Coronavirus: What foods to eat during the crisis

Everyone might be worrying how to be healthy in the time of lockdown as the coronavirus situation intensifies alarmingly.

There is no magical food or pill that can guaranteed to boost the immune system and protect the body against coronavirus, reported CNN.

Joan Salge Blake, a nutrition professor at Boston University, said the food you eat during this time to stay healthy should not be any different from the healthy diet you should be eating year-round.
It is important to begin by filling the plate with immune-boosting nutrients. One of the best ways to stay healthy is to eat a nutritious diet.

There are no specific supplements that will help protect against coronavirus but it is important to stay healthy by consuming healthy foods, said Melissa Majumdar, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

Here are some key nutrients that play a role in immunity, and food sources of them:

Carrots, kale and apricots for beta carotene

Good sources of beta carotene also include sweet potatoes, carrots, mangoes, apricots, spinach, kale, broccoli, squash and cantaloupe.

Oranges, strawberries and broccoli for Vitamin C

Some research has suggested that higher levels of vitamin C (at least 200 milligrams) may slightly reduce the duration of cold symptoms.

Foods such as oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, red and green peppers, broccoli, cooked cabbage and cauliflower also contain vitamin C.

Eggs, cheese, tofu and mushrooms for Vitamin D

Vitamin D also alters the activity and number of white blood cells, known as T 2 killer lymphocytes, which can reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses, Holick added.

Beans, nuts, cereal and seafood for zinc

One meta-analysis revealed zinc supplements may shorten the duration of symptoms of the common cold. However, it concluded that "large high-quality trials are needed" before definitive recommendations can be made.

Bananas, beans and more for prebiotics

Probiotics and prebiotics help boost the health of the microbiome, which in turn supports our immune system, explained Majumdar.