Coronavirus: 10 Foods to Arm Your Immune System

6/10 Previous Next

© Getty Images

Dark Chocolate

Good news for chocolate-lovers, particularly those who opt for darker varieties: one small serving of chocolate (1 oz) contains 3.4 mg of iron, or 19% of the recommend daily value. Dark chocolate is also has antioxidant properties, including poyphenols and flavanols. Flavanols may improve symptoms of diabetes, which is important because people with diabetes are more at risk for contracting viruses, due to a lower immune response. They also promote anti-inflammatory activity and increase T-cell activation, which aids the immune response. Other foods that are rich in flavanols include: grapes (and that includes wine), tomatoes, tea, scallions, kale, onions and peaches.