Vegetarian Diets Lower Severity of COVID-19 Infection

Vegetarian diets lower severity of COVID-19 infection, according to a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition. Researchers compared disease severity in those following a vegetarian or nonvegetarian diet in 509 patients in Taiwan. Patients aged 65 years and older who followed a vegetarian diet were one-fifth as likely to experience severe symptoms from COVID-19, compared with those who ate a nonvegetarian diet. Vegetarian diets increase intakes of vitamins, iron, potassium, fiber, and other nutrients that strengthen immunity and lower the risk of disease like heart and kidney disease that impact COVID-19 symptoms and mortality.