Focus on nutritious meals during crisis

I read with sadness, “Panic buying: Market aisles stripped bare” (March 16), not only because of the impact that COVID19 is having on our lives, but more so because of the reminder of what many Americans eat. Twinkies, Lucky Charms and Chocolate Toast Crunch cereal are highly processed foods, loaded with sugar that destroys our immune systems — the first line of defense against virulent viruses.

Along with handwashing and social distancing, the message from our public health officials must emphasize the importance of limiting sugar and processed foods! The epidemic of obesity, chronic conditions and suppressed immunity is directly related to poor dietary behavior.

The impact on young children is especially tragic. We have generations of children who have grown up on junk food and will suffer the consequences of chronic illnesses as a result. As a society, we need to wake up and embrace nutrientdense, whole, lifegiving food.

Irrational fear

Regarding “Got you covered on toilet paper” (Last Word, March 14): Thank you to Marshall Kilduff for pointing out the packmentality absurdity of hoarding toilet paper. I have watched shopping carts at checkout counters piled high with rolls of the white stuff and wondered if those shoppers knew something I didn’t.

Now I’m comforted to know they aren’t acting out of an abundance of caution but an abundance of irrational fear.

Don’t wing it

Regarding “All Newsom, Breed can do is put on their game faces” (Willie’s World, March 15): With all due respect, former Mayor Willie Brown, would you really wing it if you were mayor now? Officials are only flying blind if they ignore science.

The information from medical experts is not speculation — it varies only because scientists do not know what elected officials are going to do. The scientists know exactly what a pandemic virus is going to do. Even if the science of epidemiology did not exist, there is another scientific principle that could have guided us: the precautionary principle, which states that when the risks are uncertain, but possibly extreme, it is prudent to take mitigating measures.

Thanks in part to the stunning lack of leadership from the top elected official of the United States, the response to the coronavirus from elected officials on down the line has been too little, too late.

This entire country needed to be shut down a week or two ago. The additional thousands of deaths that are going to result from the delay, well, those are on our socalled leaders.

On the bright side

Although this is a very difficult time for all of us, do we realize that this new behavior will surely result in a reduction of global warming from human activity?

We’re in good hands

During this pandemic, I would like to share my thoughts. We continue to follow our administration’s guidelines and feel strongly that we are in capable hands. Our medical teams are extraordinary. President Trump is proactive. Given historical data, America will recover economically eventually. We always have! It is in everyone’s best interests to work together as a community, as a team, to overcome this pandemic. This is no time for partisan politics. Listen up, Washington, D.C., we are at war! I am proud to be an American.

In need of support

People are talking about their workfromhome setups, how to maintain their fitness and how to stay connected to friends and family. Compared with other issues that are happening, these topics are of very little importance and, frankly, it is a privilege if this is all that you are worrying about.

It is easy to forget parents who can’t work from home, can’t go into work and are not being paid but still need to provide for their families. And then there are parents who are essential employees, but whose children’s schools and day cares are closed. For families who are dealing with issues related to mental health, substance abuse, etc., what about the case managers and therapists who help them every day?

Now is not the time to learn selfsufficiency. What does a society do when the community is most in need of support but can’t receive it?