Dixya Poudel

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease, health experts have stressed the need to build a strong immunity in order to prevent virus infections. Most susceptible to the virus are elderly people and those with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and lung diseases. And an increasing number of people are opting for alternative medicines such as Ayurvedic medicines to improve their immune system. Herbal medicines are all the rage these days to ward off coronavirus as the pandemic is still surging worldwide.
In Nepal, people have resorted to taking herbal teas and concoctions. Plants and herbs such as gurjo, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, green tea, among others, are known to improve health and immunity. Health experts too stress on the potency of herbal medicines. Besides herbs, foods too are effective in building a strong immunity. Such foods range from green, leafy vegetables to citrus fruits and certain spices such as ginger. Further immune boosting foods are elderberry, broccoli, kiwi, and a variety of nuts, mushroom, papaya, red bell peppers, garlic, turmeric, pomegranate and yogurt. Thus foods aren’t just a main source of energy but they are also a powerful source of antioxidants.
Since there are no treatments for coronavirus, the best measure is prevention through an effective immune system. And immunity is a vital process occurring in our bodies to fight off diseases. However, there are times when our bodies fall prey to illnesses and we suffer consequently. Hence the idea of increasing the body's immunity in order to prevent the illnesses is quite appealing. This is where immune boosting foods and herbs come handy so as to ward off viral infections and create a shield from chronic diseases. Our bodies are evolutionarily created to keep up a clean bill of health. And the immune system is a natural defence system built with a network of cells, tissues and organs to fight off viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. The body thus has a barrier to prevent invaders from entering but if harmful invaders do enter, the immune system responds by producing white blood cells, proteins and chemicals in order to fight them. And yet time and again, we fall ill when our bodies are unable to fight the invaders. Building a strong immune system is like building a strong fortress to fight enemies. A strong fortress equals an effective defence strategy. Likewise, the immune system is the body's ultimate fortress. Sedentary and stressful lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and lack of sleep gradually erodes the body's defence system making it vulnerable to varied sicknesses.
Simple daily activities like taking a brisk walk, eating enough fruits and vegetables, de-stressing with recreational hobbies and maintaining a positive attitude can contribute to improving the body's defence system. Health experts say the consumption of foods with varying colours that are a treasure trove of antioxidants. And while genetics may be a determining factor in our health, we can certainly prevent sicknesses through a healthy lifestyle. Likewise, our immunity is attuned to emotional health as well. Therefore, it helps to invest our time in social interactions with our friends and families, even if through virtual technologies. Let's keep in mind that human body is an intricate system and its frontline of defence is immunity that we must take care to strengthen, especially in the times of the pandemic.