One Interesting Study

One Interesting Study

Those who have studied the powerful effects of nutrition on chronic diseases and health, intuitively suspected that the known immune-enhancing effects of plant-based eating were very likely to help protect individuals during this Covid-19 pandemic. 

That intuition now has solid evidence to back it up! An international study reported in the May, 18, 2021 edition of the British Medical Journal of Nutrition. Now we have positive evidence that people who predominantly follow a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, are indeed much better prepared to face the dangers of Covid-19, without serious harm. 

The research involved 2,884 health care workers fighting the pandemic on the front lines in six countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, and USA).  All of these workers became infected with Covid-19. 

The severity of illness in these health care workers (HCW) was classified as Very Mild, Mild, Moderate, Severe, or Critical. The HCW were then divided into 2 groups. Group ONE: Those with Very Mild and Mild infections, Group TWO: Those with Moderate, Severe, or Critical infections. 

The dietary habits of all individuals were analyzed and classified as follows: Plant-based, Fish but no meat, Regular Diet including meat, and Low Carbs. 

The risk of having a moderate/severe/critical infection was then calculated, with the following findings:

1. Regular diet including meat. (Control Group) Assigned Risk = 1 (100%)
2. Plant-based diet = 0.27 (27%)
3. Fish but no meat = 0.41 (41%)
4. Ketogenic Diet = 1.41 (141%)

Stated in other words, among front line medical personal who became infected with Covid-19, those eating predominantly plant-based nutrition, had about 1/4 the risk of developing moderate-severe disease and hospitalization, compared with meat eaters. 

Also of major interest is the increased risk of eating a ketogenic diet for developing moderate-severe corona. Their risk was 141% that of meat eaters, almost 50% greater!

This extremely interesting study does not prove cause and effect. But it is reasonable to expect that the abundant phytochemicals and antioxidants in a plant-based diet, are positively affecting the immune system, thus accounting for milder symptoms if a person is infected with the corona virus.