you must be living under a rock if you aren’t aware of the pandemic caused by COVID-19! This contagious virus has people locked in their homes and completely transformed the way people carried out their day to day business. Work from home has become the norm, people avoid going to physically shop for their groceries and access an online grocery store like howmuch.pk from their smart devices or laptop. All in all, you can see the panic that this virus has caused globally. 

However, you can help your mental health and maintain a positive mindset by keeping a routine and eating healthy. The better your immune system, the lesser chances you have of suffering from the coronavirus. They say precaution is better than cure, so why not take preventive measures, in the form of immune-boosting foods, against COVID-19? Why have pills when you get get your vitamins from vegetables and fruits? So, the next time you shop your grocery online (which is a great thing given the current circumstances), consider adding the following in your cart: 

Red Bell Peppers/Capsicum: 

Red Bell peppers are one of the biggest sources of vitamin C. U.S Department of Agriculture confirms that a cup of chopped bell peppers has nearly twice more Vitamin C content than an orange. And Vitamin C is excellent for our immune system as it strengthens it by supporting a lot of cell functions that result in the reduction of respiratory infections. 

Additionally, it assists in the repair of your tissues. The thing is, vitamin C is essential for your body because your body doesn’t produce it naturally. It’s great for your body to eat one red bell pepper raw with some sauce or adding it in your salad per day! You can also add it in the food you cook if you don’t like it raw. 

Chick Peas/ Channa: 

Protein is necessary for the growth and repair of the tissues in your body and chickpeas are filled with protein. They also have a lot of zinc, which is great for, you guessed it right, your immune system! So, make channa cholas often! There are dozens of recipes in our Pakistani cuisine that include chickpeas, this is the time to take advantage of that! 

Strawberries:

Fortunately, this is the season of strawberries, and you can get fresh and healthy strawberries delivered to your doorstep! This beautiful fruit contains a considerable content of vitamin C and is excellent at keeping your mind sharp and healthy. You can eat raw strawberries, add them to oatmeal or make strawberry milkshake! 

Seafood: 

Fatty fish like sardines and salmon are one of the greatest sources of vitamin D. This Vitamin helps your boy to fight against various viruses and bacteria. It also positively impacts your white blood cells, which help in defending your immune system. Sun is also a great source of Vitamin D, but due to current conditions, it is best to stay indoors and thus, the easy solution is to intake food items that are rich in vitamin D content. Other than seafood, milk, eggs and mushrooms have a lot of vitamin D. 

Garlic: 

Garlic is well known for being great at lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart diseases. It contains chemicals that are great for fighting infections. The common cold is kept at bay by garlic, and as COVID-19 is also a virus, it can prove to be a great shield against it too. You can add garlic in nearly every food you prepare. From pasta sauce to qorma, to salad dressing, to stir-fry dishes, garlic can be added in anything! 

Yoghurt: 

You must’ve come across ads talking about probiotics. Well, probiotics are the friendly bacteria that help in improving the strength of your immune system and having a healthy gut. In the past, they have been promising in fighting the common cold and other respiratory infections. Pain yoghurt needs to become your best friend! There are so many things you can do with yoghurt- eat it raw, with fruits, honey, or mix it with chickpeas!