FOODS/DRINKS THAT WEAKENS IMMUNITY EPISODE 2

3) PROCESSED FOODS

Over the years, a lot has changed, and the foods that we eat are creating a sicker generation of children with low immunological status. Even small changes will go a long way when significant percentages of the population take part, knowing or unknowingly. As a result, we now have epidemic increases in diabetes, heart disease, obesity and cancer. The commercialization of food has forced food companies to find newer, cheaper mechanisms to increase the shelf life of food, improve color, taste and perceived nutritional value. Processed foods are one of the greatest dangers to one’s overall health as they provide little actual nutritional value.

These foods are commonly loaded with unhealthy sugars, salts and fats that create inflammation, spike blood sugar and elevate blood pressure. Below are various processed foods and how they affect the body:

INSTANT NOODLES TOPPED WITH MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE(MSG)

There are many brands of instant noodles but few will win any health food awards. The immediate danger is what is in the flavor packet that comes with the noodles. This packet often contains monosodium glutamate or MSG and very high amounts of salt.

One of the most common causes of high blood pressure and kidney disease is eating too much salt. One can incorporate instant noodles into a healthy diet by simply leaving out the flavor packet.

SWEET ADDICTIONS

There are many types of sweets and ways of making them but the vast majority are high in saturated fat and a large portion of the calories come from sugars. They are also a very poor source of vitamins and minerals. The sugar is not just bad for one’s teeth but is a leading cause of inflammation and weight gain as well.

It was appalling to find a small sweet that was packed with over 234 calories, 25 grams of sugar and 12 grams of fat. Sugar is addictive as it manipulates one’s taste buds, metabolism and brain into seeking out more.

CRISPS OUSTING HEALTHIER SNACKS

Crisps are perceived to be inexpensive, tasty and a convenient snack, but the toll they take on our bodies may not be worth the risk. An occasional handful of crisps may not cause irreparable damage to someone consuming an otherwise healthy diet but the real dangers arise when one consumes crisps on a regular or daily basis. Crisps are typically low in vitamins and minerals, and they tend to oust things in the diet that have better nutrient values. They are typically high in fat and energy, which can raise the risk of weight gain and obesity. As an example, one ounce or 15 to 20 crisps of a popular brand contained 10 grams of fat and 154 calories.

SUGARY CEREALS NO BETTER THAN BISCUITS

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides the energy for the day, nutrients needed to repair bodily tissues and activates one’s metabolism to maintain a healthy weight. Junk food, also known as sugary cereals in the morning will provide no nutritional value and can do more harm than good.

According to a recent study, children’s breakfast cereals should be in the chocolate biscuit aisle of supermarkets. One cup of a popular brand of children’s cereal contained more sugar than three cookies. Researchers looked at 50 cereals overall and 32 were too high in sugar. Even brands advertising themselves as healthy options tipped the scales. ‘Healthy options’ usually indicates the fortification of vitamins or minerals. Fortification is a process of artificially implanting nutrients to improve product sales.

BOXED JUICES OR BOXED SUGAR WITH COLORINGS

Infants less than a year old should not drink any fruit juice, 1 to 6 years olds shouldn’t exceed 6 ounces of fruit juice per day and older children ages 7 to 18 shouldn’t consume more than 8 or 12 ounces per day, ideally divided into two servings according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Sensationalist claims on the box make it difficult to figure out if the juice is actually healthy or not. Numerous studies detail the dangers of drinking too many high-energy, high-sugar, low-nutrient beverages. Consumers should be urged to check the food label before purchasing any of their favorite juices.

PROCESSED MEATS PRODUCING CANCERS

Many processed meats are made with unhealthy nitrates, nitrites, trans fats, saturated fats and large amounts of sodium and sugar. A recent study showed a 67 percent increase in pancreatic cancer for people consuming moderate amounts of processed meat. The high trans and saturated fat content can sabotage one’s heart and waistline as well. Sodium nitrite can be found in nearly every packaged meat product imaginable. It’s listed on the food label of products such as bacon, breakfast sausages, dried meats, pepperoni, sandwich meats, ham and even the meats found in canned soups.

NOODLES SAUCES & ARTIFICIAL COLOURINGS

Artificial colourings, stabilizers and emulsifiers are chemicals used to make the food more attractive and palatable. Imitation powdered sauces often contain chemicals like artificial dye yellow #5 and #6. Yellow #5 is a water-soluble artificial dye that is also known as Tartrazine. Other foods that contain Tartrazine includes cake, pudding, biscuits, cookies, muffins, breads, pie crusts, frostings, sweets, gums, ice cream, beverages, cereals, instant waffles, yogurts, chips, crackers, salad dressing, pickles, cheeses, dips, takeaway foods, prepared dried and frozen entrees and sides.

The problems do not stop there. Packaged sauces also contain a fattening secret known as partially hydrogenated oils. These oils are one of the reasons that heart disease is one of the fast growing health conditions. Food companies routinely manipulate oils to make them partially hydrogenated. This manipulation allows the oils to be more stable and have a longer shelf life. The entire process of partially hydrogenating an oil will produce unhealthy trans fats. Trans fatty acids are toxic to our systems, produce inflammation and allow diseases to develop. Partially hydrogenated oils also have a negative effect on cholesterol levels as they raise LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower HDL (good cholesterol). These oils have also been linked to the development of diabetes and a variety of cancers.

4) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Drinking too much alcohol weakens the immune system and makes you more prone to getting sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines excessive drinking as:

Heavy drinking: eight or more drinks a week for women, and 15 or more drinks a week for men
Binge drinking: four or more drinks in two to three hours for women; five or more drinks in that same time time period for men
Drinking while pregnant or younger than the legal drinking age of 21.

Alcohol alters the makeup of your gut microbiome — home to trillions of microorganisms performing several crucial roles for your health — and affects those microorganisms’ ability to support your immune system. It seems that drinking alcohol may also damage the immune cells that line the intestines and serve as the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses. By damaging those cells in your intestines, it can make it easier for pathogens to cross into your bloodstream. That is, by drinking too much, you decrease your body’s defensive mechanisms to fight off a cold, virus, or other bacterial or viral infections. And it’s not just that you’re more likely to get a cold — excessive drinking is linked to pneumonia and other pulmonary diseases. It can also lead to a wide range of health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease, liver disease, and increased risk of cancer.

Drinking alcohol in large quantities even just for a short period of time, like binge drinking, can be bad for your health and your immune system.

Moderate alcohol use may not weaken the immune system, but one has to be careful. A moderate amount of drinking say one drink per day for women, and two drinks per day for men is generally safe for people in good health and unlikely to have a negative effect on their immune systems. Anything above that, regardless of time period, is exposing your body to more alcohol than is ideal.

Moreover, some people shouldn’t drink at all, according to Dietary Guidelines. This includes people who are pregnant, have alcohol abuse disorder, or are taking medications that interact with alcohol. Certain conditions also make alcohol problematic.

Overall, avoid drinking more than moderate amounts if you want your immune system in good shape and if you feel like you’re coming down with something or are sick, do not drink. Not only will drinking alcohol reduce your immune system’s strength, but alcohol also has a dehydrating effect.