This winter hasn’t been easy, and there’s a nasty flu outbreak due to coronavirus. Aside from masks and vaccines, it’s obvious that no one can totally prevent flu or coronavirus infection, but there is one simple approach to lower the risk, and it’s through your plate and cup.
It is possibly more vital than ever before to protect the body from viral infections. When we talk about viral illnesses, we might talk about the flu and coronavirus, which are present throughout the year but are especially prevalent in the winter.
In both circumstances, the person’s nutritional state is critical since it has a direct impact on the immune system’s ability to deal with consequences such as disease intensity, disease duration, and infection frequency.
Viral Infections: Coping and Prevention
Seasonal flu and the number of deaths since the pandemic emerged show that acute respiratory infections are a major source of morbidity and mortality around the world. Hand washing and vaccines are two public health activities that can help limit the transmission and effect of these illnesses. However, because of the rapid spread of viruses and the global infection situation, these techniques are insufficient.
Acute respiratory infections, for example, claimed the lives of roughly 2 million people worldwide in 2016, even before the coronavirus era. Many recent studies have clearly proven the role of nutrition in maintaining immune system function.
Nutrition is critical in strengthening the immune system and assisting the body in fighting infection, according to data from clinical and other studies. Additionally, studies have shown that malnutrition might impair the body’s ability to fight infections and raise the risk of disease.
The significance of nutrition in protecting one’s health
A paper published in the scientific journal Nutrients in April 2020 highlighted the importance of maintaining good nutritional status and its impact on the immune system’s ability to protect against viral infections. Long-term studies have shown that the following meal components are critical for maintaining a healthy weight and immune system:
- Vitamins: A, B6, B12, C, D, E and folic acid
- Minerals: Zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium and copper
- Essential fatty acids: Omega 3, Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid
Vitamin C and Vitamin D are the most critical vitamins for maintaining the appropriate functioning of the immune system, according to research, and most people are low in both. Vitamin C is abundant in bell peppers, oranges, clementines, lemons, pomelos, guavas, tomatoes, strawberries, kiwis, pineapples, papayas, and other fruits and vegetables. Vitamin D is found in the liver and internal organs of meat, as well as eggs, salmon, fish oil, butter, and other foods.
Green tea can help you from getting the flu.
Be aware of what you can eat naturally to enhance your immune system before resorting to pills. Green tea consumption greatly strengthens the body and protects against the flu, according to a study published in the journal European Academy of Nutritional Sciences in June 2021.
The study recruited 4,302 individuals and took place in Japan during the winter months (November-April). The researchers gathered information from the subjects about how much green tea they drank and how often they became sick with the flu.
The results revealed that drinking green tea effectively prevented people from contracting the flu. Green tea provided the highest protection when participants consumed five or more cups each week.
Of course, more research is needed to determine the effect of green tea on the flu and how it strengthens the immune system, but it is already clear that drinking green tea on a regular basis has numerous health benefits, particularly during the winter when the risk of flu is higher.
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