A healthful diet can impact many diet-related diseases, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. So can eating a healthy diet prevent someone from getting Covid-19?

The short answer is no.

No diet can directly protect you from being infected with Covid-19. The best way to prevent getting Covid-19 is to follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay 6 feet away from people who don’t live in your household
• Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds OR use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and sink handles daily
• Learn more about how to prevent Covid-19 here.

While your diet or what you eat cannot directly protect you from Covid-19, it can help strengthen your immune system so your body is in a better position to fight illness or disease in general. Eating a diet rich in a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and lean proteins can help strengthen your immune system.

Eating things like sweet potatoes and carrots with vitamin A can help your body battle infection. The vitamin C found in your kiwis and broccoli can help your white blood cells, which protect you from illness or disease, grow in numbers when there is an infection. Check out our blog on eating for your best immune system to learn more.

Written by Taylor Newman, Ph.D. Candidate | Edited by Laurel Sanville, MS, RDN, LD