In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, Larissa and I discuss a few recent plant-based news stories that have caught our attention. Disclaimer: Information on this site and on our podcast is presented for educational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any new diets or supplements. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.   This Week In Plant-Based News (June 2021) Stories: * Plant-Based Diet Can Slash Severity Of COVID-19 (Plant Based News) Synopsis: Plant Based News reports that a study published by the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention, and Health journal found links between COVID and dietary patterns. This study tracked healthcare workers in six different countries who had been exposed to COVID-19. Out of the positive COVID cases from that group, the majority of those on a plant-based or pescatarian diet had lower odds (73% and 59% respectively) of developing moderate to severe symptoms. This study is one of the first to really look at connecting COVID with diet. Throughout the pandemic, we’ve heard a lot about people with diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity having more severe cases. * He Was a Top Exec at Bumble Bee Tuna. Now He Makes a Plant-Based Seafood Alternative Instead (Vegetarian Times) Synopsis: J. Douglas Hines was the COO of Bumble Bee and spent 40 years in the commercial seafood industry before deciding he’d had enough. He could no longer watch the oceans being destroyed by commercial fishing. Now Hines heads Atlantic Natural Foods, whose brands include Loma Linda, Neat, and Kaffree Roma. * Soon, Everything You Buy From The Body Shop Will Be Vegan (Live Kindly) Founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddic, British cosmetics and beauty brand The Body Shop has set a goal to be 100% vegan by the end of 2023. While The Body Shop currently has many vegan products, some of their offerings do contain animal derivatives such as beeswax, shellac, and lanolin. In addition to their goal of becoming completely vegan in the next two years, they plan to make all of the packaging recyclable by 2025. * How Has Public Perception of Plant-Based Eating Changed Over The Past Decade, And What’s Next For the Movement? (Forks Over Knives) The doctors who appeared in the Forks Over Knives documentary (2011) reunite for its 10-year anniversary to discuss how things ha...