FOODS/DRINKS THAT WEAKENS IMMUNITY

FOODS/DRINKS THAT WEAKENS IMMUNITY

There are ways to keep your immune system function optimally which can keep you. These include maintaining good nutrition, being physically active, managing stress & getting adequate sleep. But before we look into immunity boosting, let’s tackle the foods that weakens our immune system because the immune system relies on a steady supply of nutritious diet to do its job. You might discover that you’ve been consuming the wrong food.

If you eat a lot of foods and beverages high in sugar or refined carbohydrates, which the body processes as sugar, you may be reducing your body’s ability to ward off disease. Research has proven and advised that consuming these things in excess will compromise your immune response, making you vulnerable to diseases and infections.

• Soda
• Processed foods
• Refined carbohydrates
• Alcoholic beverages
• And while they aren’t part of a food group, tobacco products can also compromise your immune system.

SODA

People often drink soda as if it is water, some even instead of water. Soda has an alarming amount of sugar, calories and harmful additives that have absolutely no nutritional value. Studies have linked soda to osteoporosis, obesity, tooth decay and heart disease.

The caffeine found in soda can cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion. This greatly affect one’s immunity.

Soda also contains phosphoric acid that can interfere with the body’s ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the bones and teeth. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes the acids in the stomach making it difficult to properly utilize nutrients.

REFINED CARBOHYDRATES

Refined carbohydrates are also known as simple or processed carbs which have been stripped of almost all fibre, bran & nutrients. For this reason they can be considered as “empty” calories. These include pasta, white bread, fries, pizza dough, sugary desserts and many breakfast cereals. During refining process, the fibre, vitamins and minerals are all gone causing rapid spikes in blood sugar and insulin level which make you full for a short time leaving you with hunger and cravings.

Refined carbs increase blood triglycerides, blood sugar levels and cause insulin resistance. All these are major risk factors of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

“To go the extra mile in ensuring you do have a strong immune system, research suggests that eating garlic and foods high in vitamin C helps ward off infection,” says Dr. Blackmon. “The next time you reach for junk food, realize that you not only are affecting your weight, but you may be letting down your resistance to bacteria, viruses, and parasites.”

We shall look deeply into processed foods and alcoholic beverages and how they affect our immunity in our next publication.

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