The COVID-19 pandemic was a global health concern that affected millions of people worldwide. Although various pharmacological and immunological interventions have been developed to control the disease, the role of natural food ingredients remains useful and practical. Among natural foods, milk and dairy products may play supportive, nutritional and nutraceutical roles due to their biologically active constituents, such as proteins, peptides, vitamins, and minerals. These constituents may serve as immune enhancers, antiviral agents, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds during a COVID-19-like pandemic. Various milk and dairy products, such as golden milk, fermented milk, kefir, yogurt, and commercial dairy products (e.g., Yakult, Icreo Akachan Milk, and IDP®), have also demonstrated beneficial effects owing to their nutritional, probiotic, antiviral, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing properties. Due to the multiple and overlapping functions of different milk constituents, milk and dairy products should be considered as part of a balanced diet to help prevent and minimize the severity of COVID-19-like pandemics.
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