Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Stanford got together and assessed almost 3000 patients in 6 countries to study the relationship between COVID and diets (published in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health). They found that those who ate 3 to 4 or more veggie servings a week have a 72% decreased incidence of a severe reaction with Covid if they get it. But those on a keto-type diet (high animal protein intake), had an increased risk of severity.
Why would that be? Seventy percent of our immune system lives in our gut and our gut cells (enterocytes) demand short-chain fatty acids. These come from veggies and some healthy grains, such as quinoa.
Researchers in the study found that plant-based or fish diets may help lower the severity of Covid-19 infection.
• The study involved more than 2,800 healthcare professionals in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the U.K., and the U.S. who were part of the Survey Healthcare Global network.
• Plant-based diets were associated with a 73% reduction in the incidence of moderate to severe disease from Covid-19, while pescatarian diets were linked to a 59% reduction.
• Interestingly the study also showed that those practicing a low-carbohydrate, a high-protein diet had nearly four times the odds of moderate to severe infection from Covid-19.
I recommend eating at least 5-12 veggies a day. This can be in a salad, stir fry or soup. The study above was 3-4 veggies a week. You can imagine how well your immune system will do on 5-12 veggies a day. It is unfortunate that these studies are not being covered by Headline News to inform readers of the power of food as medicine.
Eating more veggies alone will decrease the rate of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, high cholesterol, etc. the leading killers in the U.S. However, combining a good diet with supplementation of essential vitamins in products like my Optimal Health will optimize your immune system.
