BLACKSBURG, Virginia – If you want to give your body the best fighting chance against COVID-19, take a closer look at the food you’re putting on your plate. Dr. Carlin Rafie, an assistant professor of nutrition at Virginia Tech said that the food we eat and nutrition play a big role in our immune function. While the best defense against COVID-19 is mask-wearing, social distancing and washing your hands, she said eating a healthy diet will help too. “Eating a healthy diet is recommended for everybody. She recommended eating foods with fiber and fermented foods like kimchi or kombucha.