Immunity and Covid-19

All that you need to know

ASMR
 Exactly what is Covid-19?
• COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly
discovered virus termed as coronavirus.
• There has been a lot of half truths surrounding the
connection between COVID-19 and increasing
immunity through food to fight Covid-19.
• Here we will try to discuss some frequently asked
questions related to Covid-19.
 Are there any foods that ‘boost’ our immune system against COVID-
19?

• As per the guidelines of WHO, there is at present no

persuasive evidence that any food or dietetic model
can ‘boost’ our immune system and prevent or treat
COVID-19.
• Yes, there are a number of nutrients such as copper,
folate, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C
and D that play a vital role in our immune system.
 What is healthy balanced diet?
• It is normally advised to have a healthy balanced
diet prosperous in fruits and vegetables, which allows
us to get these nutrients through our food.
• Being physically active, reducing and managing
stress and getting enough sleep will also help support
normal immune functioning.
 What should we do to keep away Covid-19?
The best way, we all know is:
• Good hygiene practice,
• Social distancing,
• Isolating those who are infected
• Extra care for our elders and children
• Keeping ourselves away from rumors
• Following guidelines of the administration
Are there any supplements that ‘boost’ our
immune system against COVID-19?
• There is currently no evidence claiming that any
supplement can ‘boost’ our immune system and
prevent or treat viral infections, like COVID-19. 
• We should keep this in mind when evaluating
information from some source or organizations
who claim otherwise.
 What should we do then?
• Make sure meeting your dietary
requirements for many vitamins and
minerals is important for good health and
normal immune functioning. 
Can we be infected by COVID-19 from eating food?
• There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is
transmitted through eating food.
• Even then, good food safety practices are always
recommended to minimize the possibility of
food borne diseases.
What precautions should be taken regarding food?
When handling or preparing food, make sure to:
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap before and after preparing or eating food
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze
and remember to wash your hands after
• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating them
• Disinfect surfaces and objects before and after use
• Keep raw and cooked foods separate to avoid harmful microbes from raw foods
spreading to ready-to-eat foods
• Use different utensils/chopping boards for raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-
contamination
• Make sure to cook and reheat foods to adequate temperatures.
Can we catch COVID-19 by touching food packaging?
• Basically COVID-19 virus spreads from person-to-
person through contact with sneeze or cough droplets
of an infected person. 
• As this virus can exist on food packaging for a day, and
plastic for several days, there is a remote risk of getting
infected from touching an object contaminated by the
virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
 What are the biggest risk factors?
• In shops, the biggest risk of contamination remains contact
with other people and ‘high-touch’ surfaces such as
weighing scales, shopping counters or elevator buttons.
• Therefore, we should wash our hands both after returning
home from the shop and after handling newly purchased
food packaging.
What are some measures that must be followed
• Keep a distance of 1 to 2 meters from others when shopping.
• Don’t go shopping if you are sick or not feeling well.
• Avoid touching foods unless you are going to buy them.
• Try to limit visiting grocery shops.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a mask or your sleeve when.
you cough or sneeze and remember to wash your hands after.
• D’ont touch your face, nose, mouth before washing your
hands.