As we all deal with the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re also getting hit with a flood of information. If you’re like me, you’re keeping an eye on what is going on and coming to light, even if it’s a little stressful to follow the news cycle at times.
One thing we keep seeing in the news flows are articles about who is the most vulnerable to this virus–as of right now, the overweight, the elderly, and people suffering from conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes appear to be at the most risk. Now, it looks like eating ultraprocesed food may be a risk factor when it comes to this new virus, too.
Of course, we know ultraprocessed foods are bad for you in general. They increase the odds of developing serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease, both of which make you more vulnerable to COVID-19 and other illness. In fact, a study published in the BMJ journal found that just eating more than four ultraprocessed foods every day increased a person’s premature death risk by 62 percent (https://www.bmj.com/content/365/bmj.l1949).
When you consider COVID-19, ultraprocessed foods may pose yet another danger to your health. These foods compromise your gut microbiome, which has a role in your overall health and how your immune system responds to infection. While we don’t exactly know how this works, research over the years has shown a proven link between immune health and the gut, as noted by King’s College Genetic Epidemiology Professor Tim Spector in The Conversation (https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-how-to-keep-your-gut-microbiome-healthy-to-fight-covid-19-134158).
Even before this novel virus surfaced, these types of foods were not a good idea, and now they are an even worse one. Of course, these sugary or salty and fatty foods are designed to keep you craving more, so it’s no wonder ultraprocessed foods tend to creep into everyone’s diet.
In general, overly-processed foods are bad for your health on multiple levels, but during a pandemic, that effect could be even more disastrous because of the impact on your gut health, which can harm your immune response. While I know it’s tough to change your diet in the best of circumstances and it’s not an easy time right now, consider trying to remove more processed foods from your diet immediately. It’s better for your health and safety right now and also in the long run!
