I just happened to see a Burger King home delivery commercial on the TV during COVID lockdowns. They are called viewers a “hero” for staying home and ordering fast food to their couch.
Marketing and selling food (not fit for human consumption) is exactly the opposite of what humans need right now. Shame on this type of marketing! (Our healthcare workers and first responders are heroes if we need that reminder.)
Despite this messaging, if there is a silver lining to Coronavirus (COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2), its the heightened awareness of nutrition. Nutrition is a key determinant of health.
Food is medicine and nutrition is a treatment for both acute and chronic diseases.What you eat (or don’t eat) makes all the difference to your health.
Nutrition Improved Ebola Outcomes
It was demonstrated that nutrition provided supportive care and reduced deaths in the 2014 – 2016 Ebola virus outbreak in Western Africa. (Source). We are learning that the mortality associated with COVID-19 is greater in those individuals who:
- have poor nutritional status
- are obese
- suffer from nutritional deficiencies (such as low albumin)
- have loss of muscle tissue (sarcopenia)
- have low white blood count
Better nutrition is as close as your next meal.
But it works the other way as well. We’ve learned that even one McDonald’s meal increases markers of oxidative stress in your body within a few hours. (Source)
A Customized Plan for You
There is not a one-size-fits-all plan when it comes to the perfect diet.
Nutrition experts highly favor the anti-inflammatory aspects of the Mediterranean diet which include: vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, beans, and whole grains with moderate amounts of dairy, poultry and eggs, and occasional consumption of red meat.
For others, the Paleo approach is more suitable with its focus on clean (grass-fed/pastured) meats, fish, berries, nuts, and avoidance of all grains and dairy.
Food provides instructions for our cells and tissues. Food is either a toxin for our body – or it is medicine. You get to choose what you and how you eat!
Kara Louise, MS, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner
Functional nutrition takes into consideration the individual person, food sensitivities, nutritional imbalances, cellular depletion of nutrients, and health conditions.
By working together, we can assess the best nutritional plan for you.Little decisions about what is on your plate can lead to dramatically improved health!
