Anti-viral foods to build immunity and keep diseases away

 Anti-viral foods to build immunity and keep diseases away

It’s important to include anti-viral foods in your diet to prevent diseases like Coronavirus, suggests lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho.

With three confirmed cases of the Coronavirus (n-COV) in India, the focus remains on treatment as well as prevention of the deadly virus that is said to have its origin from a seafood market in China’s Wuhan. As an epidemic that has already claimed more than 300 lives in China, there is an immediate need to take precautions, where the key is to focus on building one’s immunity as well as overall health. Highlighting how it is important to not just follow basic hygiene guidelines, but also take steps to boost immunity, lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho took to Instagram to share what should be done to prevent diseases like n-COV.

Anti-viral foods in your diet

Garlic

It is a powerful anti-viral. It can be eaten raw, mashed or can be added to soups. Mix chopped raw garlic with a tablespoon of unpasteurised, raw honey and consume a clove every day after two to three days. It’s a fantastic way to boost your immune system, mentioned Coutinho.

Star anise

The flower-shaped spice contains shikimic acid that is used as a base material for the production of Tamiflu, which is used for influenza virus. It is super powerful as an anti-viral. Take star anise and boil it in water and add it to your teas like green tea or black tea.

Ginger

Count on these foods to boost your immunity. 

Take mashed ginger and star anise, and make a concoction by adding little raw, unpasteurised honey.

Coconut oil

You can cook your food in pure cold-pressed coconut oil or even have it raw. Lauric acid and caprylic acid present in it are essential for boosting the immune system against virals.

Resveratrol

Foods rich in resveratrol such as peanuts, pistachios, grapes, red, white wine, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, and even cocoa and dark chocolate are helpful to fight fungal infection, ultraviolet radiation, stress, and injury.

Vitamin-C rich foods

Vitamin-C rich foods such as amla, red peppers, yellow peppers, Vitamin C supplements are a must-have.

An essential recipe for good immunity, according to him, is this immunity-boosting soup.

Ingredients

1 no – Sweet potato
1 no – Garlic
Some – Spring onions
Few – Parsley
Few – Rosemary

Method

*Mix all the ingredients together and make it into a soup.

He mentioned that the soup helps boost the immune system against cold, flu and virals.

Anti-viral herbs

Herbs can help boost immunity.

*Anti-viral herbs such as oregano, tulsi, dried thyme are great for immunity, and can be used in teas or curries for respiratory health including mucous problems which can become a “breeding ground for bacteria and pathogens”.

*Mix ginger, garlic along with a tablespoon of thyme, oregano and make tea.

*Inhale essential oils like thyme, oregano, eucalyptus or star anise. One can also use a diffuser in the room.

Almonds are also a healthy way to keep hunger pangs away!

Other essentials

*Maintain Vitamin D3 levels because low levels of Vitamin D3 means low immunity

*You need a good pre-biotic or pro-biotic to keep your gut healthy. The healthier your gut, the stronger is your immune system. One can also have rice or beetroot kanji.

*It’s important to stay away from white sugar.

*Minerals like zinc and selenium should be included. They can be found in almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, unsalted cashew nuts and unsalted pistachios.

All these dietary changes should also be coupled with good exercise and proper sleep.