Food will help protect your immune system from the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2.

You can strengthen immunity by taking care of your health comprehensively. Food is a big part of this complex. Many studies have already proved that a plant-based diet can help protect your immune system from the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Can a plant-based diet reduce COVID-19 infection risk?

There is no specific diet that reduces the risk of developing COVID-19 in humans.

The WHO advises people to eat a balanced diet to strengthen their immune system during a pandemic. This includes eating fresh, unprocessed foods such as vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

The organization also recommends avoiding sugar, salt and limiting the amount of red meat to 1-2 times, and poultry – up to 2-3 times a week. Doctors suggest eating no more than 160 g of meat products daily.

According to research, a plant-based diet has health benefits (weight, energy metabolism and systemic inflammation) and reduces the risk of serious exposure to the virus in humans.

But note that a plant-based diet and being “vegan” are not the same thing. You do not need to become a vegetarian. The term “plant-based” refers only to the add more vegetables, fruits, greens and legumes to your diet

However, it should be noted that a plant-based diet is not omnipotent. If you are accustomed to consuming too many processed foods, you will have to give them up, or at least reduce their number.

Why plant food?

The most important benefit of plant-based nutrition over COVID-19 is that diet helps fight inflammation in the body.

A 2015 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that diets rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, with seeds, nuts and legumes (a quality source of protein), can soothe physiological inflammation caused by meat and fatty foods.

Another 2021 study found a link between systemic inflammation and severe cases of COVID-19. The researchers estimated the presence of C-reactive protein, which is an indicative marker of systemic inflammation, among nearly 3,000 patients who underwent COVID-19 between March and April 2020.

In other words, a plant-based diet will not protect you from the coronavirus, but it will help strengthen your body’s natural defenses and potentially reduce the risk of serious complications if you accidentally become infected.

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