Vegetarian Diet Prevents COVID
Could diet play a key role in preventing COVID? Regions of the world, including Okinawa Japan and sub-Saharan Africa, that feature plant-based diets had lower infection rates and deaths from COVID. Could diet be the reason?
An important new study put that hypothesis to the test. The 702 people who participated in the study were divided into two groups: omnivorous and vegetarians/vegans or flexitarians. The flexitarians ate meat 3 or fewer times a week. There were no differences in rates of vaccination in the three groups.
The people in the plant-based groups had 38% lower incidence of COVID. The benefit in the plant-based group was due mainly to the vegetarian group. Perhaps the benefit would have been even greater had the flexitarians been grouped with the omnivores.
Among people who did get COVID, 17.7% of the omnivorous group had moderate-severe infection versus 11.2% in the plant-based group.
This benefit for severity has been reported in earlier studies. A study of healthcare workers found a 73% reduced risk of moderate-severe COVID for people with a plant-based diet (BMJ Nutr Prev Health 2021;4:257–66). A second study found that people who scored highest on the healthful Plant-Based Diet Score were 41% less likely to have severe COVID than people who scored the lowest (Gut 2021;70:2096-2104).
This emerging body of research shows that a vegetarian diet is protective against COVID and severity of COVID.
BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health 2024;0:e000629.
For the latest research to keep you and your family healthy, get The Natural Path delivered to your inbox each month for only $29.99 a year: Subscribe!
For comprehensive natural help with your diet and health make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Linda’s clinic is now open for virtual appointments.
The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.
Ask your health food store for The Natural Path Newsletter