Pushpesh Pant
These days, we are busy stockpiling to avoid food scarcity due to coronavirus outbreak that has already crossed the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) numbers and claimed several lives across the globe. While keeping a stock of items is necessary, choosing items that help protect against infections is important too. We all know about cow urine panacea, but nothing can cure the pandemic overnight. It is important to stay healthy and eat foods that boost immunity and improve body’s natural defence mechanism. Experts are generously listing foods that have tested properties of keeping deadly microbes at a distance, but various misconceptions are also doing the rounds on social media, confusing people about what to eat and what not. Here are some tips on staying healthy. These will not only help people in the long run, but also help fight the virus while maintaining social distancing.
Antioxidants & anti-inflammatory agents
The first step to staying healthy is increasing resistance to infection, the key to which is intake of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables help combat cold. One should replace expensive items with easily accessible ones. Why go for blueberries when onion and garlic serve the same purpose? Similarly, rule out searching for salmon reared in the wild or avocados with protein-rich creamy flesh, as a tomato or one-half of a lime packs more Vitamin C than many citrus fruits. Vitamin C reinforces phagocytes and T cells that help combat infection. No wonder, it formed an indispensable part of the daily diet of Father of the Nation.
Goodness of home
Adding taste
However healthy the food may be, when prescribed as medicine, it will eventually get monotonous and go amiss in daily diet. So, try new recipes from different regions, improvise and innovate. Rotate the ingredients. The whole idea is to nourish the body, detoxify it, reduce stress and derive joy in preparing and sharing the delicacies.
Magic of nuts & spices
Nuts are a rich source of vitamin E, niacin and riboflavin. If you can’t lay your hands on walnuts and almonds, even cashewnuts will do. A teaspoon of seeds — melon, pumpkin or sunflower — whichever is within reach can be used. Coming to spices, turmeric trumps all infections. It is a store of curcumin that helps fight cough and cold, as well as energises weakened T cells. Combine it with rhizome ginger and treat yourself to a steaming cuppa to unblock nasal passages as well as dilute the mucous. To sweeten the brew, honey — another immunity booster — can be added as a multiplier.
Essentials
Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.
6
7
8
10