Can Coffee Prevent COVID/Restore Sense of Smell? It's Not a Miracle Cure!

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I believe that in recent days, friends have either been at home complaining about sore throats or working as essential workers during the pandemic, feeling some discomfort in their throats every day. (Drink more honey water)

To further protect themselves, some friends saw a study published by Northwestern University in the journal "Nutrients" showing that coffee can prevent COVID-19 while reading various virus prevention plans. As a result, the various health drinks in their thermoses uniformly turned into coffee. However, not long after, they still joined the ranks of those with sore throats... and then forwarded the article to the content writer, starting to complain.

So, the content writer took a look at the complete publication: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/2114

Research Details

In this analysis, researchers included subjects whose test results were between March 16 and November 30, 2020, conducting 74,878 tests on 42,699 UKB participants. Researchers excluded subjects lacking baseline data on nutritional factors and covariates (n=4711). The final research sample included 37,988 UKB participants.

The baseline dietary factors in the study included daily intake of coffee, tea, fish, processed meats, red meat, fruits, and vegetables. Detailed records were kept of the daily intake of these subjects.

Research Findings

The research results showed that compared to drinking less than one cup of coffee per day, drinking one or more cups of coffee daily was associated with approximately a 10% reduction in COVID-19 risk. Other conclusions included that consuming at least 0.67 servings of vegetables daily was associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19 infection. Consuming at least 0.43 servings of processed meat daily was associated with a higher risk of COVID-19. Compared to those not breastfed as infants, those who were breastfed had a 10% lower risk of COVID-19.

Upon careful review of this research process, it becomes clear that coffee is NOT the main protagonist in preventing COVID-19! The immune system is!!! Researchers involved in this study also indicated that caffeine is not the primary reason for fighting viruses. Even if one doesn't drink coffee daily or only drinks one cup, having a balanced diet and exercise can reduce the risk of infection.

From the research process, it can be seen that the participating subjects consumed nutrients from different meats, fruits, and vegetables daily, and these nutrients continuously enhanced the body's immunity. Researchers also added in the article: A person's nutrition affects immunity, and the immune system plays a crucial role in an individual's susceptibility and response to infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Coffee may play such a role, but it's not about making everyone drink only coffee! Therefore, balanced diet, proper protection, and good disinfection are the key principles!

Coffee and Smell Recovery

Previously, there was coffee preventing COVID-19, and now coffee helping restore smell! Coffee has been quite busy these days... I believe many friends have also seen articles online about "restoring sense of smell by smelling coffee aroma when losing it due to COVID-19" while surfing the internet.

The article stated that coffee beans contain over 800 aromatic compounds that can stimulate olfactory receptors to generate nerve impulses, thereby restoring the sense of smell.

So, the content writer... tried it! Um... it didn't work for me. Under the steaming effect of hot coffee, it temporarily relieved nasal congestion (only briefly)... but recognizing smells still needs some time to recover.

The reason some friends experience temporary loss of smell is that nerve damage caused by inflammation weakens the brain's perception of odors, but everyone's inflammation situation is different. Some friends may have milder symptoms and can restore their sense of smell threshold under the stimulation of specific smells (not necessarily coffee).

So, when you really feel that you can't distinguish tastes, you can try it, and it's not a big problem if it doesn't work. After all, when you're sick, your body needs time to recover, and the loss of taste/smell is a temporary thing, so there's no need to be too anxious~ it's okay!!!

Final Thoughts

Finally,

I hope everyone takes good care of themselves during this time, eats well, and maintains personal disinfection and protection. May everyone welcome the new year healthily and happily!

Keep going!!!

Image source: Internet

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