Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), more and more Americans are considering switching to a plant-based diet, citing benefits such as reduced risk for type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Proper nutrition could be your first line of defense against becoming seriously ill as a result of the virus. However, the reasons why you should give plant-based nutrition a try don’t stop there. In this brief article, Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC, the best heart doctor in Tampa, explains why now is the perfect time to switch to a plant-based diet and transform your life.

 

Related: Kick Your Dairy Habit With These 5 Vegan Alternatives

Plant-Based Nutrition Boosts Immunity and Reduces Risk Factors

A plant-based diet centers on whole, unprocessed, and unrefined plant foods and aims to minimize or eliminate dairy products, meat, eggs, and highly refined foods, such as oil and bleached flour. From fruits and vegetables to whole grains and legumes, there’s no shortage of sources for you to receive essential nutrients while consuming fewer calories. Plus, the health benefits are unmatched. First, a plant-based diet includes foods rich in a variety of vitamins, including vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E. These nutrients are important contributors to immune function, helping to bolster your immune system by protecting against infection and stimulating the formation of antibodies. 

 

Presently, the best defense against the virus is a strong immune system. A recent article on COVID-19 in Cell, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, documented a robust immune response to the virus in a group of adults who had recovered from COVID-19. Additionally, a plant-based diet has the potential to reduce risk factors for becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, such as the underlying conditions of type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and liver disease. 

 

Related: How a Plant-Based Diet Can Improve Your Heart Health

Nationwide Meat Shortage

In addition to producing a number of other effects on the economy, COVID-19 has disrupted production at slaughterhouses and meat packing plants in the United States. Meat shortages are expected to intensify in the coming months due to lag between production at the slaughterhouses and distribution to the grocery stores, leading to higher prices and smaller selections. 

 

Join millions of people across the world in switching to a plant-based diet in support of your health and the health of our planet. Your diet and lifestyle choices have the potential to lower your risk for chronic illness, boost your immune system, and arm yourself against serious illness as a result of COVID-19. For more information on how switching to a whole-food, plant-based diet could change your life, contact a board-certified, nutrition-focused cardiologist in Tampa today. 

To consult Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC, a top heart doctor in Tampa, please call (813) 344-0934 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.

 

Disclaimer: The contents of this website are for general educational purposes only. All content and media on the Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC website does not constitute professional medical advice nor is the information intended to replace the services of Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC or other qualified medical professionals. If you believe you are having a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. 

 

The content, views, and opinions communicated on this website do not represent the views of Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. Although this website contains links to other medical websites, this is strictly for informational purposes. Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC is not responsible nor does the medical practice approve of the content featured on any third party linked websites referenced on this website.