Lemon, garlic, onion and ascorbic acid will not help to dramatically strengthen the immune system, said Margarita Provotorova, consultant for laboratory medicine at the Center for Molecular Diagnostics of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor. "It's a very big myth that garlic, lemon and onion are immunomodulators. These are healthy foods, they should be included in the diet, but not as a product that can dramatically strengthen the immune system," Provotorova told RIA Novosti. According to her, there is no magic pill that can strengthen the immune system. The specialist noted that the body's defense system is made up of many factors, one of which is nutrition. The diet, according to Provotorova, should contain a sufficient amount of proteins, vitamins and minerals, which are found in fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. The specialist said that another popular myth is the need to consume ascorbic acid in the form of lemons and other citrus fruits during the cold season. "Studies have shown that ascorbic acid does not affect the duration of the course of a respiratory viral infection and does not reduce the risk of infection," Provotorova said. She stressed that there is no need to take any special vitamins if a person adheres to a balanced diet. Earlier, nutritionist Irina Sukhareva told what fruits should be eaten in order to prevent coronavirus. She advised to use sea buckthorn, quince, dogwood, ziziphus, grapes and persimmons. Sukhareva also recommended eating less sweets, and giving preference to grapes, pears and plums during snacks. She emphasized that in order to stay in shape, you need to eat fractional portions 5-6 times a day, consuming an average of 300 grams of vegetables, 200 grams of fruit and five walnuts per day.
