Food For Thought: Food, Seatbelts & COVID-19

I’m constantly fascinated by how we keep ignoring the obvious. We have known for a long time that seat belts save lives, so should we not all buckle up for safety? I remember the days when we did not wear seatbelts; we would just skamper into the car and off we would go. It was not until the mid- to late-1950’s that use of seat belts really came into vogue; however, they were still considered optional equipment. It was the two-car accident that killed actor James Dean, raising seat belt awareness. He probably would not have died if had he been wearing a seat belt. The result was a new emphasis on seat belts. While seat belts did not prevent accidents, they do help people survive them. 

During this time of the viral pandemic, let’s look at food like a seat belt. If we eat food that helps our bodies function optimally, thereby building up our immune systems, we would not only have a better chance of surviving the virus; we also would live life better. Yes, we would still get sick at times but by wearing our proverbial “seatbelt,” we increase our odds of surviving and living well. 30+ years of studies show how important diet is for optimal health. Consider the statistics for the virus: those with preexisting conditions and chronic diseases are at higher risk of dying from the virus.  

So, why isn’t building your immune system being more widely discussed? There is much we don't know about the virus, but much more we know about minimizing its effects. Ignoring the importance of building our immune systems to lessen the impact of this virus (may/will) prove tragic. So let’s keep (or start) putting on our seatbelts, eating well, and increasing our odds of living a longer, healthier life.

#covid19 #health #immunesystem #pamdemic