On September 6, 2021, a study published online in the journal Gut showed that a healthy diet is more beneficial in reducing the risk of COVID-19 and its complications.
A healthy diet helps boost the immune system
The researchers investigated what about 600,000 adults (concentrated in middle-aged and elderly) ate during February 2020 and then tracked their health in September. As we all know, February 2020 was the worst phase of the outbreak in the early stages of COVID-19. Scientists have found that people who eat the most fruits, vegetables and legumes have a 9 percent lower risk of contracting COVID-19 and a 41 percent lower risk of severe illness than those who eat the least fruits and vegetables. The researchers also found a link between the novel coronavirus and poor diet, as well as socioeconomic conditions.
The study's lead author, Jody Merino, a researcher at the Diabetes Center and Genomic Medicine Center at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, noted that "if you can eliminate one of the dietary or other headwinds, then nearly one-third of COVID-19 cases will be preventable," the researchers also stressed that vaccination and wearing masks indoors and outdoors remain the most effective ways to prevent COVID-19.
Eating these foods can boost immunity
The immune system protects the body against disease and can be enhanced by a healthy diet. Many studies have found that a healthy diet can prevent diseases, including those associated with oxidation and inflammation. For example, citrus fruits, rich in vitamins, flavonoids, antioxidants, phytochemicals, minerals, and other nutrients, play an important role in boosting immunity and preventing many diseases such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and certain cancers. In addition, the nutrients in citrus have many physiological properties and are considered to have anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.
Another food that can boost immunity is broccoli, which is rich in vitamin C and sulforaphane (Note: sulforaphane has anti-cancer effects). Garlic is also a good food, it contains sulfur-containing compounds such as allicin, and many studies have shown that garlic is effective against many viruses, such as influenza, cytomegalovirus, rhinovirus, HIV, herpes simplex virus. In addition, fruits such as cranberries, blueberries, plums, red delicious apples, granny smith apples, gala apples, sweet cherries, plums, and blackberries all contain a lot of antioxidants. In addition, vegetables rich in antioxidants include spinach, kale, red pepper, green pepper, red cabbage, red beet, black olive, green olive, okra, beans, artichokes and yellow-brown potatoes. Therefore, during the Spring Festival, it is recommended to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables appropriately according to the physical condition to help the human body comprehensively strengthen the immune system.
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Written by | Qiao Weijun
Typography | Luna
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