If dubious new research is to be believed, veganism could reduce your risk of contracting Covid.
Experts found that vegetarians and people who followed a plant-based diet were 39 percent less likely to become infected than meat eaters.
Brazilian researchers say this is likely due to the high intake of fruits and vegetables that boost the immune system and help fight viral infections.
However, the article was purely observational and cannot prove anything about who is most susceptible to the disease.
Academics recognized that the meat-eaters in the study were more likely to exercise less and have diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, suggesting they led unhealthier lifestyles.
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Being overweight or having an underlying illness can increase your risk of being hospitalized or dying from Covid.
However, the new research showed that meat eaters no longer suffered from these serious consequences.
It is known that people with underlying conditions, such as diabetes and liver disease, have weaker immune systems, making them more likely to contract bugs.
The University of São Paulo scientists analyzed data from 702 people, who were questioned about their daily exercise habits, eating patterns and medical history – including Covid vaccination status.
The volunteers were then divided into omnivorous (424) or predominantly plant-based (278) diet groups.
Researchers noted that there were no significant differences in gender, age or vaccination use between the two groups, but vegans and vegetarians were more likely to have the disease. postgraduate degree and practice regularly.
Over a six-month follow-up, almost half of all volunteers (47 percent) reported contracting Covid.
Of these, just under a third (224) had mild symptoms, while 106 (15 percent) had moderate to severe symptoms.
A higher proportion of omnivores reported having Covid (52 percent) than their plant-based counterparts (40 percent).
After taking into account influencing factors such as weight, pre-existing medical conditions and physical activity levels, researchers found that people who ate a predominantly plant-based diet were 39 percent less likely to become infected than omnivores.
There was no difference in how long symptoms lasted between the two groups.
Writing in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, the researchers claimed that plant-based diets contain more nutrients that boost the immune system and help fight viral infections.
They said: ‘Plant-based diets are rich in antioxidants, phytosterols and polyphenols, which positively impact several cell types involved in immune function and exhibit direct antiviral properties.’
Despite acknowledging that ‘more rigorous and high-quality’ research needs to be done before any definitive conclusions can be drawn about its impact on Covid, they still urged people to follow a plant-based diet.
However, experts warned that the study “cannot provide substantial evidence” for the recommendation.
Professor Margaret Rayman, an expert in nutritional medicine at the University of Surrey, said: ‘The study authors say that ‘those who followed a predominantly plant-based or vegetarian/vegan diet were 39 per cent less likely to become infected than the omnivores. This is due to their healthier weight and lifestyle.
“My explanation for their result is that insufficient adjustments were made between the groups to account for the differences, a case of unexplained confusion.”
Interest in a plant-based diet has increased dramatically in recent years, with vegans citing ethical, environmental or health reasons.
Some studies have also suggested that the diet lowers the risk of heart attacks and type 2 diabetes.
The exact number of vegans in Britain is almost impossible to determine.
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But a recent survey found that around 600,000 people follow a plant-based diet, while another 2021 study claimed that almost a third of Brits used alternative milks.
It comes as experts warned this week that Britons should brace for another Covid resurgence amid a surge in cases.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that one in 16 people in London were infected with the virus by mid-December, making it the worst-hit region in England in the run-up to Christmas.
Separate data released this week suggests the Juno variant, a spin-off of the Omicron strain and scientifically known as JN.1, makes up two-thirds of new cases.
The disease first began spreading in Britain in October and was spotted by the UK Health Security Agency as part of routine horizon scanning – the process of monitoring emerging infections.
The variant was flagged because it contained a rogue mutation in the spike protein known to help the virus evade the body’s internal defenses.
Health experts say this makes it easier for the virus to infect the nose and throat compared to other circulating variants, which the immune system can more easily fight due to vaccination and previous infections.
But there is no evidence to suggest it is more dangerous than previous species.
There are concerns this will fuel the number of people affected by the long Covid-19 epidemic – symptoms of infection lasting more than a month such as brain fog, fatigue and headaches.
However, the number of Covid-19 infections is still far from the level of earlier in the pandemic.