EXPERT-APPROVED RECIPES THAT WILL HELP IN BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS

We are now facing a formidable foe.  What makes it extra scary is the fact that it is invisible.   As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, taking precautions such as hand washing, maintaining social distance, exercising and getting enough sleep are some of the prescribed key to lowering the risk of you getting infected. 

Doctors everywhere don’t know yet how to fully prevent or manage the damage caused by COVID-19, but they are one is saying that boosting your immune system may give you an edge in this fight against coronavirus pandemic. 

So the question on everyone’s mind is this: How can you boost your immune system to fight COVID-19?

LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE

Experts have found that eating certain foods can improve your health and strengthen your body’s ability to fight other invasive viruses.  In fact, Dr. Christine Gonzalez, one of the many health care providers who are fighting COVID-19 from the front lines, said that we can win our fight against COVID-19 “if we continue to take care of ourselves with nourishing food and drink, get enough rest and sleep, exercise outdoors as much as possible under the sun, do steam inhalation with essential oils, strengthen our hope and prayers, increase compassion and concern for others in these challenging times”.

Food functions to rebuild our tissues, supply energy, and facilitate biochemical processes of the body. If the food we eat fails to adequately perform these functions, then our immune system becomes compromised, the body cannot utilize the bioactive components of each food, and toxicity develops.

SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU EAT?

The food that fight viral infections and deter disease growth are generally the same: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, spices and micro-algae. All have important nutrients and other infection-fighting substances (phytochemicals) that helps in boosting your immune system.

Choose different colors of produce to obtain the full spectrum of complementary nutrients your body needs.

 For your GO foods, you can snack on boiled or uncooked banana, steamed sweet potato, or steamed/boiled cassava.  For starches, consume complex carbohydrates such as black/brown rice, and root crops such as sweet potato, cassava, etc.

For your GLOW foods, steam or juice leaves of sweet potato, moringa, malavar spinach, alugbati and other local veggies.

If meat cannot be avoided, limit intake but buy the high-quality kind to stack up on your GROW foods.

You can still indulge in sweets but limit it to mangoes, local orange, jackfruit and soursop.

Hydrate well with coconut water, purified water with lemon or calamansi, cucumber, lemongrass, tarragon or peppermint teas.  You can also drink power teas such as green, matcha, sencha, chamomile and ginger.

If you want expert-approved recipes that will help in boosting your immune system, all you have to do is scroll down.

COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL TEA: TURMERIC-GINGER-GARLIC TEA

This fragrant concoction is just the right tea if you want aid in boosting your immune system. It is because the calamansi will give you the dose of Vitamin C you need to combat infection. It also has soothing properties that will surely ease the discomfort brought by your sore throat.

Ingredients:

• 25 pcs small or 13 pcs large fresh organic turmeric root
• 3 inches ginger root
• 1 bulb garlic (preferably native), peeled and crushed,
• 25 pcs calamansi or two organic lemons, juiced.

Instructions:

1. Wash the turmeric root and ginger root
2. Thinly slice or grate turmeric and ginger, skin on.
3. Boil 3 cups of distilled water.
4. Add turmeric, ginger and garlic.
5. Turn off heat and add the calamansi
6. Cover and infuse/steep for 15 minutes. Let it cool.
7. Take 1 cup, three times a day if possible.

This drink rebuilds immunity and is the best anti-inflammatory remedy. It is proven effective for cough, cold, fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, etc.

Source:  Dr. Christine Gonzalez

AMPALAYA PINEAPPLE JUICE

High blood sugar is an aggravating factor in people infected with COVID-19.  So to lower the risk of you having diabetes, consume ampalaya because it has been scientifically proven to lower blood sugar with its insulin-like properties.

Studies show that ampalaya is also a good source of vitamins C, B, beta-carotene, iron, calcium, phosphorus.  The juice of ampalaya also has antiviral properties even more effective than acyclovir, an antiviral drug.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole medium fresh pineapple
• 8 pieces (1-ft long each) fresh ampalaya

Instructions:

1. Cut the pineapple for juicing.
2. Remove the seeds of ampalaya and slice for juicing
3. Juice the ampalaya and pineapple in a juicer or blender
4. Pour the liquids in a pitcher and chill in the refrigerator before serving

PINOY FRUIT SALAD

This recipe is rich in vitamins, minerals, high in fiber and offers a wide range of immune boosting antioxidants.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of bananas (sliced and mixed with 2 tsp of calamansi juice)
• 1 cup of sliced pineapples,
• 1 cup of papaya cubes
• 1 cup of fresh guava bits
• 1 cup of watermelon cubes
• 1 cup of melon cubes
• 1 cup of bignay berries
• Cashew and pili nuts crushed, quantity depends on preference
• Handful of fresh basil leaves
• 2-3 c of coconut cream, pasteurized, cooled and whipped with coconut sugar to taste

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix the fruits with nuts.
2. Add whipped coconut cream.
3. Add or garnish with basil leaves.
4. Chill and serve.

Source: Dr. Jimmy Galvez Tan

---

Fueling up on super foods such as the ones mentioned above is a great way to provide the body with nutrients it needs to combat infections.  If you put the right fuel into your body, your internal engine will run smoothly. Remember that every meal you consume influences the way that you feel one way or another so the more nutritious foods you choose, the closer you will be towards boosting your immune system, and the healthier you will be to combat the COVID-19 infection.