Let’s start by acknowledging that antibiotics don’t fight viral infections and thus wouldn’t help had you contracted the novel coronavirus. The key to prevention is staying home and treating your body right with foods that will strengthen your immune system and will get your body back up if you do end up sick. The good news is you don’t have to do anything extra, just incorporate some of these foods into your diet and you will live a healthier life, corona or not:

Garlic

Garlic is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and allicin. Doctors have been recommending garlic for flu, common cold, heart diseases, and even cancer for ages. It strengthens your immune system, so add some of it to your meals and COVID-19 will look less scary.

Ginger

Ginger is a powerful antioxidant that can fight viruses. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and aids breathing and respiration.

Ginger is known to fight nausea, pain, and indigestion.

Green tea

There is a reason why tea is recommended when sick with cold related diseases – it has antiviral properties and is full of catechins that fight influenza and other upper respiratory illnesses. Green tea also has antioxidants and flavonoids, which are tough on viruses.

Turmeric

Turmeric is choke full of curcuminoids for reducing inflammations and contain antioxidants – a powerful combination to reduce pain and fight depression. Curcumin has also been proven to fight viruses by not letting cells bind. Consume both of them with black pepper for better absorption.

Probiotic Foods

Any food that is fermented and has active cultures, works in the fight against coronavirus. That’s your kefir, yogurt, and sauerkraut.

Probiotics boost immune system, increase white cell count, and fight viruses. They even help your mood and we all need that now.

Oregano

You can use oil, dried leaves, and even fresh leaves for their antiviral properties coming from active ingredient carvacrol. Oregano is easy to use and can be added to your soups, salads, or other foods.

Cinnamon

This pleasantly smelling spice can be stronger than garlic and oregano and is considered one of nature’s most powerful antibiotic thanks to its antioxidants. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities and fights a host of illnesses, even HIV. Ceylon cinnamon is the most powerful and acts as blood thinner.

Omega-3s

If you are looking for foods with anti-inflammatory and immune system boosting qualities, look no further than salmon, seaweed, flax, chia seeds, hemp, walnuts, and various products from soy. Omega-3s can be found in products that are main foods and thus very easy to consume. You won’t drink the entire glass of oregano oil, but you can easily eat a piece of salmon.

Apple cider vinegar

It has been used for thousands of years for healing wounds, disinfection, preservation, and cleaning purposes. It will lower glucose levels, fight microbes and viruses, help treat heart diseases and cancer, and even work for weight loss.

Elderberry

This miracle berry comes from European elder tree and is used for medicine that threats common cold, influenza, and swine flu. Elderberry is lauded as a major immune system booster and pain killer.

Black walnut

Black walnut leaves have antiviral properties and fight tumors. It works similar to Valium. The bark of this Eastern United States tree can be used as a laxative; fruit is used for treating ringworm, colic, and inflammation, and leave also fight certain fungal infections.

Horseradish

An ancient plant in Eastern Europe, horseradish root was used for food and for medicine for centuries. It adds spice to condiments and treats quite a few ailments – sore throat, common cold, arthritis, kidney stones, edema, and digestion problems.

Pau d’Arco or Taheebo

The inner bark of this tree is rich with antioxidants and quinine lapachol. Those active compounds are known to treat certain tumors, microbial and fungal infections, viruses, inflammation, and parasites. Consult professionals before using supplement made of this tree bark.

Vitamin D

Just recently it was discovered that Vitamin D helps treat tuberculosis bacteria that is very resistant to conventional drugs. It won’t work as the main medication, but can help as an addition to other treatment to strengthen immune system and help lungs recover.

Colloidal Silver

This liquid with Nano particles of silver has been used for lots of diseases before antibiotics were discovered. It can help treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Studies suggest that silver particles can attach to the walls of bacteria cells and destroy their DNA.

Acerola Cherry

The berry of this bush from South of Mexico and Caribbean has been used for medicinal purposes for many years. It has very high Vitamin C content, which is known to prevent colds and flues. The supplement from acerola cherry is used to treat liver diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, and strengthen immune system. It also acts as astringent and is used to treat skin problems and slow down aging.

So whatever foods and supplements you choose to use, don’t be shy to get Instacart to deliver all of them to you fast and safe!