Each individual is provided with a unique gut microbiota profile that plays many specific functions in host nutrient metabolism, maintenance of structural integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, immunomodulation, and protection against pathogens.

The vast majority of cases in China — 87% — were in people ages 30 to 79, the China Center for Disease Control reported In February of 2020, based on data from all 72,314 of those diagnosed with Covid-19 as of Feb. 11.

China CDC has found that only 2.3% of confirmed cases died. But the fatality rate was 14.8% in people 80 or older, likely reflecting the presence of other diseases, a weaker immune system, or simply worse overall health. By contrast, the fatality rate was 1.3% in 50-somethings, 0.4% in 40-somethings, and 0.2% in people 10 to 39.

Health Status:

The male-female difference in fatality rates, and perhaps in reported incidence, may arise from differences in underlying health. People with pre-existing illness are more likely to get seriously ill when receiving further toxic insults such as animal-based foods, chemicals such as chemotherapy, low-frequency electromagnetic radiation, vaccinations, etc.

In the first large study of the effect of underlying illness, researchers in China analyzed 1,590 patients from throughout the country with laboratory-confirmed disease. They calculated how existing illnesses affected the risk of being admitted to intensive care, being put on a ventilator, or dying.

After taking into account the patients’ ages and smoking status, the researchers found that the 399 patients with at least one additional disease (including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hepatitis B, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney diseases, and cancer) had a 79% greater chance of requiring intensive care or a respirator or both, or of dying.

The numbers are these: While patients who reported no health conditions had a case fatality rate of 0.9%, patients with health conditions had much higher rates—10.5% for those with cardiovascular disease, 7.3% for diabetes, 6.3% for chronic respiratory disease, 6.0% for hypertension, and 5.6% for cancer. Case fatality rate was also very high for cases categorized as critical at 49.0%.

Immune System:

Like with any viral or non-viral condition, people get ill easily due to weak immunity responses. The Immune system is built on beneficial live bacteria that lives in the gut (built from fiber-rich foods) which protect the human body from disease. When the immune system response is low, weak, or damaged it becomes a open invitation for disease.

Plant-based foods increase and help the intestinal flora, the intestinal “good” bacteria, and the overall gut microbiome health which makes up to 85% of the body’s immune system. On the contrary, animal foods deplete the body from good bacteria, promote inflammation, and are the underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hepatitis B, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney diseases, and cancer.

Prevention:

Fending off contagious or non-contagious diseases depend in great part on an individual’s diet and nutrition. Eating organic whole plant foods with good amounts of leafy greens and fiber-rich foods (legumes, whole grains, beans, vegetables), avoiding animal products including (poultry, fish, pork, beef, and dairy), and adding a lactobacillus probiotic to the everyday routine are key factors.

Protecting ourselves from disease goes beyond washing hands and wearing a mask. It requires providing the body with the appropriate defense mechanism to allow it to stay strong even during times of biological threat.

 

Further Reading: 

Begley, Sharon, et al. “Who Is Getting Sick? A Look at Coronavirus Risk by Age, Gender, and More.” STAT, 3 Mar. 2020, www.statnews.com/2020/03/03/who-is-getting-sick-and-how-sick-a-breakdown-of-coronavirus-risk-by-demographic-factors/.

Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Emergency Response Epidemiology Team. “The Epidemiological Characteristics of an Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) – China, 2020.” China CDC Weekly, China CDC Weekly, 1 Feb. 2020, weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/id/e53946e2-c6c4-41e9-9a9b-fea8db1a8f51.

Liang, et al. “Comorbidity and Its Impact on 1,590 Patients with COVID-19 in China: A Nationwide Analysis.” MedRxiv, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1 Jan. 2020, www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.25.20027664v1.

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