Coronavirus experts have shared four foods that 'everyone should include in their diet' to help protect against the virus.
Researchers at the ZOE Covid Symptom app, developed by Kings College London, found that people who eat a diet full of plant-rich, 'gut friendly' foods are approximately 10% less likely to develop coronavirus.
If someone who eats well does contract Covid-19, they will be 40% less likely to become severely ill than those with the lowest quality diet.
So what should we be eating in order to reduce the risk of Covid? The study discovered foods such as whole grains - like porridge and wholemeal bread - were some of the best to protect against Covid-19.
Fish - herring, sardines and salmon - were also identified by experts, as were legumes, tinned or fresh fruit and tinned or fresh vegetables.
King’s College London led the research based on 600,000 people who use the ZOE Covid Symptom Study app.
The study took age, BMI, ethnicity, smoking, physical activity and underlying health conditions into consideration as well.
The researchers had people taking part fill out a survey on the foods they ate at the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist at ZOE COVID Study and professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, said: "You don’t have to go vegan, but getting more diverse plants on your plate is a great way to boost the health of your gut microbiome, improve your immunity and overall health, and potentially reduce your risk from COVID-19.”
