As most of the world continues to remain in some form of lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, a persons health and hygiene has never been more in the spotlight. Every single day, we are hearing about the importance of wearing masks, using disposable gloves correctly, and maintaining a safe social distance from others but theres a fundamental message I feel has not been conveyed enough internationally and requires extra emphasis: your health.Until the vaccine is available, our immune systems will need to adapt to be able to fight off Covid-19. The immune system is the bodys multi-level defence network against potentially harmful bacteria, viruses and other organisms. Basically, a healthy lifestyle not only helps an immune system to be in the best shape possible to tackle pathogens, but its helps stop them entering the body in the first place and this part is very important.While there are all kinds of claims online, the fact is the only diet that is genuinely full of vitamins and minerals essential for boosting your immune system is a plant based diet. In fact plant-based diet contains 64-times the amount of immunity-boosting antioxidants compared to a diet that includes meat and dairy.Were hearing constantly about hand sanitiser and other protection equipment but these do not form part of our front-line defence, and I call on organisations and officials to further explain the following:A poor diet is a major cause behind the Covid-19 deaths this is a fact that a leading cardiologist in the UK has cautioned. Dr Aseem Malhotra, who is a frontline medic and also a professor of evidence based medicine, said that obesity and excess weight were the elephant in the room (meaning its never spoken about, but should be) and that it needs to be addressed as a major factor behind the deaths from the coronavirus.Countries with typically high obesity rates such as the US and the UK have seen some of the highest death rates from Covid-19 in the world, which are likely to correlate with unhealthy lifestyles and this is a message we must learn from, even here in Qatar.If you are smoking cigarettes, a potentially deadly habit which is incredibly damaging to the human body and brain with, or without a global pandemic studies already amply show that cigarette smoking weakens the immune system and compromises the function of the lungs. A new study has clearly shown what we already safely assumed: such patients who smoke, vape, or use shisha might have a tougher time resisting an attack of Covid-19. In fact, some medics have questioned whether unexpectedly high numbers of younger people who have become seriously ill with the coronavirus are connected to the smoking or shisha trend.A group of scientists are now stating that if a country was to adopt a healthier diet and lifestyle, not only would everyones front line defence be much stronger, but the population may not need to lockdown next time we have an outbreak.A global pandemic, with a contagious disease thats spreading without a vaccine available needs action from every single individual. Your own measures cant stop with just the use of masks and gloves, it must go beyond this, and we need recognition from our health ministries that the majority of our population is in urgent need of diet changes to strengthen immune systems, and cut out all of the rubbish that is causing so many people to be categorically vulnerable in this pandemic. Continue to wash your hands, use protective equipment, and stay home as much as possible but the key to your own health is in your hands, and it starts with what your diet.* The author is an expert in vegan wellbeing and health. Instagram handle: @Ghanim92

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Your front line defence isn't masks and gloves: its health - Gulf Times