COVID-19: 8 Immunity Boosting Diet for Elderly

COVID19 has undoubtedly put the whole world in a disturbing situation, where everyone is scared of self-isolation and is quarantined. This infectious disease is specially dangerous for the elderly as they are more prone to getting affecting by it. And the reason behind is that they do not have a very strong immunity. And they are more likely to have other serious concerns like diabetes, blood pressure, lung disease, or even heart disease that can lower the body’s immunity. WHO has also listed in their Q&A about this pandemic, “While we are still learning about how COVID-2019  affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.”

Diet to boost immunity in older people

It’s a proven fact that good health and nutrition go hand in hand. As the elderly are more prone to coronavirus, a diet rich in certain vitamins and minerals can create a wall of immunity. You can include fruits and vegetables that are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C & E and even zinc. These changes in the diet of the elderly can surely help them fight the infection.

Include superfoods

Source: foodmatters

Superfoods like broccoli, mushrooms, and even kale are a few immunity boosters that you can include in their diet. They improve the immune system of older people quite rapidly. You can also include all kinds of berries in their diet along with foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids – beans, flax seeds, and even some nuts. This will also help in boosting their memory.

Staying hydrated

Source: bbci.co.uk

They must have 8-9 glasses of water, as that will keep their mucous membranes moist which can further lower the chances of cold and flu. If they don’t sense thirst that much, you can prepare even soup for them or give coconut water, milk, green tea, and even some homemade fruit juice will be helpful.

Vitamin-C rich foods

Source: prameyanews

Various researches have proven that vitamin C is an important aspect of improving immunity, be it kids, adults or even elderly! Fruits like oranges, papaya, kiwi, and guava are rich in vitamin C and should be included in their diet. Also, veggies like eggplant, bell peppers, beetroots, spinach, and cauliflower are known to be quite rich in vitamin C and are good for immunity.

Herbs

Source: Pixabay

Some of the immunity-boosting herbs are garlic, ginseng, black cumin and liquorice. Include them in the diet of the elderly in the form for tea or by adding them in their food. This will not enhance their immunity but improve their gut as well.

Diet low in sugar and fat

Source: tvgazeta

The diet of older people must have low-sugar and low-fat foods that can comprise of whole grains and lean proteins. This way, they will tend to have better overall health.

Vitamin-E rich foods

Source: tvgazeta

Some researches have proven that vitamin E is vital for maintaining the overall health of elderly people, including their immunity. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can protect you from various infections, bacterias and viruses. Include soaked almonds, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, and even hazelnuts to get the daily dose of vitamin E.

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