Whilst no amount of broccoli, garlic and orange juice will protect you fully from Covid-19, there are a number of plant-based vitamins and nutrients that have been revered for decades for their immune boosting, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral benefits. 

Your first priority when it comes to protecting yourself, should always be following the measures already advocated by the World Health Organisation (washing hands thoroughly; covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing).

But if you are looking for a way to boost your immune system it won't hurt to boost your intake of the following plant-based nutrients which have been proven to not only support wellness, but also boost overall youthfulness and skin health.

Vitamin C can help protect your body from infection and even can stimulate the formation of antibodies to fight off disease. Vitamin C helps encourage the production of white blood cells (key to fighting infection), as well as helping white blood cells function more effectively by protecting them from damage by potentially harmful molecules (1).

Researchers have found that among extremely active people, increasing vitamin C consumption appeared to cut the risk of getting a cold in half. In addition, getting adequate amounts of vitamin C appeared to reduce the duration of cold symptoms (2)

Believe it or not, foods that have even more vitamin C than citrus fruits include red bell peppers and strawberries. Because your body doesn't produce or store it, you need daily vitamin C for continued health.

In addition to boosting your immune system, vitamin C helps your body to produce collagen naturally to smooth, firm and plump skin.

Vitamin E is key to a healthy immune system as well as helping protect your skin against free radical damage and inflammation. Vitamin E also has moisturising and healing benefits by helping to strengthen the skin barrier function (3)

This fat soluble vitamin boosts the activity of immune cells to support the body’s ability to fend off invading bacteria and viruses. Vitamin E is an important nutrient for maintaining the immune system, especially in the elderly (4).

An ounce of sunflower seeds, or a quarter cup, supplies about half of the daily recommended target for vitamin E.

This nutrient aids the immune system by helping to produce white blood cells, which fight bacteria and viruses. It also helps form the mucous membranes that line the respiratory tract, which acts as a protective barrier to keep germs out of the body (5)

A cup of raw carrots over 100% of the recommended intake of vitamin A.

Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants found in plants, with anti-inflammatory anti-viral and immune system benefits.

The flavonoid antioxidants found in certain plants have also been shown to combat viruses, and decrease the length of a cold by as much as 40% (7).