Close
Photo: Getty Images
According to theCDC, “long COVID” refers to symptoms that persist for several weeks or months after having the virus. Most symptoms are often mild and new (meaning their onset was during or after COVID-19), but they’re persistent enough to keep you from returning to your usual pre-COVID-19 state of health and feeling like yourself. The list of symptoms is lengthy and varied, but a few common ones include:
After Losing His Sense of Smell from COVID-19, an Italian Gastronomer Discovered How to Get It Back
Getting over the initial illness.
Reducing COVID-19-triggered inflammation and supporting the immune system.
Certain foods and nutrients play a significant role in supporting the immune system and reducing inflammation. This appears to be especially true when it comes to calming the inflammatory remnants and dysfunction left over from COVID-19. Here are six top foods that may help to manage and even improve long COVID symptoms.
The Best Foods to Eat to Fight Inflammation
1. Healthy Proteins
Consuming adequate protein is especially important when recovering from a significant illness like COVID-19. The body needs it to support the immune system, rebuild cells and add lean body mass that may have been lost. That’s why sometimesprotein needsare slightly higher than usual, depending on the length and severity of your illness. Foods like eggs, chicken, turkey, lean beef and pork are great sources of protein to help meet daily protein needs, and they’re alsorich in iron, B12, zinc and other key nutrients needed for immune recovery.
2. Vitamin-C-Packed Foods
Oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits arepacked with vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that stops free radicals from damaging healthy cells, preventing new inflammation, per a 2017 publication inNutrients. The immune system also depends on vitamin C to function properly, and research suggests needs increase during and following infection due to increased inflammation. Other great sources of vitamin C include bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli and kiwifruit.
3. Vitamin-D-Rich Foods
4. Complex and Whole-Grain Carbs
5. Flavonoid-Rich Foods
6. Seafood Rich in Omega-3s
Repeatedly, research continues to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory power of twoomega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, so it’s no surprise that regularly incorporating sources of these could be beneficial in calming COVID-19’s lingering cytokine storm. Omega-3s appear to improvegut healthas well, which is important since 70% to 80% of the immune system is housed in the gut, per a 2017 article in theInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences.DHA and EPA are unique because they are exclusively found in fish, seafood and algae. Top sources include salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines and some oysters.
The Bottom Line
Many people who have been infected with COVID-19 seem to recover completely after a few months. However, there are those who experience long COVID symptoms. And while no drink or food is a cure-all, certain foods, mainly those with anti-inflammatory properties, can help relieve COVID-19-related symptoms.
What Should You Eat and Drink to Manage Long COVID-19 Symptoms?
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
