Our Most Important Defense Against COVID-19: Finding Hope Through Scientific Evidence
A Vegan Health Article from All-Creatures.org

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From T. Colin Campbell, PlantPureCommunities.org
June 2020

People can defend themselves against the worst effects of the COVID-19 infection, and help flatten the curve of hospitalizations, by strengthening their immune systems through their food choices.

Intro to Part 1:

Unless any of us have been living under a rock, we all know the formidable price we are paying for the COVID-19 pandemic and its social and economic consequences. Although details are still evolving, we can agree that this is a dark time. But, as a researcher with a career spanning 65 years, I have some thoughts that help me to cope and that I’d love to share with you. Let’s begin by accepting the social distance advisories provided for us, then spend some time exploring something new.

Here is the hopeful – even revolutionary – idea. People can defend themselves against the worst effects of the COVID-19 infection, and help flatten the curve of hospitalizations, by strengthening their immune systems through their food choices.

It is well-known that people over 60 years of age with pre-existing disease conditions are most vulnerable to COVID-19. And it is also known that most of these diseases are the result of poor nutrition.

We find ourselves in this difficult place because for years industry, government, and academia have suppressed the most important truth of health, which is that there is credible evidence that a diet of whole, plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals, legumes and nuts) can create more health than all the pills and procedures combined. The supporting evidence for this bold statement refers to the ability of this diet to not only prevent so-called chronic degenerative diseases (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke, cancer, etc.) but also to treat many of these same diseases, a response that can be seen in days.

But the story gets even more compelling, especially concerning our current crisis. In my opinion, good evidence exists to show that the beneficial effects of a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diet also applies to viral diseases like COVID-19. I am referring to 1) research findings in my lab in the 1970s through the 1990s, 2) supplementary evidence from a comprehensive study of diet, lifestyle and disease, twice done, in a human population in rural China during the 1980s, and 3) specific evidence from researchers on diet and viral infection....

Read all of PART 1 HERE (PDF)

Intro to Part 2:

This is a follow-up to my earlier commentary on a relatively unknown way to think about COVID-19. Before reading further, it would be helpful, if you have not done so, to read or re-read that earlier commentary. In the meanwhile, let’s not forget to play it safe and follow the social distancing and other recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Here, I ask a question I’ve heard on more than one occasion. Is it possible, with this crisis, that Nature is reminding us once again that we might have strayed too far from her fundamentals?
As summarized in my earlier commentary, does the low protein, whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diet – known to comprehensively prevent, and sometimes even reverse a broad range of chronic degenerative diseases – act in a similar way to minimize viral diseases?

In the laboratory, we showed that animal protein promotes liver cancer initiated by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), giving a striking response that was similar to carcinogen-initiated liver cancer. In a follow-up human study in China and Taiwan, consumption of plant-based food (estimated by several factors) associated with inactive hepatitis B virus (antibodies), while animal-based food (albeit, a relatively small amount) associated with active virus (HBV antigen). In brief, plant-based food favors development of immunity against the hepatitis B virus.

Although specifically investigating hepatitis B virus, there is substantial evidence that, unlike drugs targeted to specific disease endpoints, nutrition, the kind that benefits a range of chronic degenerative diseases, also should be expected to affect a range of viral diseases as well....

Read all of PART 2 HERE (PDF)

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All-Creatures.org Health Position and Disclaimer

We began this archive as a means of assisting our visitors in answering many of their health and diet questions, and in encouraging them to take a pro-active part in their own health. We believe the articles and information contained herein are true, but are not presenting them as advice. We, personally, have found that a whole food vegan diet has helped our own health, and simply wish to share with others the things we have found. Each of us must make our own decisions, for it's our own body. If you have a health problem, see your own physician.