Even with vaccines, people are still getting sick from COVID. So many people are now wondering whether there is anything else that they can do to protect themselves.
It turns out that there is: eat a healthy diet. Right from the outset of the pandemic, it was clear that there was a link between nutrition and the severity of the disease. But now, thanks to further studies, the link is even more airtight. If you want to protect yourself, you have to eat more fruit and vegetables.
Diet And The Immune System
It turns out that the food that we eat has a profound effect on the way that our immune system functions. Certain nutrients in plants program it to work optimally, and if we don’t get them, we are more susceptible to disease.
Researchers think that a lack of fruit and veg compounds in most people’s diets is one of the reasons why so many people are getting sick long-term. Their bodies simply don’t have the resources that they need to mount a quick response to the infection, putting them at a disadvantage.
There’s no single bullet either when it comes to food. It’s not just a question of eating more kale or pineapple. Instead, what seems to matter is the combination of foods that people eat. The greater the variety, the more protection that they have.
The Effects Of Eating Plant-Based
People who eat plant-based get the majority of their calories from whole plant foods, not animal foods. Data suggest that these individuals – some of whom are vegan – have a 73 percent lower chance of developing moderate or severe COVID. Furthermore, the more plant-based a person’s diet is, the lower their chances of developing severe symptoms.
Many organizations are now using COVID API tools to track statistics like these. The goal is to figure out what combination of factors will best protect somebody from the disease. For instance, how many portions of fruit and vegetables is optimal? How many minutes of exercise per day should somebody get? How long do they need to sleep to minimize their risk of infection? All these specifics matter when crafting lifestyle advice that can help protect people.
Types Of Food For COVID
So how exactly should the average person be eating right now? The World Health Organization (WHO) says that most people should be eating a diet rich in legumes (like beans and lentils), nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. It also says that people should be eating plenty of whole grains, like millet and quinoa. In total, people should be getting about a pound of vegetables per day, but the WHO isn’t against people getting more than that. In some cases, they may need extra nutrients to protect themselves against disease.
There are also a bunch of foods that the WHO recommends that people avoid. Sugar intake should be minimal – preferably less than 12 teaspoons per day. And items like processed meat are strictly off the menu as far as who is concerned. People should try to get omega-3 nutrients for less severe COVID from flax or algae sources.
