To borrow JFK’s call to action for the public to do what is right for the greater good amidst this COVID-19 pestilence:
"Ask not what your country or medical profession can do for you, ask what you can do for your immune system."
One way to boost immunity is to increase your daily intake and absorption of Vitamin C and Zinc.
There are many ways to take care of our immunity but there is only one way that heaven approves. The statement below reflects this:
“There are many ways of practicing the healing art; but there is only one way that Heaven approves. God's remedies are the simple agencies of nature, that will not tax or debilitate the system through their powerful properties. Pure air and water, cleanliness, a proper diet, purity of life, and a firm trust in God, are remedies for the want of which thousands are dying; yet these remedies are going out of date because their skillful use requires work that the people do not appreciate. Fresh air, exercise, pure water, and clean, sweet premises, are within the reach of all, with but little expense; but drugs are expensive, both in the outlay of means, and the effect produced upon the system. Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power,—these are the true remedies. Every person should have a knowledge of nature's remedial agencies and how to apply them. It is essential both to understand the principles involved in the treatment of the sick and to have a practical training that will enable one rightly to use this knowledge.” —Testimonies for the Church 5:443, 1885
This simple agencies of nature are best remembered in an acronym called NEWSTART. These are eight precepts that help you achieve optimal health and wellbeing. The first letter N stands for nutrition.
Nutrition: One study found that zinc (intracellular Zn2+) mineral keeps our immune system strong and it can stop the coronavirus from replicating.
For it to be effective, zinc need to enter the cells and Bioflavonoids are found to help in the absorption of zinc into our body cells.
Good source of zinc (from highest to lowest content of zinc in mg per 100g of edible portion) are:
Top 15 sources of zinc:
squash blossoms
roasted cashews
pecan
sunflower seeds
brazil nuts
pine nuts
peanuts
almonds
oats
barley
Adzuki
soybeans
white or black beans
lentils
chickpeas
You can find bioflavonoids in the pulp and white core that runs through the center of citrus fruits, green peppers, lemons, limes, oranges, cherries, and grapes skin. Quercetin is a highly concentrated form of bioflavonoids found in broccoli, citrus fruits, and red and yellow onions.
For vitamin C supplement:
Sweet Bell Pepper (red capsicum) contains the highest amount of Vitamin C in vegetables. This is very versatile as you can mixed it with anything you are cooking or mixed with salads.
Top 5 sources for Vitamin C in vegetables:
Red Capsicum
Green bell pepper
broccoli
brussels sprouts
bitter melons
For commonly available fruits you have (from highest to lowest content of vitamin C in mg per 100g of edible portion)
Top 6 sources of Vitamin C in Fruits:
Guava
Black Currant
Kiwi
papaya
strawberry and
orange
So let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food as Hippocrates said 2500 years ago. Stay tuned to our next article that covers the next letter of the acronym NEWSTART which is Exercise.