Over the past several weeks, government officials, health experts and registered dietitians have done a stellar job communicating about food safety and what foods support immune function and help fight off illness. Topping the list of these immune-supporting foods are always fruits and vegetables.

This CNN Opinion piece, “How Your Diet Can Help Flatten the Curve,” by two professors from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and a former Secretary of Agriculture is an example of providing nutrition advice as well as underscoring the importance of nutrition education.

Some excerpts:

• Higher intakes of specific nutrients appear to boost the immune system, while low intakes lead to less effective immune responses and higher susceptibility to infection.
• Take this opportunity to eat healthy foods at home like: citrus fruits, berries, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, shellfish, beans, almonds, hazelnuts, peanut butter, turmeric and tea.
• Beyond the measures we are taking to fight the virus in the short term, we must also reduce the long-term impacts. Preventing and lessening the severity of existing cardiovascular disease and diabetes should be a key tactic. Among different risks and preventive approaches for these diseases, nutrition tops the list.
• A recent multi-investigator study estimated that about 45% of all cardiovascular disease and diabetes deaths are directly attributable to poor diet. Even without Covid-19, another recent study estimated that poor diet kills about 530,000 Americans annually — or nearly 1,500 deaths a day.

The last excerpt provides some sobering statistics which clearly illustrate the importance of eating right. But, with only one in 10 Americans eating enough fruits and vegetables each day, the dietitian community has worked diligently during this time to encourage healthy eating by providing reassurances about the safety of produce, some easy usage and recipe ideas along with information on proper washing and preparation of fruits and vegetables.

Some of these efforts include:

• This U.S. News and World Report article by Dr. Joan Salge Blake features healthy and quick recipes from some of our favorite dietitians and showcases how to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet to support immune function.
• This Sound Bites podcast by dietitian Melissa Joy Dobbins featuring Dr. Taylor Wallace, Food and Nutrition Studies Adjunct Professor at George Mason University, combines eating advice and food safety information along with other tips to keep you healthy and sane while sheltering in place.
• This Shape Magazine article by dietitian and Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF) guest blogger Toby Amidor provides some simple steps for washing fruits and vegetables as well as grocery shopping tips to keep you and your food safe.
• This video featuring dietitian Maya Feller provides her advice for supporting immune function including eating lots of fruits and vegetables as well as healthy items to freeze and store.
• A new and timely cookbook from dietitian and AFF guest blogger, Elizabeth Shaw and her dietitian co-author Wendy Jo Peterson called “Instapot for Dummies,” shows you how to cook healthy meals using this popular appliance.

We hope this information is helpful for those who want to keep up their healthy eating habits, which includes more fruits and vegetables every day. The science clearly shows, and government officials reiterate, that both organic and conventional produce is safe and can be eaten with confidence. So choose either or both, but choose to eat more every day.

And remember to be thankful to farmers and farm workers who are working hard every day to keep a steady supply of fruits and vegetables available to consumers. And, please say “thank you” to your local grocery store, restaurant and food delivery employees too. Stay well.

Photo Courtesy of Heart.org