What nutrients do I need to fight off viruses? How to eat after contracting the new coronavirus?

Omicron virus has reduced virulence, but spreads quickly and is highly
contagious.
A reasonable diet can effectively improve the nutritional status of the human body, and good nutrition is the material basis for ensuring the body's immune function, which can enhance the ability to
resist viral infections.
So, what nutrients do you need to fight off viruses? How to eat after contracting the new coronavirus? Recently, the reporter interviewed Fan Zhihong
, professor of the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering of China Agricultural University.

"At present, supplementation with a certain nutrient has not been found to prevent new coronavirus infection
.
" Professor Fan Zhihong said, but having a healthy diet as the basis and sufficient nutrients in the body is very important
to shorten the course of the disease and improve the prognosis.

Professor Fan Zhihong said that in order to resist the virus, the human body needs to mobilize all aspects of metabolic capacity, and the burden on organs such as liver, kidney, heart, and lung increases
.
The body's antiviral process is a kind of physical stress, the consumption of energy and nutrients is greatly increased than the daily day, and the demand for antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, etc.
increases
.

Vitamin A, a variety of B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, are indispensable
in the antiviral process.
The deficiency of any kind of vitamin will affect the efficiency of the immune response and the repair
of physical damage.
Folic acid is important for protein and DNA synthesis and is also a nutrient
necessary for adaptive immune responses.

Studies have found that the viral infection process itself may deplete part of the body's vitamin reserves, such as vitamin C, vitamin B6, etc
.
At the same time, viral infection may also interfere with the absorption, utilization and metabolic transformation
of multivitamins.
Therefore, it is recommended to ensure an adequate supply of vitamins in advance, preferably with a moderate amount of body reserves
.

Professor Fan Zhihong also said that daily intake of sufficient minerals, calcium, zinc, selenium deficiency is not conducive to resisting the new crown virus
.
More minerals are not better, such as excessive iron intake is not conducive to controlling the inflammatory response
.
At the same time, adjusting the ratio of omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, etc.
, may help
improve the inflammatory state caused by the new coronavirus.

"Rational use of probiotics may be beneficial to reduce intestinal flora disturbances and excessive inflammatory responses
during infection.
" Professor Fan Zhihong said
.

At the same time, Professor Fan Zhihong gave advice
on the diet of people who are not infected with the new coronavirus and infected people.

1.
If the quality of daily diet is not high, nutrients can be supplemented
moderately.
Most vitamin supplements are close to or even exceed the daily vitamin intake recommendation, so do not take
a multivitamin supplement with it.

2.
Don't go on a hunger diet, eat every meal comfortably and full
.
People who are losing weight are advised to stop practices such as dieting with hunger
.
Hunger can cause a lack of energy in the body and significantly suppress the ability of the immune system to work
.
Moderate exercise after eating can also lead to a good figure, and it is more beneficial to immune system function
than staying hungry.

3.
Increase protein food intake
in moderation.
Protein is a key nutrition against the virus, and when not infected with the new crown virus, each meal must have high-protein foods
such as fish, meat, eggs, milk, and soy products in addition to vegetables.

4.
Reduce the intake of sweets, sweet drinks, etc.
, which do not help
improve disease resistance.

5.
If infected with the new crown virus, drink more water, rest more, and maintain a good mood
.
If you have an appetite, you can eat normally, the immune system needs more energy to "go to war", and you don't have to worry about weight gain at this time, because you will not gain weight
.

6.
When fever, there is no need to deliberately supplement protein powder, as well as fish, meat, eggs and other high-protein foods, so as not to increase the burden on the digestive system, especially people with fever above 39 °C, you can drink egg soup, clear chicken soup, etc.
, you can choose fruits and vegetables and starchy foods
.
If you have a fever, sore throat and no appetite, you can drink fruit and vegetable juice, honey lemonade, coconut water, brown sugar water, etc.
, you can also eat canned fruit, eight treasure porridge, soft noodle soup, etc.
, or drink milk, yogurt, soy milk, etc.
, to help replenish energy and water
.
At the same time, drink salty soups in moderation, such as chicken soup with less oil, broth, etc.
, to supplement electrolytes
.

7.
After infection with the new crown virus, vitamin C
can be supplemented in moderation.
There is no need to supplement a large amount of vitamin C before infection, and it can be
supplemented after infection.
Vitamin C and B complex vitamins
can be supplemented in small amounts and multiple times during fever.

8.
During illness, part of the useful tissues and muscles of the human body will be consumed, resulting in significant weight loss
.
But this is not an opportunity to lose weight, this weight loss may be accompanied by a worse complexion, loose body, sagging face, etc
.
After the body temperature is reduced, as the appetite recovers, it is necessary to eat in time, eat enough protein foods and staple foods, and also consume fruits and vegetables every day to make up for the lost
tissues as soon as possible.

(Edited by Li Chuang)