Major new study reveals a vegan diet slashes your risk of severe Covid-19 by 73 per cent

A ground-breaking study has just been published by the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health journal and its results confirm what Viva! have been saying for months – a vegan diet can slash your risk of severe Covid-19.

The study included people from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and USA who were infected with Covid-19. Their diet and symptoms were recorded and analysed to reveal that those who followed a plant-based diet were 73 per cent less likely to experience moderate-to-severe Covid symptoms.

The plant-based study participants ate more vegetables, pulses and nuts than others. The study authors explained that these foods supply many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants needed to fight respiratory infections.

On the other hand, people who ate low-carb, high-protein diets (keto, Paleo, etc.) that are typically high in meat, eggs and fats, had an increased risk of suffering severe Covid-19 symptoms. Compared to the plant-based people, they were almost four times more likely to have a moderate-to-severe form of the disease!

Moderate-to-severe symptoms mean that people had fever, breathing problems, low oxygen in the body and likely needed medical help.

This is the first official study to expose how diet affects Covid-19 severity but Viva!’s Slash the Risk campaign has been highlighting the importance of a healthy vegan diet in the Covid fight since last year.

Vegans have a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and cancer – all of which are major risk factors making Covid-19 more likely to result in severe, life-threatening disease. A diet change can not only make people healthier but, as this new study shows, it can also make us better equipped for fighting infections!

Find more information on diet, science and Covid-19 on our Slash the Risk page – including a seven-day vegan meal plan!