Relationship and Psychological Effects Between Food, Mediterranean Diet and COVID-19

Carlos Baeta^1*, Ricardo Bagina² & Nabor Canilhas¹

¹UCCI Alter do Chão, Portugal
²AMAU - OLOL Hospital, Ireland, Europe

Dr. Carlos Baeta, UCCI Alter do Chão, Portugal.

Keywords: Obesity; Mediterranean Diet; COVID-19; Psychological

Abstract

The new pandemic COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has already affected millions of people from the majority of world countries, with a mortality rate of 3.1%. We know that the virus does not similarly affect all population groups and the severe or very severe forms of the disease are well-identified among the risk groups. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or cardiovascular disease are known as risk factors for severe illness for COVID-19 at any age. Society, governments, and several organizations introduced measures to control the pandemic and mitigate health impact and economic recession. Still, they have failed to implement measures to support psychological distress and to encourage the adoption of dietary and nutritional measures aimed to minimize the evolution to more severe forms of COVID-19. The importance of nutritional status, diet, and lifestyle in the prognosis of other serious infections may play an important role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. The Mediterranean diet includes only those that, due to their composition, are beneficial to health and provides a diet with a high content of antioxidants and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and low content of saturated fats. The COVID-19 pandemic related-changes in daily routine boost the coping strategies to deal with psychological distress. The decrease in social support, access to health professionals, and social awareness content, including advice on food and physical exercise at home, can contribute to increasing variations in eating habits. It´s also essential to include mental and emotional coping strategies, specifically to improve knowledge, awareness, and self-replication to reduce the risk of isolation, anxiety, and depression among the more vulnerable population. Overall, COVID-19 will remain in our lives in a while and it is essential to realize that the world won’t be the same again, we will be returning to a “new normal” where our social routines, working environment, and personal behavior will be different.

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