With the coronavirus chaos, what about our health that the media all over the world have been ignoring? Safeguarding your health by building up your immune system. (Ultimately, Agriculture is your direct source of health, or absence of it.)
Says Harvard Health Publishing on “How To Boost Your Immune System[1]:”
On the whole, your immune system does a remarkable job of defending you against disease-causing microorganisms. But sometimes it fails: A germ invades successfully and makes you sick. Is it possible to intervene in this process and boost your immune system? What if you improve your diet? Take certain vitamins or herbal preparations?
All that sounds good to me!
Now, from the United States comes this up-to-date healthy advice by Brittany Anas – “Stock Up On These 9 Healthy Foods To Boost Your Immune System During Coronavirus, Says Doctor And Dietitian[2]” (03 April 2020, CNBC.com). The 9 are: red bell pepper, broccoli, chickpea, strawberry, garlic, mushroom, spinach, yogurt, and sunflower seeds. Miss Brittany says, “Previous studies have found that eating certain foods can improve your health and strengthen your body’s ability to fight other invasive viruses.” (above images: “healthy aging” from Athulya[3], fruits & vegetables from Creative Market[4])
Right now, I’m more interested in vitamin C as a health booster. SeVanna Shoemaker asks rhetorically, “Can Vitamin C Protect You From Covid-19[5]?” (02 April 2020, Healthline.com). Ms SeVanna says, “Vitamin C affects your immune health (system) in several ways.” Among these are: (1) Keeps skin healthy, thereby “helping the skin serve as a functional barrier to keep harmful compounds from entering your body.” (2) Boosts activity of phagocytes, “immune cells that can ‘swallow’ harmful bacteria and other particles.” (3) Promotes growth of lymphocytes, thereby increasing your antibodies, “proteins that can attack foreign or harmful substances in your blood.” (4) “High dose or IV vitamin C can reduce lung inflammation in severe respiratory illnesses.” Ms SeVanna also says the Shanghai Medical Association has “endorsed the use of high-dose vitamin C as a treatment for hospitalized people with Covid-19.”
In its Fact Sheet for Professionals[6], Eco Supplements says in “Fruits And Vegetables Vitamin C,” major contributors are citrus fruits, tomato, and potato. Other good sources are red & green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberry, Brussels sprouts, green peas, spinach, and cantaloupe.
Finally, I am 79, so I ask what is “the role played by vitamin C in healthy aging?” Athulya says (14 January 2020, athulyaliving.com)[7]:
A healthy diet for seniors must be packed with fresh fruits and vegetables to offer them the vitamins they need. It is important to include vitamin C foods… as vitamin C is the prime ingredient that helps seniors to stay away from illnesses. Even at assisted living facilities, Vitamin C is made a part of the senior living dining experience to ensure vitality and vigor for seniors.
Note: “Vitamin C is is the prime ingredient that helps seniors to stay away from illnesses.” Nonetheless, I think it’s true for everyone. ”Healthy Aging” should read “Healthy Living.”@517
[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
[2] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/03/stock-up-on-9-healthy-foods-to-boost-immune-system-during-coronavirus-doctor-dietitian.html
[3] https://www.athulyaliving.com/blogs/role-played-by-vitamin-c-in-healthy-aging.php
[4] https://creativemarket.com/aiselin/2772608-Vitamin-C-fruits-and-vegetables
[5] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-coronavirus
[6] https://eco-supplements.com/scientific/vitamin-c-fact-sheet-for-health-professionals/
[7] https://www.athulyaliving.com/blogs/role-played-by-vitamin-c-in-healthy-aging.php
No comments:
Post a Comment