The way we eat is shaping the way we live, and for many Americans, it is making them sicker, more stressed, and more vulnerable to disease. Nutrition is a foundational component of health, yet it remains one of the most overlooked and underutilized tools in preventing chronic illness, reducing burnout, and strengthening mental resilience.

Americans have become increasingly aware of how the foods we eat impact our physical well-being. Leaders in politics, medicine, and academia are organizing and advocating around the need for Americans to eat healthier.

The GAIA study’s findings leave no room for doubt: nutrition is a first line of defense against chronic disease, burnout, and stress. The findings reveal a direct link between what we eat and our ability to withstand illness, manage burnout, and navigate stress. As the nation faces a worsening mental health crisis, rising healthcare costs, and growing disparities in food access, this issue demands urgent attention.

The pandemic made it clear our food choices shaped our resilience, affecting how we respond to illness, cope with stress, and recover from setbacks. While future pandemics and public health threats are inevitable, what we eat can help soften the blow. And yet nutrition is still absent from many conversations around medical preparedness and policy solutions.

“These survey results by Ipsos and the Virsa Foundation highlight several important and timely health benefits enjoyed by Americans who skip the meat and animal products and instead choose minimally processed and unprocessed plant foods: healthier body weight, better mental health, and fewer symptoms of COVID-19,” Noah Praamsma, MS, RDN, Nutrition Education Coordinator with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine said. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine was one of several partners that helped the Virsa Foundation in the dissemination of the survey.

Despite scientific evidence, nutrition remains underutilized as a tool for preventing disease and improving mental health. Chronic disease now accounts for 90% of U.S. healthcare spending and mental illness accounts for $282 billion annually, yet WFPB dietary recommendations are rarely prioritized by healthcare institutions. Millions of Americans—particularly in Black, Latinx, and low-income communities—lack access to fresh, whole foods, leaving them more vulnerable to poor health outcomes. The consequences of inaction are clear: rising healthcare costs, increasing rates of chronic illness, and worsening mental health.

Evidence-based nutritional advice must be reflected in public policy. While the USDA’s dietary guidelines have always recommended consuming fruits and vegetables, it’s time for a decisive shift towards a more plant-based and non-processed approach to nutrition and caution Americans about the many health concerns related to animal-based products.

Nonprofit organizations such as The Virsa Foundation and its JIVINITI Research Program continue to conduct plant-forward consumer advocacy and industry-independent research for the cause of public and planetary health, ensuring that food policy reflects the latest science on nutrition, resilience, and disease prevention.

“It’s not enough to tell people to eat better or exercise more if fresh produce is out of reach. Access, affordability, and support are the cornerstones of burnout recovery, and everyone deserves a fair shot,” said Nivi Jaswal, founder and President of the Virsa Foundation.

Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the deep vulnerabilities in our healthcare system, it is clear that we cannot afford to ignore the role of nutrition in disease prevention and recovery. The pandemic heightened public awareness of personal health, but awareness alone is not enough. The GAIA study’s findings provide evidence that what we eat shapes how we cope with stress, recover from illness, and prepare for future public health crises.

The science is clear. The solutions exist. What happens next depends on whether we choose to act. With the right commitment from policymakers, healthcare leaders, the food industry, and individuals, we can move beyond awareness and turn nutrition into a frontline defense against burnout, chronic disease, and the next public health crisis. The opportunity is here—what happens next is up to us.