IN THE COVID ERA, IMMUNITY STRENGTHENING HAS EMERGED AS TOP HEALTH CONCERN
The pandemic presented a great commercial opportunity: a rising demand for immune-boosting foods which alternatively would remain flat. The reason behind this is clear. As research provided by SFA in the article Immunity Is the New Buzzword in Food, products associated with immune-boosting properties and pure, natural ingredients hit higher sales.
The consumer’s desire to strengthen their immune system has driven producers’ creativity. With an eye towards health, food makers have been focusing more and more on beverages with Vitamin C, granola, and therapeutic tea. Food labels highlight the consumer’s switch of habits and behavior, where the phrase ‘helps strengthen the immune system’ is considered to be typical. This significant interest in nutrition has also emerged due to home cooking, with research reporting that 76% of American adults “have changed how they eat due to Covid-19 home-sheltering,” published by the Food Industry Association (FMI) and The Hartman Group in May 2020.
‘Immunity comes up in nearly every conversation I have with clients,’ argues the Director of Innovation at Innova, Lu Ann Williams.
With the better-for-you factor influencing our food choices, one way we can increase variety is by consuming ingredients with immunity-boosting characteristics, which we most probably already have in our kitchen. Disclaimer: No diet, ingredient, or lifestyle has been proven to protect from the COVID-19 as currently, no study supports the usage of any supplement to particularly protect against COVID-19.
Check out the 3 ingredients that provide key nutrients and help strengthen the immune system below, alongside learning more about the role of food in health.
Raw Honey
Honey is known to stimulate the immune system’s response to infections. Drinking honey combined in warm, filtered water with lemon on a daily basis aids in weight reduction and cleanses the digestive tract. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), honey has the potential to be medicinal due to its phytochemical, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and antioxidant capabilities. Phytonutrients are substances located in plants and honey’s antioxidant and antibacterial properties are attributed to that.
Oranges
Like all citrus fruits, orange is recognised as a great vitamin c source, especially when consumed as a whole. According to Healthline, Vitamin C is known to boost the formation of white blood cells, which are essential for combating infections.
Bell Peppers
Bell Peppers have a high concentration of vitamin A, which is known to boost the immune system according to the Annual Review of Nutrition. Potentially it therefore helps protect from infections and colds.
