Many of these foods are part of the popular Mediterranean diet.
Heres what the study found and what it might mean for you.
How Was This Study Conducted & What Did It Show?
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Researchers conducted a literature review of major health research databases to find studies on the Mediterranean diet and COVID-19.
They initially retrieved 209 studies and then screened them for certain criteria.
In the end, just six studies made the cut, providing a total sample pool of 55,489 participants.
Those who most closely followed a Mediterranean diet were less likely to contract COVID-19.
However, the link was minor.
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
So why would a Mediterranean-style eating pattern lower the risk of COVID-19?
And why do certain foods seem to reduce its severity?
Its important to understand how immunity and acute inflammation work.
Theinflammatory responseis your bodys way of trying to combat unwanted invaderslike the COVID-19 virus.
And adding herbs and spices to your recipes can also add an extra shot of inflammation-fighting antioxidants.
Certain vitamins and minerals also support your immune system.
This includes vitamins A and D and zinc.
And since even bacteria need to eat to survive, fruits, vegetables and whole grains provide their food.
So its important to include all these foods on the regular.
But food isnt the only thing that contributes to or detracts from a healthy immune system.
Other habits matter, too.
Sleep, stress, exercise, alcohol intake and smoking also influence immunity.
So does getting outside.
In some cases, its finding the right balance.
For example,regular exercisesupports the immune system, but overtraining can weaken it.
However, diet is only one small part of reducing your risk.
And, of course, remember to wash your hands.
Its one habit that is still in style for preventing any infectious disease.
