As the global pandemic of COVID-19 continues to spread, our biggest fears surrounding our daily habits have been realized, especially when we talk about weight loss and balancing our diet.

The global outbreak of this year’s newest strain of the coronavirus has left us all hungry. Hungry for information. Hungry for social interaction. Hungry for shopping. Hungry for good food. But all that COVID-19 has done is left us starving for the thought of what it would be like to go out for that decent meal, with people we enjoy. 

And guess what has suffered? 

Our diets. But what can we do about all that extra weight gain, when the kitchen keeps calling our name? Ironic, isn’t it? How one pandemic has opened the door to another pandemic: Metabolic inflammation and dysregulation.

Perhaps now, the timing is perfect, as dull as it sounds, for diets like keto, which have previously been questioned on effectiveness, to serve as an alleviator to the harm that the coronavirus has continued to cause in the health of our society. 

With diseases out there like Hashimoto’s, I wanted to get a better understanding of how COVID-19 impacts the condition, taking into account the possibility that the keto diet could actually serve as a solution.

I spoke with Martina Slajerova, the creator of the rapidly growing and popular mobile app, Keto Diet App. Slajerova was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease that left her feeling tired and struggling to maintain a healthy weight. Since she discovered the Keto Diet as a solution to managing her daily struggle with Hashimoto’s, she has been an open, passionate advocate for the Keto Diet, even during the coronavirus outbreak.

With COVID-19 continuing to worsen in states like Florida, Texas, and New York, discussions surrounding the Keto Diet have continued to spur, particularly around men. 

“I’ve noticed that people are more interested in how they can improve their diet,” Slajerova pointed out. “We know that diet plays a role in how the body reacts to viral infections and we know that poor diet leads to poor health markers and an increased risk of death from COVID-19.”

For those who are supportive of clean eating, or a whole foods-based Keto Diet, Slajerova further explained that this type of diet is also something to consider because that diet has proven to have beneficial effects on several health markers including blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin and blood sugar levels, body fat percentage and inflammation.

Fake News Galore Can Be Dangerous to Your Health

Unfortunately, because we live in an era of “fake news”, where we must now question every news source around us and distinguish fact from fiction, I was curious about what the Keto Diet App founder has observed during the coronavirus pandemic that is just plain wrong about the Keto Diet.

One of the most common claims, Slajerova shared with me, is that the Keto Diet can “protect” you from getting infected with COVID-19. “That is not true. Generally speaking, beware of so-called ‘experts’ giving advice on social media. I am not a health professional and I would personally take any advice found online with extreme caution.”

She advises consumers who want to fully understand such a complex issue to look to someone who is an expert in biochemistry, virology, immunology, epidemiology and public health. “There is so much we don’t know about COVID-19 and nobody should claim they have the answers right now.”

It’s certainly no surprise that the Keto Diet has been widely debated over the years. Yet, why do people still consider the diet to be the answer they are looking for, especially those like Slajerova who suffer from Hashimoto’s Disease?

“To understand how COVID-19 may affect people with Hashimoto’s Disease, we need to look at what it is: an autoimmune disease, which places those who suffer from such diseases in a high-risk group. Specifically, individuals suffering from such complications are likely to develop severe symptoms and the mortality rate is significantly higher than it is for the general population. As someone with Hashimoto’s, I have been advised by the health authorities to self-isolate, which is exactly what I do.”

But for those who aren’t suffering the same fate as Slajerova and others living with Hashimoto’s, the right diet can still help with the body’s reaction to the COVID-19 virus. 

“When the body is overwhelmed (which is more likely in elderly and people with underlying health conditions), it overreacts with what is known as a ‘cytokine storm.’ Ketones are known to decrease inflammation and there is some evidence showing that they might protect against the cytokine storm.”

Dieting Down the Red Carpet

Switching gears to Hollywood and the Red Carpet, the Keto Diet is still extremely popular amongst Hollywood celebrities. 

Over the years, one of the biggest advocates for the Keto Diet has been Halle Berry, who uses diet to keep her fit and manage her diabetes. Kim Kardashian used the diet to lose weight after giving birth, while Victoria’s Secret supermodel Adriana Lima is known for her intense fitness regimes and clean low-carb diet.

As of today, Slajerova’s app, like many others, has seen changes in trends as more and more people have been affected with COVID-19. “Despite the devastating economic effects of COVID-19, we have been fortunate to be able to run our business online. In fact, we have noticed a steady growth as people are focusing more on their diet.”