Author: Biz India

By Peter Schelden – MedicineNet Health News April 20, 2020 – To protect those they love from a virus that can kill, people online are flooding the Internet with search results for the best vitamins, foods, and activities to boost your immune system against coronavirus COVID-19. The internet provides plenty of answers—some reliable, others not. The nutrients that seem to relate to immunity include vitamins A, C, D, and E, and the minerals zinc, selenium, and magnesium, according to an article edited by MedicineNet medical editor Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD. However, there are no immunity “silver bullets,” say many nutritionists, including the ones who council HIV patients at the UCSF Center for HIV Information: “There are no special diets, or particular foods, that will directly boost your immune system,” their online statement says. At the same time, many studies show that without enough of the essential nutrients your body needs, your immune system suffers. This includes studies showing that deficiencies of vitamins C and D are more commonly found in people with infections, including pneumonia. “Your immune system and body can’t function at their best without the basic building blocks they need to work properly,” according to the article reviewed by Dr. Stöppler. Eating a diet of fresh, whole foods in reasonable amounts is the best way to get your daily dose of vitamins, including the healthy antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. The important thing is variety, according to dietician Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD/LD. “Unless you...