Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Zinc and selenium are particularly important for antiviral defense mechanisms.
Include foods rich in zinc (e.g., meat, shellfish, legumes) and selenium (e.g., Brazil nuts, fish) in your diet to support your body's antiviral defenses.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Each of the nutrients named above has roles in supporting antibacterial and antiviral defence, but zinc and selenium seem to be particularly important for the latter.
Why this rating
Supported by general consensus in immunology and specific mentions in the text.
Source
Nutrition, immunity and COVID-19
Philip C. Calder · BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health · 2020
DOI 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000085
narrative_reviewCited 540×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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