Meat-Free Eaters Less Likely To Catch Covid-19, Study Suggests

A study by the University of Sao Paulo suggests that individuals following a meat-free diet may have a lower risk of contracting Covid-19. The research, published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention, and Health, involved over 700 participants with diverse dietary habits. The study found that meat-eaters were more likely to catch Covid-19 compared to vegetarians and vegans, with the latter group being 39 percent less likely to contract the virus.

The researchers attributed this lower risk to immune-boosting compounds found in plant-based diets, such as antioxidants and polyphenols. While some experts have expressed skepticism about the study's sample size, previous research from 2020 also found that individuals on plant-based diets were significantly less likely to develop severe Covid-19. These findings highlight the potential health benefits of adopting a meat-free diet in reducing the risk of Covid-19 infection and severity.