Best Foods to Help Your Body Fight the Coronavirus

Choose spices, herbs, and beverages that can help your immune system take on coronavirus

A dandelion tea with ginger, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning may help you better manage your blood sugar, energy, mood, cravings, weight, and overall performance. Zadorozhnyi Viktor/Shutterstock

The World Health Organization has labeled COVID-19 a pandemic. That has a lot of people worried about getting sick, but do you really need to be concerned? The virus that causes COVID-19 is like the flu or common cold and, because of that, can’t be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, but not viruses. The key is in prevention, because once you get a viral infection, it has to run its course. Luckily, there are many ways you can reduce your chances of falling ill—and strengthen your body for quicker recovery—including eating the right foods.

Your superpower against COVID-19 may well be in the foods you’re eating because many foods have been scientifically shown to both prevent and combat viral infections. Here are some of the most potent ones to add to your routine.

Garlic

Garlic is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and an active compound known as allicin. Garlic is known to strengthen the immune system, restore suppressed antibody response to disease, and help combat respiratory infections. Dr. David Friedman, naturopathic physician and author of “Food Sanity: How to Eat in a World of Fads and Fiction,” said garlic is his first choice as a food remedy.