photo: Xinhua

Eating three to four eggs a day can provide a boost of protein that will help COVID-19 patients recover, said China's renowned frontline COVID-19 expert Zhang Wenhong.

"We've written this (eating eggs) into the treatment plan for local confirmed cases," Zhang, infectious disease expert and leader of Shanghai's COVID-19 medical treatment team, said on Thursday, adding that patients can also get additional protein by eating more fish or meat.

Chicken eggs are beneficial to those with high protein demand, such as athletes, children, pregnant women, and people recovering from injury or some diseases, nutrition expert Fan Zhihong said.

Eggs also contain 12 vitamins and some microelements, which can effectively invigorate people's health, Fan, an associate professor at the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering under China Agricultural University, told the Global Times Friday.

China's medical and nutrition specialists attached great importance to the nutrition of COVID-19 patients and the general public during the pandemic. Zhang and renowned respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan have suggested people drink more milk to boost their immunity.

The production of COVID-19 antibodies is helped by greater protein intake, Zhang told the China Business News. "Enough nutrition and protein are a key factor in turning severe coronavirus cases into mild ones," he said.

COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms or those in recovery should consume one egg and 300 grams of milk or other dairy product every day, and 250-400 grams of grains or potatoes, 150-200 grams of meat, fish or shrimps, over 500 grams of vegetables, 200-350 grams of fruits and 1.5 to 2 liters of water, according to a dietary guideline that China's National Health Commission released in February.

Severely ill COVID-19 patients should take high-quality proteins by having digestible food such as eggs, beans, milk, rice flour, and fruit and vegetable juices, read the guideline. Those who are too sick to eat normally can get their nutrition from a tube inserted through their nose, it added.

The guideline also suggests healthy people eat "moderate amounts" of fish, meat and eggs.

There is no need for healthy adults to eat three to four eggs a day, Fan told the Global Times. "It's okay to have seven eggs a week - one per day on average," she said, adding that many sources of protein can raise a person's cholesterol level which is harmful to health.