Coronavirus- Everything you should know about

A crown-like structure first attacked the animal's body then moved towards the persecution of human beings spreading fear and misery all around. People across the globe are suffering from this newly introduced virus "CoronaVirus".

A coronavirus is a group of viruses that causes diseases in mammals and birds. Coronavirus in humans was first identified in December 2019, therefore it gained another terminology as COVID-19 (CoronaVirus disease, 2019). The disease was first diagnosed in China. The World Health Organisation then studied the disease and identified that the disease is common in animals and has now been communicated to the human body. 

The symptoms of coronavirus are very common that start with mild respiratory tract infections leading to cough and cold. WHO has confirmed coronavirus as an epidemic and global health emergency.

 

How did it start 

Coronavirus is zoonotic which implies that they are transmitted from animals to human beings. There are many similar diseases that are caused by animals but research by South China Agriculture University says it is too early to depict the exact cause of disease but highlights that the disease may have been caused by bats via snakes or pangolin to the human body. 

Symptoms 

Symptoms of coronavirus are quite common and therefore it hard to diagnose. Most of the symptoms of coronavirus are similar to symptoms of upper respiratory infection which includes the following symptoms:

A general feeling of being unwell

1. Running nose 

2.Cold

3.Cough 

4.Headache

5.Sore throat

6.Fever (sometimes)

 

Adversity across Globe 

Coronavirus is found to be highly contagious. Coughing or sneezing without covering mouth can easily spread infection. The infection can also be easily transmitted by touching hands or sharing food with an infected person. 

The virus has created adverse conditions across the globe. According to coronavirus live update website, a total number of 119375 people were confirmed to be infected globally, and 4290 people globally died. However, the total number of 65900 people successfully recovered.

In India, the total number of people infected by coronavirus is 60, death rate in India is zero i.e. there is no case of death till now and 4 people successfully recovered from the disease. In India, there are thousands of people under surveillance by the health ministry of India. Moreover, the Government has strongly advised against traveling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany. Also, India has suspended e-visas issued to nationals of France, Germany and Spain. 

All these data are rapidly changing as the transmitting rate of disease is high. "As prevention is always better than cure" and the number of diagnosed patients in India is rapidly increasing these days. So it is highly recommended to follow the steps to prevent.

Preventive measures

"An ounce of prevention is worth pounds of cure", the statement by Benjamin Franklin reflects the need of time. Being preventive towards coming situations can evidently increase your fortune towards the situation.

So here are some tips to prevent yourself, before it's too late.  

1.  Wash your hands multiple times thoroughly with soap and sanitize it well.

2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands, clean your hands before every meal.

3.  Avoid close contact with people suffering from cough, cold or any other illness.

4.  Try to avoid public gatherings or places where you can be in contact with the huge mass.

5.  Wear a mask before you go out to public places.

6. Avoid traveling to animal or seafood markets and eating animals or seafood.

7. Clean and disinfect your workplace and home.

Nutrients that can help 

As there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19). So there are some of the suggested nutrients that can enhance the immunity and overcome disease to a certain aspect:

Mate tea- It contains vitamins B and C, polyphenol antioxidants, and has a slightly higher antioxidant capacity than green tea. It also contains triterpene glycosides, which can exert antiviral properties against coronavirus.

Green tea- Green tea, on the other hand, can be considered a supporting cure ingredient in case of coronavirus. Green tea helps in boosting immunity, which plays a major role in supporting the body when sick. Moreover, green tea contains catechins, which slow down the infection by inhibiting their reproduction and can be used in reducing the infection of coronavirus.

Ginger- It is one of the ingredients that carry power to aid the body in fighting cough and cold. As cough and cold are the major symptoms of the disease, the first step is to stay away from it. Therefore the use of garlic is highly recommended. Ginger is an ingredient that can be consumed in several ways. You can add a tint of garlic powder in your tea, meal or can directly consume it with honey. The impact in either way will be healthy.

Elderberry- These are the bluish-black or red berry of the elder, used for making jelly or wine. Elderberry has been used since ancient times to cure flu and this is the right time to cure your flu with amazing taste. 

Spinach- All the green leafy vegetables are high in vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. But spinach is also packed with beta carotene, antioxidants, high amounts of iron and vitamin C. All these nutrients combine to support the immunity of the body. So this season, go for stronger immunity. But make sure to only buy seasonal green leafy vegetables. 

Turmeric- Indian food contains spices that support immunity. For instance, turmeric is one of the most important spices used in almost every Indian dish. And you will be surprised to know that it has anti-inflammatory properties that help in treating inflammation and also it is a great modulator of immunity. 

Kiwi- Kiwi is a fruit that contains antioxidants- Kiwi is one such fruit that contains vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and folate in abundance. Hence, it helps our body in fighting free radicals, prevents cell damage and keeps our body strong and safe.

The main purpose of a nutritious diet is to keep a body safe from diseases. The intake of a balanced diet will not only prevent you from coronavirus but will also protect from other harmful diseases. 

Recipe that can help 

Evidence reveals that coronavirus dies at high temperature, so what can be better than ginger-garlic soup with an additional tint of turmeric powder, enhancing inflammatory ability. 

Here is the recipe

Ginger garlic soup

Ingredients 

• 1-2 inch piece of Fresh Ginger sliced thinly.
• 4 Green onions sliced into medium-sized pieces.
• 1-2 garlic cloves peeled and chopped (you can also use a garlic press).
• 6 cups Chicken bone broth*  (see below) -You can also use regular chicken stock for this recipe if you don't have the time or broth ready, One fourth spoon turmeric (optional)
• And for vegetarians, see below for another option.

Directions to make

1. Place ginger, onions, garlic and mushrooms (if you choose) in a pot and add a small amount of broth.
2. Simmer until ingredients are softened.
3. Add the rest of the stock and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20-30minutes. Sip on broth throughout the day and feel better!

This broth/soup can be stored in the fridge easily for a few days. You can also eat the ginger pieces if you like for some extra heat.

Feel free to add some other vegetables if you desire to make it more of a meal. But be careful not to add too much salt as salt tends to bring things deeper into the body and this is more about pushing out the cold virus.

There are some other similar recipes that can help to reduce the impact of coronavirus. All you can do is make recipes according to the ingredients mentioned above. For example: adding green tea or mate tea as a part of your day can help a lot, also adding singer garlic in most of the meals can be considered supportive.

Conclusion 

Human body is built up with millions of cells together forming tissues and then an entire being, all you need to remember is your cells are powerful to fight any virus around, so treat your body right. 

Coronavirus is rapidly increasing, and there is no cure found for it yet. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses, easily transmitted from one human to another. The virus is globally spread and is predicted to be a global epidemic soon. 

India has witnessed a spike in the number of coronavirus cases recently. There are cases of people suffering from the disease across India but the number of cases compared with other countries is low. 

There are some precautions that can be marked to prevent your body from the disease. These interventions are more about accepting a daily hygiene habit, eating healthy, exercise everyday and few more which are supportive and promising for a healthy and strong tomorrow. 

References 

https://corona.help/ date: 3/11/2020 time: 5:06 p.m.

https://corona.help/country/india date: 3/11/2020 time: 5:09 p.m.