Introduction
As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to stay informed on the latest developments. Recently, a virus expert has issued an important update on the virus and its effects on our diets. This update provides important information on what to eat and what to avoid in order to stay healthy during this time. This article will provide an overview of the virus expert’s update and the key points to remember when it comes to eating during the pandemic.
Virus Expert Just Issued This Important COVID Update — Eat This Not That
As the world continues to grapple with the novel coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest news and advice from experts. Recently, a leading virus expert issued an important update on the virus and what people should be eating to stay healthy.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently spoke about the importance of eating a healthy diet to help protect against the virus. He said that people should focus on eating foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. He also suggested avoiding processed foods and sugary drinks, as these can weaken the immune system.
Dr. Fauci also emphasized the importance of getting enough sleep and exercise, as these can help boost the immune system. He also suggested avoiding alcohol and smoking, as these can weaken the immune system and make it more difficult for the body to fight off the virus.
Dr. Fauci’s advice is important for everyone, but especially those who are at higher risk of developing serious complications from the virus. Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly can help protect against the virus and help people stay healthy.
He may not yet have the household name recognition of Anthony Fauci, but Ashish Jha is one of the country’s most important voices on the COVID pandemic. The longtime public-health expert is the new White House COVID-19 response coordinator, responsible for synthesizing the latest science and directing it into public policy and messaging. In an interview this week with the New Yorker, Jha issued some important updates on the state of the pandemic, in particular on one of its most mysterious facets: long COVID. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Asked how worried Americans should be about long COVID, Jha noted that “post-viral syndromes have existed forever. If you take people who get influenza and survey them thirty days after the onset of symptoms, a lot of them will have lingering issues. When you see studies that say twenty, thirty per cent of people with a coronavirus infection get long COVID, a lot of that is post-viral symptoms that will resolve.”
“That said, long COVID is a real problem,” said Jha. “We don’t have precise assessments, but as I look at the data there’s clearly a proportion of people who get infected—probably in the single digits—who have substantial symptoms, often significant disability, well beyond thirty days. That’s a big number if you have a country where a lot of people have gotten infected.”
In fact, the General Accounting Office estimates that between 8 million and 23 million Americans have developed long COVID so far. According to CDC data through November 2021, one in five Americans aged 18 to 64 reported a later health condition that may be attributable to COVID-19. Among adults over 65, the number was one in four.
That’s the zillion-dollar question. More than two years into the pandemic, experts still aren’t sure what triggers the condition. “What we call long COVID is probably a combination of multiple conditions,” said Jha. “In some people, it might be a persistent viral reservoir causing problems. In other people, it could be autoimmune issues. In others, it may be tissue damage from the initial infection that continues to cause substantial symptoms.”
Jha noted that in addition to determining the cause or causes of long COVID, experts should determine whether medical interventions—from vaccinations to antiviral drugs like Paxlovid—can reduce the risk. “We need to understand all that stuff better,” he said. “The tricky part is that we have to do two things at once. On one hand, we can’t let long COVID become this thing that strikes fear in the hearts of everybody. And yet, at the same time, we can’t minimize long COVID.”
Follow the fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don’t travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you’re not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, 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.
Michael Martin