Egypt’s Ministry of Health on the Foods and Drinks That May Weaken Your Immunity Against COVID-19
By Nour El-Miligi
Due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, Egypt’s Ministry of Health has recently issued a warning on the foods and beverages that can weaken your immune system, stressing the need to stay away from them in order to maintain the public’s health. It’s vital to take care of what our body consumes, especially during this critical period.
The ministry said in a post on its Facebook page that for our immunity to win the battle against the pandemic, the following instructions must be taken into consideration:
Avoid overconsumption of sugars, sweets, ready-made/canned juices and soft drinks
One should replace processed sweets and sugar with fresh fruits to avoid obesity and related diseases such as high blood pressure. These diseases could contribute to weakening your immunity and increasing the probability of catching the virus.
Avoid fast food
We should avoid it for many reasons. First, to avoid contact with cooks and staff who could potentially be carrying the virus, and secondly, to avoid fats that are harmful and cause obesity.
Avoid processed and canned foods rich in sodium
Examples include soy sauce, fish sauce, pickles, and high-salt content cheese as they might lead to several health issues such as high blood pressure and cardiac disease.
Reduce your daily salt intake
The healthy intake is less than 5 grams, which is about one teaspoon; they recommend using iodized salt, although natural sea salt is also a good option.
Avoid smoking, alcoholic drinks and drugs
Smoking in all its forms, as well as alcohol consumption, destroys the body’s immunity, and generally weakens overall health.
We need to take good care of our bodies, it’s our responsibility to take the issue seriously, and supporting our immune system is one of the most crucial tools to protect us from any infection.
