A study indicated that people whose diets were based on healthy plant foods such as fruits and vegetables had a lower risk of contracting the Corona virus or experiencing severe illness after infection, according to the report published on the “Times of India” website.
Although metabolic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes have been associated with an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, as well as an increased risk of serious symptoms once infected with this virus, the impact of diet on these risks remains unknown.
Study details
The study, led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and published in the magazine Gut, suggests that public health strategies that improve access to healthy foods and address the social determinants of health may help reduce the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.
vegetables and fruits
The beneficial effects of diet on corona risk seemed particularly relevant for individuals living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation.
The study team examined data on 592,571 participants living in the USA and UK from March 24, 2020 and followed them up to December 2, 2020.
Eating vegetables and fruits prevents corona infection
The results of the study showed that individuals who followed a healthy plant-based diet based on vegetables and fruits had a 9% lower risk of infection with corona, and a 41% lower risk of developing severe symptoms of corona after infection.
Lead author Jordi Merino said Jordi Merino, Associate Researcher in the Diabetes Unit and the Genomic Medicine Center at MGH: “These findings were consistent across a range of sensitivity analyzes that explain other health behaviors, social determinants of health and rates of transmission of the virus in the community.”
Andrew added: “Although we cannot emphasize enough the importance of vaccination and mask-wearing in crowded indoor spaces in preventing corona infection, our study indicates that it is also possible that a vegetarian and healthy diet reduces the risk of infection with corona or developing symptoms.” severe after injury.
Benefits of a plant-based diet
Can a bad diet increase the risk of corona infection?
The researchers also found a synergistic relationship between malnutrition and increased socioeconomic deprivation with the risk of corona infection, with the study author indicating that nearly a third of corona cases could have been avoided if one of the exposures, diet or socioeconomic deprivation, was not present.
