Category Archives: Life

Covid Travel Restrictions: Your Ultimate Guide To The Latest Rules

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Going on holiday this summer just got a little bit easier, because the government has relaxed some of the quarantine rules on international travel.

From July 19, those who have had both doses of the coronavirus vaccine will no longer have to quarantine upon return from amber list destinations.

In addition, children under the age of 18 will not have to quarantine on their return to England from amber list destinations, transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed.

The long awaited announcement will be music to the ears of Brits dreaming of sunshine, particularly those who’ve already got holidays booked to destinations such as Portugal, which moved from the green to amber list last month.

But there’s still a lot to consider before you jet off. Here are the essentials you need to know.

Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain

Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain

There’s still a traffic light system to contend with:

The traffic light system is still in place and while the quarantine rules may have softened a little, you’ll still need to take a number of coronavirus tests before and after travel. Here’s a reminder:

Green countries

People returning from green destinations must take a test before they depart, then another test on or before the second day of their return. You do not need to quarantine unless the test result is positive.

Amber countries

People returning from amber destinations, such as France, mainland Spain, and Portugal, will still be required to take a Covid-19 test before returning to the UK.

They will also have to take a test on or before the second day of their return, but will be exempted from the day eight test from July 19.

While double jabbed and under 18s are exempt from quarantine, adults who have only received one coronavirus vaccine (or none at all) will still need to self-isolate at home for 10 days after returning from an amber country. You need to have had your second vaccine at least 14 days before travel in order for it to kick and for you to be exempt.

Red countries

People returning from red destinations must take a test before they return to the UK. They’ll then be required to book a quarantine package in a government-approved quarantine hotel, plus two more tests, on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantining.

You’ll need to find the correct test

There’s been a lot of confusion about which tests you can take for travel. The Department for Transport confirmed to HuffPost UK that lateral flow tests are allowed for pre-departure tests, as long as they abide by the sensitivity required (performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml). The jargon is complicated, but do check your test to make sure it meets this requirement

You cannot take an NHS test abroad with you to use on yourself before you return. Instead, the government says you must buy a test from a reputable private company. It’s your responsibility to ensure the test meets the minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details.

Once you’ve arrived back in the UK, tests taken on day two and day eight must be PCR tests, the Department for Transport confirmed. Again, you must use a test that meets the government’s minimum standards.

You’re required to book a “test pack” before you travel and leave enough time for tests to be delivered to your address in England.

If you’re struggling to find a test that meets the government’s standards, the government’s website has a list of providers that meet the threshold.

Remember: the traffic light system is not reciprocal

Just because a country is on the UK’s green or amber list, it does not necessarily mean Brits are able to travel there quarantine-free. Every country sets its own entry requirements.

Take Portugal, which is currently on the UK’s amber list, as an example. Portugal recently updated its rules to say all adults and children over the age of 12 must have proof of a negative Covid-19 test to travel to or through Portugal.

If you’ve travelled from the UK to mainland Portugal, you must also quarantine for 14 days in the place you’re staying – or at a place indicated by the Portuguese health authority – unless you can prove you’ve been double jabbed with an EU approved Covid-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel.

The Portuguese tourist board confirmed to HuffPost UK “children under the age of 12 do not need to quarantine or show a negative test or proof of vaccination”. It means that those travelling with teens – who are not exempt from quarantine but can not yet get a vaccine in the UK – can’t now holiday in Portugal.

Malta, on the UK’s green list, also has strict rules. You can only enter Malta if you’re double-vaccinated. Children under 12 will be permitted to enter the country if they’re holidaying with parents who have been double jabbed. Although exempt from quarantine, those aged between five and 11 must also show evidence of a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours before arrival.

The Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza are other popular options for families this summer, as they recently moved to the UK’s green list. However, all visitors to the Spanish islands must present evidence of double vaccination or a negative coronavirus test.

Children under 12 are “not required to present these certificates or supporting documents”. If you’re travelling with kids aged 13-18 years old, they can enter the country as long as they can demonstrate a negative test.

It’s vital to check the entry requirements of a country before you book flights or accommodation. You can search your holiday destination on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website to see the latest guidance. And remember, all the rules are subject to change if Covid cases go up or down.

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Kind Strangers Track Down Discontinued Toy For Disabled Teen

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A teenager has been blown away by the kindness of strangers, who’ve rallied together to track down a discontinued toy her disabled sister loves to bits.

Josie Wheel, 18, from Coventry, tweeted to ask if anyone had access to a Vtech Light Up Learning Bug, which has been her 15-year-old sister’s favourite toy since her second birthday. Her sister, Rosie, has Profound Multiple Learning Difficulties, or PMLD, and Josie says she’s grown to rely on her beloved toy.

“Rosie loves everything about her ladybug – it fulfils all her sensory needs as it’s tactile, has flashing lights, and sings songs,” Josie Wheel tells HuffPost UK.

“Ladybug is her whole life, it goes on holiday with her, to hospital, she has one at school. It is the first thing she wants when she wakes up and the last thing she has before she goes to bed.”

Wheel asked for those who have a working toy to get in touch and was quickly contacted by people around the world. “Countless people” have offered to try to fix Rosie’s broken toys, while others have been bombarding Vtech with emails to see if they can do anything to help.

People in the UK have located toys from local sellers and strangers from countries including Malta, Spain and France have helped to translate messages from sellers abroad.

“The offers have been so crazy!” says Wheel. “It feels pretty surreal because we had no idea that this would take off as much as it has. We have searched for her ladybug before and it’s never had this kind of reach! It’s so amazing to see so many people offer to help in so many ways.”

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The 5 Most Commonly Reported Covid-19 Symptoms

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The official list of Covid-19 symptoms should be expanded as the existing one could “miss many Covid-19 cases”, experts have argued.

The UK should follow other countries and include a broader range of symptoms, according to a group of scientists. Classic symptoms of Covid-19, listed on the NHS website, are a high temperature, a new continuous cough and/or a loss or change to a person’s sense of smell or taste.

But the most commonly reported symptoms by people taking part in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Covid-19 Infection Survey are cough, headache and fatigue.

The latest ONS release shows 61% of people who tested positive reported symptoms. Of these, 42% had a cough, 39% reported headache and 38% reported fatigue, according to the ONS. Muscle ache was reported by a quarter of people and 32% reported having a sore throat. Meanwhile a third reported fever and 21% reported loss of smell and 15% reported loss of taste.

A separate study – the Zoe Covid Symptom study – recently reported that a headache, sore throat and runny nose are now the most commonly reported symptoms. These are most likely symptoms of the Delta variant.

What do the experts say?

Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), Dr Alex Crozier and colleagues – including Professor Calum Semple who is a member of Sage – suggest that limiting testing to only people with fever, cough and a change in taste or smell could “miss or delay identification of many Covid cases”.

They suggest this could “hamper efforts to interrupt transmission” of the virus. The group argue that increasing the symptom list could improve Britain’s pandemic response by expanding the criteria for self-isolation and eligibility for symptomatic testing.

The “narrow” case definition “limits” the early detection of contagious people, which restricts the efforts of the Test and Trace programme, they say. Non-traditional symptoms “often manifest earlier”, they added.

The US Centres for Disease Control lists 11 more symptoms than the UK, and the World Health Organisation includes nine more. The testing capabilities are now able to facilitate people with a broader spectrum of symptoms, they added. They say testing people with a single non-specific symptom could overwhelm capacity in the UK, but “combinations of symptoms could be used to help identify more cases sooner without overwhelming testing capacity”.

The authors continue: “The UK’s decision to adopt a narrow case definition was based on ease of communication, avoiding confusion with other infections and preserving testing capacity. This situation is now different — testing capacity is high.

“Covid-19 is associated with a wide range of symptoms. Many patients do not experience the UK’s official case-defining symptoms, initially, or ever, and other symptoms often manifest earlier. Limiting the symptomatic testing to those with these official symptoms will miss or delay identification of many Covid-19 cases, hampering efforts to interrupt transmission.

“Expanding the clinical case definition of Covid−19, the criteria for self-isolation, and eligibility for symptomatic testing could improve the UK’s pandemic response.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment by PA Media. We will update this piece if there is a response.

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How To Prove You’re Vaccinated With The NHS Covid Pass

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You might have got a “I’ve had my Covid vaccination” sticker after getting your jab – or a small card with your name and the date – but there’s a more official way to prove you’ve been double jabbed.

Foreign secretary, Grant Schapps, has announced those who have been double jabbed will be able to travel home from amber list countries without quarantining from later this summer. So how can you prove it?

How to prove you’ve had two Covid vaccinations in England

For travel, if there’s a requirement to have had two Covid vaccinations to the country you’re going to, or coming back from, you’ll be asked to show your vaccination status by officials.

You can request an NHS Covid Pass to prove this on the NHS website or on the NHS app. This app is different to the NHS Covid-19 app, which you use to check into venues. To use the NHS app, you’ll need to be registered with a GP surgery and create a login. You’ll need your NHS number to do this, which is pretty easy to access online.

Once logged in to the app, choose the ‘Get your NHS Covid Pass’ button. You can then press ‘travel’. It will take you to a screen that has details of your Covid-19 records. Press ‘show details’ and you’ll be shown a QR code, that will expire 30 days from the date of issue. To get a new one, you just log back in.

You can also request an NHS Covid Pass letter on the NHS website. You’ll be asked some questions, so they can find your vaccine record, and then they’ll send a letter to to the address you have registered with your GP surgery. You should get this letter within five working days.

And finally, people who have had both their jabs can also request an NHS Covid Pass letter by calling 119. This won’t show test results, and has no expiry date.

What about in the rest of the UK?

Those in Scotland aged 16 and over can request a paper copy of their vaccine status via the NHS inform website. You can also call 0808 196 8565.

In Wales, there isn’t yet a digital pass to show vaccine status. There is a paper one, though and you can request one of these by calling 0300 303 5667. You need to have had at least five days since your second dose.

In Northern Ireland, they are working on a paper-based Covid pass. It’s hoped it will be available by July, with digital passes available by summer.

How to bring forward your second jab

Many people initially had their second jab booked for 12 weeks after their first. However, it’s now possible to move your second jab earlier – to eight weeks after your first. This is to ensure maximum protection against the Delta variant.

It’s best to do this by going on the NHS website and filling out your details. Some people have had to cancel their existing second jab appointment to be able to view earlier appointments and rebook. Other people have been able to view available earlier appointments, and rebook, without having to cancel their first. If you’re worried about rebooking an appointment, call 119 free of charge.

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Wedding Restrictions After June 21: What You Need To Know

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The 30-guest limit at weddings in England has been lifted, despite a four-week delay to the ending of lockdown.

From June 21, people can have more than 30 guests at a wedding, “provided social distancing remains in place”, Boris Johnson announced at a Downing Street press conference on Monday – welcome news to the many couples who have postponed their celebrations time and time again.

He told the Downing Street press conference that the spread of the Delta variant meant the government and public “faced a very difficult choice” between continuing with Step 4 of the roadmap on June 21 or giving the NHS “a few more crucial weeks” to get all remaining vaccinations administered.

“And since today I cannot say that that we have met all our four tests for proceeding with Step 4 on June 21, I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer,” he said.

It is not yet confirmed if there will be an upper limit on guest numbers, but the Mirror has reported that capacity limits may be the highest number of people wedding venues can accommodate while still being Covid-secure.

“I am sorry for all the disappointment that’s going to be caused by going a bit slower as we are today,” the prime minster told a journalist and bride-to-be who said she had already twice postponed her wedding.

The reporter had questioned why testing and vaccination status could not be used to open up weddings in the same way as football matches, and said weddings felt “bottom of the priority list despite being significant life events without which some people cannot progress with their lives.”

Boris Johnson, who married his wife Carrie in a secret ceremony in Westminster Cathedral on May 29 attended by 30 people, said he was sorry for the “many, many businesses” affected by delays – adding “it’s a few weeks that I think is worth it to get those jabs in”.

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It’s Official: More Gay And Bi Men Can Now Give Blood

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After a long wait, gay and bisexual men are able to donate blood more freely, following an overhaul of “dehumanising” blood donation rules.

Under the old rules, gay and bi men were unable to donate blood unless they’d abstained from sexual activity for more than three months. They were also specifically asked about their sexuality on donation forms.

The reasoning given was that “at a population level, men who have sex with men are at an increased risk of acquiring certain infections through sex”.

But under the new rules in England, Scotland and Wales, eligibility to give blood will be based on individual circumstances surrounding health, travel and sexual behaviours instead.

What does the rule change mean?

Any individual who attends to give blood – regardless of gender – will be asked if they’ve had sex and, if so, about recent sexual behaviours.

Those who’ve had the same sexual partner for the last three months will be eligible to donate – regardless of gender or sexuality.

People will also be able to donate if they have a new sexual partner with whom they’ve not had anal sex and there is no known recent exposure to an STI or recent use of PrEP or PEP.

To mitigate risks, those who’ve had anal sex with a new partner or with multiple partners in the last three months will not be able to give blood, but may be eligible in the future.

Donors who have been recently treated for gonorrhoea will be deferred and anyone who’s ever received treatment for syphilis will not be able to give blood.

Wasn’t this rule change announced last year?

Yes, but it’s only just coming into play from June 14.

The changes follow an evidence-based review by the FAIR (For the Assessment of Individualised Risk) steering group led by NHS Blood and Transplant.

The new donor selection system is designed to be fairer and will also maintain the UK’s status as one of the safest blood supplies in the world. Data around the impact of the donor selection changes will be kept under review and assessed 12 months after implementation to determine if changes are needed.

How do people feel about it?

Commenting on the rule changes when they were first announced in December, Adam Bloodworth wrote for HuffPost UK: “What people may not realise is that dehumanising rules like these reinforce feelings of shame that many LGBTQ people carry around with them as a heavy mental burden each day.

“By being discounted from an activity most people are encouraged to do, we’re reminded that we are perceived to be ‘different’ by some in society – no matter how many times people tell us we aren’t.”

Ethan Spibey was prevented from donating blood due to his sexuality – he’d wanted to do his bit and donate after a blood donor saved his grandfather’s life, but was unable to do so. Spibey, who has since been campaigning for a change to donation rules and founded FreedomToDonate, said: “The work of the FAIR steering group shows that simply being a man who has sex with men is not a good enough reason to exclude someone from donating blood.

“This is more than just about a fairer and more inclusive system, it’s about those who rely on blood, and giving blood literally saves lives. I can’t wait to finally repay that first pint. I would encourage anyone who is able to safely donate blood to register to do so.”

How to donate blood

Gay and bi men who’ve previously been turned away for blood donation can call NHS Blood and Transplant on 0300 123 23 23, which can review the new guidelines with you and, if eligible, book your next appointment.

Robbie de Santos, from the charity Stonewall, welcomed the “historic change”.

“We want to see a blood donation system that allows the greatest number of people to donate safely and we will continue to work with government to build on this progress and ensure that more people, including LGBT+ people, can donate blood safely in the future,” he said.

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Prime Day UK: The Best Amazon Deals On Offer In 2021

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HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.

The date is probably already marked in your calendars – but for a different reason. June 21 is not only midsummer and potentially the day we get full “unlockdown” in England, but it’s also Amazon Prime Day 2021.

Here’s your need-to-know guide about the day.

What is Amazon Prime Day 2021?

You probably already know this one, but it’s basically a day to save a lot of cash. Amazon has lots of deals across the whole site, from gadgets to homeware – and even booze.

If you were about to make a big purchase, you might want to hold out to see if you can save some money by buying it on Prime Day. Thank us later.

Okay, so when exactly is it this year?

It’s actually two days. Prime Day 2021 starts at 12:01am on Monday June 21 and ends at 11:59pm on Tuesday June 22. The deals will be on the official Amazon page.

Do I have to be an Amazon Prime member?

Well, yes, but there are ways around this, too. You can sign up and pay the yearly subscription fee of £79 (this also means you’ll get access to Amazon Prime TV and super quick delivery, btw). Or it’s £7.99 a month.

Or, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial and still access the sales. Just remember to cancel your membership before the 30 days are up and you won’t get charged a thing.

What else do I need to know?

In the lead-up to Prime Day, Amazon is running a campaign supporting small businesses. From Monday June 7 to Sunday June 20, Amazon will offer a £10 credit to use on Prime Day to members who spend £10 on items sold by UK small businesses, including products from Amazon Handmade and Amazon Launchpad.

To make it easier to support small businesses, Amazon has curated collections to connect shoppers with small businesses at amazon.co.uk/supportsmall. Or, Echo device owners in the UK can say “Alexa, shop small business” to discover products eligible for the spend £10, get £10 promotion.

Another bonus: Prime members will receive an additional £7 promotional credit, if they top up their Amazon account with £50 or more. (Guys, this is basically free money).

What Prime Day deals can we expect?

Well, Amazon says there are going to be more than two million deals. So there’s a lot to get excited about – but also a lot to sift through. Which is where we’re here to help. We’ll update you as soon as we know more, but at the moment, we’re told Prime Day 2021 will feature deals from top brands including LEGO, Bosch, Fitbit and Philips.

Previous years’ bestsellers in the UK included the Echo Dot, Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, the Bosch Cordless Drill and Finish Dishwasher Tablets – apparently that’s the stuff people want!

What early Prime deals are on now?

Prime members can start shopping early exclusive offers and deals, including:

  • Amazon Devices: Save up to 50% off popular devices from June 7 – June 22, including Echo, Fire TV and Ring.

  • Amazon Music: Prime members who haven’t yet tried Amazon Music Unlimited can get four months free with unlimited access to more than 70 million songs ad-free and millions of podcast episodes.

  • Audible: Prime members get three months of Audible membership for just 99p this Prime Day. Membership includes an unbeatable selection of new releases, best sellers and Audible Original audiobooks and podcasts.

How do I get the best Prime deals?

Start making your wish-list now, so you can see whether they’re discounted during Amazon Prime Day. The main hub of deals will be on the Amazon Prime Day homepage. Remember: blue means deal – Prime Day deals are colour-coded, so look our for blue badges to save money. You can also get early deals with Alexa – no secret password necessary. Just ask!

There’s also Treasure Truck, where you can discover hand-selected product offers at amazing prices. You can opt-in at amazon.co.uk/treasuretruck or by opening the menu in the Amazon Shopping app and finding ‘Treasure Truck’ under ‘Programmes and Features’. You will receive text notifications whenever there’s something new to share.

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Is Your Poo Healthy? Check This Clinical Chart To Find Out

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Everyone poos, but it’s still something a lot of us have an awfully hard time talking about. (Unless you’re my 6-year-old and 3-year-old, who cannot talk about poo enough, it turns out.)

But it’s unfortunate that poo talk tends to make adults squeamish, because our stool can offer some powerful clues about what’s going on inside our guts – and even more broadly within our bodies. And doctors really do wish people would lean into it.

“When I ask patients to describe their stool, even when they’re at the GI doctor, you can almost immediately sense their discomfort,” Christopher Henry, a gastroenterologist at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, told HuffPost.

Enter the Bristol Stool Chart (sometimes called the Bristol Stool Form Scale or the Meyers Scale), a diagnostic tool that health professionals can use with their patients to help determine what’s normal (and what’s not) in terms of size, texture and colour of poo.

In general, ideal poo is Type 3 or Type 4. Type 1 or Type 2, on the other hand, can indicate a person is struggling with constipation. And Types 5, 6 or 7 can suggest diarrhoea – though not always.

“Sometimes I’ll have patients with very severe constipation, and they’ll have periodic diarrhoea,” Henry said.

That particular example shows why the stool chart really shouldn’t be used by laypeople to self-diagnose. Instead, people should see it as a jumping-off point for health-related conversations – and it certainly can help make those discussions less awkward. Many people find it easier to point to a line on a chart than to have to search for the words to describe their stool to a provider, Henry said.

Doctors, on the other hand, can use the chart to help diagnose conditions like various types of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.

If your poo pretty consistently falls outside of the normal types on the chart, that’s definitely worth flagging to your doctor, who might refer you to a specialist. Significant changes in poo frequency or form also are worth noting. And don’t ignore other gastrointestinal symptoms. That includes heartburn that doesn’t get resolved with antacids, blood in your stool, severe pain or unintentional weight loss.

Even if your poo-related issues turn out to be relatively mild, a doctor might be able to help you with some simple changes that can help you achieve the ideal poo (and feel better overall) – like getting sufficient fibre and water.

But experts caution against getting too caught up on whether your poo is exactly the right texture and colour based on the chart – especially because there are many slightly different iterations of it floating around the web. Also, people’s stool colour can vary based on what they eat.

But what the Bristol Stool Chart can do pretty well is provide clarity.

Henry recalled an experience when he was working with multiple patients complaining of diarrhoea, but when he asked them to point to what their stool looked like on the chart, they pointed to Type 1 – which actually indicates constipation. They believed that diarrhoea referred more to frequency, rather than to a particular stool form.

In cases like that, the chart helps to create a shared language, to make sure patients and their providers are on the same page.

“I think of it kind of like a Rosetta stone. To make sure we’re using the same words to mean the same things,” Henry said. “It’s a platform for patients and doctors to have better conversations.”

Because talking about poo may not be most grown-ups’ favourite thing to do, but it’s an important part of overall well-being.

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It’s 2021 And TV Adverts Are Still Implying Only Women Clean

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A television ad for a scrubbing device has been banned for suggesting cleaning the home is a responsibility uniquely associated with women.

Cue major eye rolls.

The three-minute television ad for the JML Hurricane Spin Scrubber, seen in March, depicted several women using the cleaning tool in the bathroom, kitchen and elsewhere in the home.

In the ad, four women describe their experiences with the tool, saying: “I have a very busy household. People are in and out of my shower all the time”, “I love using the extension pole to get the rings out of the bathtub”, and “I’ve given this to my mother as a gift, and it’s changed the way she cleans. I don’t have to worry about her slipping and falling”.

We don’t know about you, but we’re getting a serious throwback to the 90s, when an 11-year-old Meghan Markle campaigned against a sexist TV advert. The future Hollywood star and royal wrote a letter to Proctor & Gamble to protest their ad for Ivory dishwasher soap that claimed “women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans”.

Three decades on, it seems little has changed.

A screenshot of the advert, provided to HuffPost UK by the ASA

A screenshot of the advert, provided to HuffPost UK by the ASA

In the banned ad for the Hurricane Spin Scrubber, one woman said she had previously been “embarrassed” to have people over to her house because of limescale deposits but no longer worried after using the product.

“I love having people over to come inspect my kitchen and my bathrooms,” she said, before a male voiceover concluded: “To get your hands on the Hurricane Spin Scrubber and a sparkling clean home call now…”.

A viewer complained to the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) on the grounds the ad perpetuated harmful gender stereotypes by depicting women in a role that was stereotypically female and implying only women cleaned or were interested in cleaning products.

John Mills Ltd, trading as JML, said the ad had been broadcast since 2017, focused on the functionality of the product and featured two shots of men.

The firm said the ad did not suggest cleaning was only associated with women or that a man was unable to undertake any of the featured tasks.

A screenshot of the advert, provided to HuffPost UK by the ASA

A screenshot of the advert, provided to HuffPost UK by the ASA

Advertising clearance agency Clearcast said the ad did not at any point suggest that cleaning was associated with women only.

However, upholding the complaint, the ASA noted that ads may feature people undertaking gender-stereotypical roles, such as showing women cleaning, but they should take care to avoid suggesting that stereotypical roles or characteristics were always uniquely associated with one gender.

The ASA said the four women’s testimonials “contained a number of explicit references to cleaning up after other people and implied feelings of shame at other people seeing an unclean home”. There was no implication that the men briefly featured in the ad would share such responsibilities or feelings.

“We considered the cumulative effect of the four testimonials, the prominence of people cleaning who were easily identifiable as women, and the lack of easily identifiable men, perpetuated the stereotype that it was a woman’s responsibility to take pride in the appearance and cleanliness of their home, and to clean up after other people,” said the ASA. “It also perpetuated the idea that women should be judged on the cleanliness of their home.”

The ASA ruled that the ad must not appear again in its current form, adding: “We told JML to ensure their advertising did not present gender stereotypes in a way that was likely to cause harm, including by suggesting that cleaning the home was a responsibility uniquely associated with women.”

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Plant-Based And Pescatarian Diets Are Linked To Milder Covid

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Eating a plant-based or fish-based diet may help reduce your chances of developing moderate to severe Covid-19, according to a new study.

Following a plant-based diet was associated with 73% lower odds of severe disease, while a pescatarian diet was linked to 59% reduced odds.

“Our results suggest that a healthy diet rich in nutrient dense foods may be considered for protection against severe Covid-19,” researchers said.

However other experts have urged caution interpreting the findings. So don’t go ditching the masks and scrapping social distancing because you eat a lot of vegetables.

What did the study involve?

For the study in the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health Journal, researchers drew on the survey responses of 2,884 frontline doctors and nurses with extensive exposure to the virus, working in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US.

The survey, which ran between July and September 2020, asked for detailed information about dietary patterns, the severity of any Covid-19 infections they’d had, personal background, medical history, medication use and lifestyle.

The various diets were categorised into:

  • plant-based diets, which are higher in vegetables, legumes and nuts

  • pescatarian, which are the same as plant-based diets, but with added fish/seafood

  • and low carb, high protein diets which included meat

What were the results?

Some 568 respondents said they’d experienced symptoms consistent with Covid-19 infection or they’d had no symptoms but had a positive swab test for the infection. Of these, 138 said they’d had moderate to severe Covid-19 and the remaining 430 said they’d had mild infection.

After factoring in several potentially influential variables like age, ethnicity, and lifestyle, respondents who said they ate plant-based diets’ or plant-based/pescatarian diets had, respectively, 73% and 59% lower odds of moderate to severe Covid-19 infection than those who didn’t have these dietary patterns.

Those who said they ate a low carb, high protein diet had nearly four times the odds of moderate to severe Covid-19 infection compared to those who ate a plant-based diet.

The study is observational, and so can’t establish cause, but researchers pointed out that plant-based diets are rich in nutrients, especially phytochemicals (polyphenols, carotenoids), vitamins and minerals, all of which are important for a healthy immune system.

Meanwhile, fish is an important source of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, both of which have anti-inflammatory properties.

Deputy chair of the NNEdPro Nutrition and Covid-19 Taskforce, Shane McAuliffe, said caution is needed in interpreting the findings, however he added that a high quality diet is “important for mounting an adequate immune response, which in turn can influence susceptibility to infection and its severity”.

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