Grocer Sita Magar was fortunately shocked to see packaged soup flying off the cabinets after the third wave of Covid-19 hit the nation final month.
“Individuals not often used to purchase packaged soup earlier than the pandemic. In reality, I used to return unsold packets to my wholesaler. These days, I can not fulfil demand,” mentioned the shopkeeper at Kumari Membership, Balkhu.
“Vegetable, mushroom and hen soups are in excessive demand,” Magar mentioned. “I promote 15-20 packets day by day.”
Demand for foods and drinks merchandise that strengthen the immune system has risen sharply after Covid-19.
Retailers the Submit talked to all mentioned that demand for meals and drinks like soup, chia seed, goat leg, asparagus, citrus fruits, turmeric, inexperienced tea and eggs has soared due to their immunity boosting properties as folks sought to guard themselves from an infection with the coronavirus proliferating.
The meals product at the moment in highest demand in Kathmandu Valley is goat leg to make soup.
In line with Prem Bahadur Shrestha, proprietor of Prem Recent Meat at Sinamangal, demand for goat legs is so excessive that persons are able to pay something.
“The value of a pair of goat legs has elevated by Rs200 to Rs800,” Shrestha mentioned. “Individuals need to guide upfront to get the legs.”
Umesh Karki, a resident of Budhanilkantha, additionally believes that goat leg soup can assist folks get well from the coronavirus.
“A buddy of mine who recovered from Covid-19 advisable goat leg soup after I bought contaminated. I attempted it and really feel that it really works,” Karki mentioned.
Karki not solely discovered goat leg costly however onerous to get. “I managed to get goat leg from a close-by butcher store after ready for 5 days,” he mentioned.
“Demand for immunity boosting meals has elevated by virtually 70 % since final 12 months,” mentioned Surakchya Adhikari, chief working officer and co-founder of on-line grocery store Thulo.com.
“Demand for so-called immunity boosting meals usually will increase when the Covid caseload begins rising and the federal government begins imposing restrictions,” Adhikari mentioned.
Persons are snapping up well being drinks, soup, chia seed and dried fruit, and we’ve got even run out of inventory many occasions,” Adhikari mentioned.
“Home made meals like sattu, natural meals and meals objects which are wealthy in fibre are additionally in excessive demand.”
Nevertheless, medical doctors say there is no such thing as a scientific proof to point out that one can enhance immunity by consuming goat leg soup.
“It’s not a scientifically indisputable fact that the so-called immunity boosting meals and drinks like goat soup make folks get well from Covid-19,” mentioned Dr Atul Upadhyay, a nutritionist.
“Nutritional vitamins and minerals enhance immunity,” Upadhyay mentioned. “The immunity boosting meals that we eat include various kinds of minerals reminiscent of calcium which clearly boosts immunity. Nevertheless it doesn’t imply they make you get well from Covid-19. We frequently advise folks to take dietary dietary supplements,” he mentioned.
“But when one doesn’t wish to take dietary dietary supplements and is in search of alternate options to get well from Covid-19, then animal supply meals like egg, meat and even goat leg soup is often suggested,” mentioned Upadhyay.
“These meals include a adequate quantity of minerals and proteins which assist in rising immunity. However I do not imply to say that immunity boosting meals construct immunity and assist one to get well from the coronavirus,” he added.
“A balanced eating regimen is vital,” Upadhyay mentioned. “Meals and drinks made out of herbs which can be found available in the market together with chia seed include an excellent quantity of antioxidants which is sweet for well being.”
Because the Covid-19 pandemic took maintain in 2020, the worldwide foods and drinks business witnessed an increase in gross sales of immune boosting meals and drinks.
In Nepal too, shopper curiosity in immunity boosting meals and drinks rose considerably.
As vaccines grew to become extra broadly obtainable, demand for these meals dropped to some extent, however customers nonetheless need immunity boosting meals and drinks, retailers say.
Researchers have discovered that micronutrients, reminiscent of Vitamin C, have a huge impact on well being. Not getting sufficient of nutritional vitamins and minerals can result in poor immune perform and extra frequent illness from viral infections.
In line with researchers, consuming a balanced eating regimen with micronutrients together with Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, magnesium and zinc performs a key function in sustaining wholesome immune perform.
“Whereas inserting orders, customers usually ask if the meals they’re shopping for can assist in boosting immunity,” Adhikari mentioned.
However these traits, which have been magnified by the Covid-19 pandemic, are slowing down regularly, say retailers. Because of the provision of vaccines.
