Accra, Ghana, July 22, 2020//-Ms Dylis-Judith Fafa Mensah, a Ghanaian graduate student of Illinois State University, USA has advised Ghanaians to look within their food stuffs as they seek to boost their immune systems during COVID-19 pandemic.
According to her, Ghana is blessed with a lot of green leafy vegetables which would be helpful as well. “We also have an array of local species that would boost the immune system”, Ms Mensah told African Eye Report in an interview.
Ms Mensah added that Ghana has local foods that could boost the immune system. So, there’s no need to be looking far. “You know there is the tendency to think that because COVID-19 came from a “foreign” country so only “foreign” foods can help”,
With the knowledge we have on the COVID-19, it is essential to eat foods that would strengthen the immune system. So foods that are rich in vitamins, have high antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties are beneficial, she advised.
“Citrus fruits and certain vegetables are good sources of vitamins especially Vitamin C, ginger and certain spices have rich anti inflammatory properties. Green tea is a good anti oxidant too among others”.
Similarly, in his 11th COVID-19 update address to the nation, Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also urged Ghanaians to continue adopting a healthy lifestyle, particularly good eating habits to boost their immune system as the pandemic fight continues.
He said: “… we must keep fit, and we must continue to eat our local foods to boost our immune systems. This is how we can prevent our healthcare services and our heroic healthcare workers from being overwhelmed, due to an increase in demand for hospital care.”
Mr Akufo-Addo also advised citizens to consume foods that contain Vitamins A, B6, C and E to strengthen the immune system.
To this end, he recommended foods such as ‘kontomire’, oranges, ‘dawadawa’, millet, cashew nut, crabs, plantain, okro, brown rice and mushrooms.
“Fortunately all these foods can be food in Ghana, so patronizing these foods, ensuring our personal hygiene, and improving our lifestyle habits should become part and parcel of our daily routines.
At the time of this publication, Ghana has 28,989 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 153 deaths.
African Eye Report
