Immune Boosting Foods for Coronavirus

by Noor H. Salem, Certified Holistic Health Coach

With the coronavirus spreading globally like wildfire, many are anxious to know what can help them stay healthy if it befalls them. During the last few weeks, almost every single client session included a question regarding foods or remedies to boost immunity, and I find it imperative upon me to share tips with you as well. 

While personal hygiene is vital and properly washing your hands should be habit during a pandemic or not, the food and drink you put in your body could strengthen or weaken your immune system. In order to be able to prevent or quickly recover from any virus, I highly advise eating foods that will strengthen your immune system. Try these tips you and your family can implement immediately and strengthen your immunity’s first line of defense against any virus.

First off, all eyes on the shining star: black seed and black seed oil. Don’t underestimate the myriad of benefits this small seed contains. It is one of the Sunnah foods I cover extensively in my book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, as well as knowing which type is best to purchase, how to consume it, and recipes you and your family can enjoy while consuming it. In a famous hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) mentioned how the black seed is a cure for everything except death. It is not to say that it alone can heal every illness. However, will it strengthen your immune system, destroy bad bacteria/infections, and optimize your health in many ways? Absolutely! 

Secondly, I urge you to consume more raw garlic and onions. They’re what I consider nature’s antibiotics. Not only do they contain anti-bacterial compounds, but they also strengthen your immune system greatly, which is exactly what your body needs right now. Consume them raw or cooked (fresh) to maximize the benefits they contain. 

Next, I advise that you and your family all start taking a good quality probiotic if you don’t already. They are not all created equal, as many are loaded with fillers and are low-quality, thus don’t even make it to your gut. Your gut microbiome contains tens of trillions of microorganisms. The issue is due to stress, unhealthy processed food, sugar, and many other factors, most people today have an imbalance of good bacteria and bad bacteria. Taking a good quality probiotic supplement, or eating fermented food, can help balance your gut health. You can read more in my book and find recommendations on my website for great products I trust. 

Another superfood I cover in my book and urge you and your family to consume daily is none other than ginger. Ginger is loaded with many incredible health benefits, including boosting your immune system, easing digestion, preventing morning sickness, and more. It’s best to eat it fresh. You can add it to soup, stew, salad dressing, smoothies, or simply making a honey ginger lemon immune-boosting tea! I share the recipe in my book. 

While you are consuming healthy foods and supplements, it’s just as essential to remove junk food from your diet. As they say, you must remove the bad and then add in the good. If you consume fast-food, processed food, chocolate, sugar-loaded beverages, carbonated beverages, snacks, and other junk, you are destroying your immune system’s defense line. I know you don’t want to hear this one. However, it’s crucial to remove these detrimental foods while inputting the good to maximize benefit. Look for healthier options, or bake your favorite desserts at home with your kids for healthier options. 

Food is great, but spiritual food is vital too. Make it imperative upon yourself to do your daily Athkar (supplications). This is a Sunnah that many have forgotten. Have full conviction in the protection you get upon reciting the morning and evening supplications. Teach your children to recite them, consistently, and do them as a family. Your heart will feel at ease as you increase in the remembrance of Allah (SWT), knowing you are under His protection and that no harm will befall you unless it’s written. 

You can find many more superfoods, holistic remedies you and your family can take immediately, as well as plenty of recipes to incorporate these foods in my book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS. Grab a copy or gift one to a loved one via Amazon.

If your kids are home and bored, grab a copy of my workbook, Sunnah Superfoods for KIDS, loaded with activities/puzzles, holistic remedies and importance of healthy eating, kids friendly recipes, a Ramadan section with a goal tracker, and more. Try to stay positive and shift your mentality to focus on positive things as dark as it looks. You may be spending more time with your family. You may possibly begin reflecting on the many blessings you have that you took for granted. You may begin reflecting on leaving this world, and how you want your final days to be. Use this time to get closer to your Creator, and increase in your faith and trust in Him. May Allah (SWT) grant you and your loved ones good health and protect you during this challenging time. 

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.