Why were we such easy prey for Covid-19?

"Complacency thy name is danger." It takes a crisis to get us to act. We claim to be the 'superior' species yet we seem to be singularly lacking in common sense. Viruses will come and go, it is the way of the Universe, yet, the effect of the current pandemic raises the question of our (as a race) preparedness through basic health and immunity. It is not merely the concept of the underprivileged not being able to afford a nutritious diet, but our gross negligence when it comes to strengthening our immune system.

Our common attitude is, "closing the door after the horse has bolted from the stable". The old adage, "prevention is better than cure" is conveniently swept under the rug for who wants to be a party pooper and call for preventive measures when times are good? That's definitely not good 'politics'.

Strengthening the immune system through nutrition is a very sound practice, however, we as a race in general are woefully ignorant as to which foods are good for health and which foods are unhealthy. Umpteen books have been written by nutritional 'experts' claiming to be the best path to the 'Shangrila' of good health, yet there is no one book that can be a universal guide to a basic healthy diet taking into account regional availability. Religion has its 'Holy Books', communication has its dictionaries, yet on a subject as important as health, the powers that be are incomprehensibly negligent.

This current pandemic has opened a ‘Pandora's Box’, for the burning question of the fact that the developed nations of the world showed a collective lack of resistance to the virus. This is because of the general lack of exposure to common germs due to 'super hygienic' norms being implemented in these countries. The over-emphasis on creating a close to sterile environment has denuded the immune system through avoidance from relatively less harmless germs. 

Please understand that I am NOT advocating against hygiene, merely pointing out that we should put emphasis on educating the public on foods that are healthy and making sure that they are available to all whilst also stressing the importance of basic hygiene. The safest and healthiest path to follow is to eat a varied diet, but eat in moderation, exercise in moderation and practice personal hygiene. Remember that illness and dying are a part of the circle of life, it is not your longevity but the quality of life that is important.