The world of Tzu Chi March 2020(Vol.120)

TZU CHI 120 59 Ng Hui Ling A nutritionist with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Sports Science, who served at the Singapore Heart Foundation before becoming self-employed, providing dietary consultations to vegetarians and writing a nutrition column for a health magazine. bodies are absorbing another mineral crucial in reinforcing the immune system – zinc. Fresh fruits and vegetables of various colours also boost our immune system. Dark, leafy greens such as kalian, Chinese mustard or choy sum and spinach, as well as orange- coloured fruits and vegetables such as pumpkin, bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, papayas and oranges are natural sources of beta-carotene; the deeper the hue, the higher the beta-carotene content. Beta-carotene will be converted into vitamin A upon entering our bodies, which serves to protect our vision and maintain the mucus membranes in our respiratory tract to guard us against bacteria and viruses. Vitamin C, abundantly found in fruits, is beneficial to our immune system, hence a daily serving of fresh fruits is encouraged. Fortifying our resistance towards viral infections I have received messages highlighting many of the Indian nationals evacuated from Wuhan were free from the Covid-19 virus, besides attributing their immunity to their diet of curries. The messages even included a note encouraging the consumption of curries to keep viruses at bay. Curries contain curcumin, a compound found in turmeric known for its antioxidant properties, but there is currently no evidence to prove the effectiveness of curries in combating coronavirus. It is perfectly fine to continue enjoying curries, while claims that promote curries as virus-busting agents remain unjustified for now. Bear in mind that practising frequent hand-washing is of paramount importance! I have also received messages advocating the consumption of large quantities of garlic and onions in resisting the novel coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has cited garlic as a health food for its antibacterial properties, but scientific evidence to support the role of garlic in shielding us from the novel coronavirus remains lacking. Rational minds are needed more than ever to discern fact from fiction in the increasingly chaotic deluge of information; we are faced with an uphill test of sensible judgment. It is easy to commit a misstep when inundated with overwhelming thoughts, driving us to make ill- informed decisions such as hoarding rolls of toilet paper in a frenzy of panic. During this critical period, I choose to place my trust in the experts’ advice to wash our hands regularly and avoid touching our face, especially the eyes, nose and mouth areas, with our hands. I will also keep my household clean, commit to a balanced diet and obtain sufficient sleep. Furthermore, I have brought home several picture books on microorganisms to read with my daughter, in addition to a copy of Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic for myself. For now, I aim to minimize outings to crowded places and stay home to catch up on books instead. I believe we will make it through these testing times, step by composed step.