5 Nigerian foods to help boost your immunity

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed millions of lives all over the world and has left people doing all it takes to be alive and healthy. However, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the rainy season on health, can be minimized by taking advantage of various African foods easily available.

African foods are rich in whole plants, fruits, vegetables, and herbs essential in strengthening our immunity naturally.

Here are the top 5 Nigerian vegetables great for boosting the immune system

• Pumpkin leaf: Popularly known as ugwu, helps to increase blood volume and also boost the immune system. It also has antibacterial properties. Pumpkin leaves have a healthy amount of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron, while still low in calories.

• .Jute leaf:  Ewedu is good for weight loss because of its low calorific content. It helps strengthen the immune system, relieves stress and maintains a healthy heart, and is a folk remedy for aches and pains, dysentery, and enteritis

• Red Pepper family: Red pepper(tatashe), Cayenne pepper(shombo), hot peppers are full of beta carotene and antioxidants that support the immune system and will aid in fighting off colds and flu.

• Okro: is packed full of vitamins such as folate and vitamin c, and soluble and insoluble fiber, It helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, keeps the intestinal tract healthy, boosts the immune system, among other numerous benefits.

• African pears (Ube): African pear; popularly called Ube in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. It is mainly eaten with roasted or cooked corn. The Immune boosting property in African bush pear comes from vitamin C and essential minerals that act as antioxidants which improves the infection-fighting ability the immune system.