9 Things to Know About BA.5 Right Now — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

Welcome to 9 Things to Know About BA.5 Right Now — Eat This Not That! Eating healthy is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Knowing what to eat and what not to eat can be difficult, especially when it comes to the BA.5 diet. This article will provide you with nine essential things to know about the BA.5 diet so that you can make informed decisions about what to eat and what not to eat. We will discuss the basics of the diet, the benefits, the drawbacks, and the foods that are allowed and not allowed on the diet. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the BA.5 diet and how it can help you reach your health and fitness goals.

9 Things to Know About BA.5 Right Now — Eat This Not That

BA.5 is a popular diet trend that has been gaining traction in recent years. It’s a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that focuses on eating whole, unprocessed foods. Here are nine things to know about BA.5 right now.

1. What is BA.5?

BA.5 stands for “Banting and Atkins 5” and is a combination of two popular diets: the Banting diet and the Atkins diet. It is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that focuses on eating whole, unprocessed foods. It is designed to help people lose weight and improve their overall health.

2. What Foods Can You Eat on BA.5?

The BA.5 diet focuses on eating whole, unprocessed foods such as lean proteins, healthy fats, and low-carbohydrate vegetables. Foods to include in your diet are lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, low-carbohydrate vegetables, and healthy fats such as olive oil and avocado.

3. What Foods Should You Avoid on BA.5?

Foods to avoid on the BA.5 diet include processed foods, refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and unhealthy fats. Foods to avoid include white bread, white rice, pasta, sugary drinks, and processed snacks.

4. What Are the Benefits of BA.5?

The BA.5 diet has been shown to help people lose weight, improve their overall health, and reduce their risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. It can also help to reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and increase energy levels.

5. What Are the Risks of BA.5?

The BA.5 diet can be restrictive and may not provide all the nutrients your body needs. It is important to speak to your doctor before starting any new diet to make sure it is right for you. Additionally, the diet may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions.

6. How Long Should You Follow BA.5?

The BA.5 diet is not intended to be a long-term diet. It is recommended that you follow the diet for a few weeks or months to help you reach your weight loss goals. After that, it is important to transition to a more balanced diet that includes a variety of healthy foods.

7. What Are Some Tips for Following BA.5?

Some tips for following the BA.5 diet include: eating plenty of lean proteins and healthy fats, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding processed foods and added sugars. Additionally, it is important to get enough sleep and exercise regularly to help you reach your goals.

8. What Are Some BA.5-Friendly Recipes?

There are many delicious recipes that are BA.5-friendly. Some examples include: salmon with roasted vegetables, turkey burgers with avocado, and zucchini noodles with pesto. Additionally, there are many websites and cookbooks that offer BA.5-friendly recipes.

9. Where Can You Find More Information About BA.5?

If you are interested in learning more about the BA.5 diet, there are many resources available online. You can find information on websites such as Healthline, WebMD, and the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, there are many books and cookbooks available that provide more information about the diet.

COVID is everywhere again and the virus is spreading across the United States causing a rise in cases and hospitalization rates thanks to BA.5–the latest dominant strain. “The threat to you is now,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert and chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, said at a media briefing last week. “Getting vaccinated now will protect you now.” Researchers are still learning about BA.5, but there’s a lot of information we do know about the variant and Bernadette Boden-Albala, MPH, DrPH, Director and Founding Dean, University of California, Irvine Program in Public Health tells Eat This, Not That! Health what to know about BA. 5 and how to help protect yourself. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.

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Dr. Boden-Albala says, “BA.5 is a highly transmissible variant with over 50 mutations that give it a growth advantage over past strains of COVID. BA.5, along with its sibling variant BA.4, are fueling a surge in cases and hospitalizations in the U.S. and across the world. The uptick in BA.5 cases is also due to the variant’s ability to infect people who have immunity to past Omicron strains and other variants. As of today, BA.5 accounts for 65% of all COVID cases in the U.S.”

unrecognizable doctor trying to vaccinate its patient while she is refusing it.
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Dr. Boden-Albala explains, “Currently, there is no indication that BA.5 produces more severe disease compared to previous Omicron strains. And as with other COVID-19 variants, unvaccinated populations are at the highest risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.”

man with face mask back at work in office after lockdown
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Dr. Boden-Albala explains, “In addition to being more transmissible than past variants, BA.5 is also coming at a time when protective measures like masking, social distancing, and restrictions on large group activities have largely fallen to the wayside across the U.S., making us even more vulnerable to the rapidly spreading strain.”

Mature doctor standing in corridor with medical team at hospital wearing surgical face mask due to covid. Smiling general practitioner with crossed arms looking at camera.
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Dr. Boden-Albala says, “BA.5 comes as no surprise, and we can expect other variants to emerge so long as there are outbreaks occurring throughout the world. And so long as large swathes of the population remain unvaccinated or behind on their boosters, and if protective measures like masking and physical distancing aren’t widely practiced, we’ll continue to see new, potentially more transmissible and more dangerous variants emerge.”


“BA.5 symptoms are very similar to those of past variants,” says Dr. Boden-Albala. “Sore throat, fever, runny nose, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue are all common symptoms of the latest COVID strain. Loss of taste and smell are less common with this variant.”

Woman with face mask sneezing into elbow while sitting in a cafe.
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Dr. Boden-Albala states, “BA. 5 doesn’t give you as much immunity as past variants. One of BA.5’s defining features is its ability to evade the body’s immune response, whether acquired through vaccination, prior infection, or both. BA.5 has the unique ability to reinfect people fairly quickly – sometimes in just a matter of weeks – after they’ve already recovered from the virus.”

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According to Dr. Boden-Albala, “The vaccines/boosters still provide broad protection against the worst parts of the virus, including severe illness, hospitalization, and death. However, we face a growing need for an Omicron-specific vaccine that targets BA.5 and BA.4. Back in June, a committee of experts recommended the FDA update boosters to target these variants, and plans are currently underway to make them available to the public later this year.”

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“The science on this isn’t conclusive,” Dr. Boden-Albala tells us. “There is some evidence that every reinfection carries the risk of serious illness, death, or long-term disability, but we don’t have data on the cumulative effects it has on the body.”

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Dr. Boden-Albala says, “Until they release an Omicron-specific booster, people should continue to follow CDC infection prevention measures like masking indoors, practicing basic hygiene (e.g., thoroughly washing hands, disinfecting, etc.), and physical distancing. But the most important thing people can do is stay up to date on vaccines/boosters. If you’re eligible for a vaccine or booster, don’t wait to get it.” And to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Heather Newgen

Heather Newgen has two decades of experience reporting and writing about health, fitness, entertainment and travel. Heather currently freelances for several publications. Read more