In English they say "Mother Nature". Just as a mother tries to shield her child from every danger, nature has kept solutions for its children within nature itself. That is captured in a saying: "food is medicine, and medicine is food." Dr Md Ibrahim Khalil explains.

We are all extremely worried about the coronavirus. Scientists are working hard to put a vaccine in our hands, and they also say that until it reaches us, nothing but boosting our own immunity can save us.

So let us try to understand, in simple terms, how meat can boost our immunity and protect us from the pandemic. An article published on the website Carni sostenibilis of a Rome-based association in Italy says: "Those who give up eating fish and meat are very likely to see the level of antibodies in their bodies fall."

It adds: "They will develop an iron deficiency in the blood, which will reduce the level of immunoglobulin. In addition, by not eating animal protein they will get less zinc, copper and vitamin B6, which later helps reduce antibodies in the body. That amounts to reducing the weapons for fighting the coronavirus."

Another study has shown that without animal protein, the army of red blood cells, white blood cells and neutrophils in the blood loses strength because their phagocytic activity declines. Phagocytosis is the process by which blood cells swallow germs.

The University of Graz has shown in a clinical study that people who do not eat fish or meat are more likely to suffer from diabetes and various heart diseases. Readers will understand that the risk of death from Covid-19 is higher among people with these diseases.

Now to chicken meat: broiler, sonali or local chicken meat contains plenty of vitamin B6, which meets half of our body's requirement and directly helps produce red and white blood cells.

Most interesting of all, scientists have published a curious finding about broiler and other chicken meat that could play an important role in the current viral pandemic. Researchers have shown that eating chicken as soup gives good relief from colds and flu. In the case of the coronavirus, too, doctors repeatedly advise drinking hot soup, coffee or tea.

Finally, I want to say one thing: do not listen to rumours. Broiler chicken does not spread the coronavirus. Rather, broiler chicken can be a perfect supporter for boosting the immune system.

The writer is BCS (Livestock), DVM, MS in Animal and Poultry Nutrition, Upazila Livestock Office, Barishal Sadar, Barishal.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.