As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Malaysia, taking daily precautions such as washing hand, social distancing, exercising and getting enough sleep is key to lowering risk of infection.

If you are older or have an underlying health condition (including diabetes and high blood pressure), you have an increased risk of severe symptoms, and potentially, loss of life from COVID-19. We recommend taking extra precaution to avoid it.

If you’re young and otherwise healthy, your risk of complications is much lower. If you do contract the virus, you’ll probably have mild symptoms and fully recover within a couple of weeks.

However, it’s possible that you may be infected with the virus without showing any symptoms. So maintaining excellent hygiene and practicing social isolation are crucial to avoid spreading it to high-risk individuals.

Besides than above mentioned, maintaining a healthy diet and enough nutrients to help boost our immune system may also give you an edge. For now, no full evidence has been done on foods or nutrients that help fight against COVID-19 specifically. However, previous studies have found that certain nutrients can help to improve our health and strengthen our body’s ability to fight invasive viruses.

• Vitamin C
  For decades, Vitamin C has been used to help prevent the common cold. Vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress.
• Vitamin D
  Vitamin D responsible for modifying intestinal microbiota to a healthier composition and protecting the lungs against infection. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Pneumonia is a severe form of acute lower respiratory tract infection and is the leading cause of death in worldwide. Many — perhaps even most — people are deficient in vitamin D.

• Zinc
  Zinc is an essential trace element required for maintaining intestinal cells, bone growth, and immune function. Zinc is to help decrease susceptibility to acute lower respiratory tract infections by regulating various immune functions, including protecting the health and integrity of the respiratory cells during lung inflammation or injury.
• Vitamin B complex
  Most Vitamin B involved in intestinal immune regulation, thus supporting the gut barrier.
• Glutathione
  Glutathione (GSH) helps immune system stay strong and ready to fight infections.  Researchers found that GSH modulates the behavior of many immune system cells, affecting adaptive immunity and protecting against microbial, viral and parasitic infections.

Target:-

• Individuals who want to boost energy and improve immunity
• Individuals who often get sick
• Chronic diseases patients (eg. Diabetes, Hypertension) with weakened immunity due to long-term medication
• Individuals who often staying up late and stressful
• Imbalance diet

Reference:-

1. Vitamin C and Immune system. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 3;9(11)
2. A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System. Nutrients 2020, 12, 236;
3. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/
4. A Review of Dietary (Phyto) Nutrients for Glutathione Support. Nutrients. 2019 Sep; 11(9): 2073