It is often mistaken that only rare and expensive foods can be highly nutritious for you. Some of the nutritionally richest foods are hidden among the traditional foods we frequently find in our homes.

Here is a brief overview of some common immunity-boosting foods that we find in our homes and our local grocery stores that can be a good option to add to your diet to build up your body to help it fight against COVID19.

Herbal Tea (Kadha)

Especially in southeastern countries like ours, herbal tea is a go-to drink in times of any kind of sickness. With the addition of ingredients such as Holy basil (Tulsi), Cinnamon, Black pepper, Ginger, you can make yourself a healthy immunity-boosting drink. Holy Basil contains Calcium, Vitamin A, C, zinc, iron, and many more. Cinnamon is rich in containing anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties. Black pepper contains antimicrobial properties. All these ingredients together become highly nutritious for your body.

Amla (gooseberry)

Amla may have been major ingredients for home remedies in our homes. It is a rich source of antioxidants, Vitamin C that help enhance our white blood cell function and manage our oxidative state. Along with that, it also contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and a thick amount of polyphenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids.

Broccoli

It is no doubt that Broccoli is one of the richest vegetables when it comes to nutritional benefits. It contains tons of fiber, protein, iron, potassium, calcium selenium, magnesium along with vitamins A, C, E, K, B, and folic acid. It is also a good source of antioxidants such as sulforaphane. Therefore, it is a great option to intake on a regular basis to boost your immunity system.

Sweet potato

Sweet potatoes are one of the biggest natural sources of beta-carotene. This plant-based compound has the ability to be converted into Vitamin A in your body. Vitamin A is significant for your body as its deficiency can increase gut inflammation that reduced your Immunity. That is why frequent addition of sweet potatoes to your diet can help you with nurturing and increasing the power of your immune system

Garlic

Garlic is such a perfect cherry-on-top ingredient to add to any dish, with amazing taste and tons of nutritional benefits. Like our grandmothers used to say, garlic is the most common and effective remedy to prevent catching a cold. It contains a compound called alliin that turns into allicin when crushed or chewed. This allicin contains other sulfur compounds, that have the ability to boost the disease-fighting ability of our white blood cells and helps fight viruses that cause cold.

Spinach

Spinach is another vegetable that contains a list of essential nutrients and antioxidants such as flavonoids, caretonoids, Vitamin C, Vitamin E that play a significant role in building and improving our immune system. It also contains iron that creates hemoglobin which helps bring oxygen to your body tissues. Along with that, it also contains folic acid that calcium to build up your tissues and make your bones stronger!

Pumpkin

Pumpkins are one of the richest sources of antioxidants, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E which are responsible for boosting your immune system as well as help your white blood cell in your body that helps you fight infection and viruses. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties that play a huge role in enhancing your immune system due to the presence of Vitamin A.

With reference to the following sources: Healthline, Medical News Today, Cleveland Clinic, Narayana health and NDTV