Many people get sick more often during the cold season, but few of them know that proper nutrition can provide significant support in the fight against seasonal diseases.
However, this article is not about what foods should be included in the diet in order to be healthy, but about foods that negatively affect the immune system.
Of course, you cannot destroy the immune system with improper nutrition, but you can harm and weaken it. After all, most of the immune cells live in the intestines, and malnutrition can disrupt the microflora that lives there.
Everyone can help the gut so that it, in turn, helps the immune system become stronger. The main thing is to exclude from the diet products that undermine the strength of immunity, such as:
High sugar food
These products include: canned food, marmalade and sweets; cookies and cakes, flavored milk and sweetened dairy products; cereal with sugar; sweet drinks
A diet high in sugar can limit the immune system's ability to fight disease by reducing the effectiveness of white blood cells and increasing inflammation.
If you want something sweet, then eat fruit. An excellent option is pomegranate. Other fruits are also useful, they are quite sweet, have many vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, contain fiber, which is very necessary for the functioning of the intestine.
Salty food
This, of course, is primarily about all kinds of snacks – chips, crackers. In general, excessive salt intake disrupts the microflora, weakens the immune system, disrupts the body's anti-inflammatory reactions.
Excessive salt intake puts a strain on the heart and kidneys. The body tries to excrete excess salt in the urine, while simultaneously producing additional doses of corticosteroids – hormones of the adrenal glands. They reduce the activity of immune cells, which increases the risk of infections (both viral and bacterial).
Bakery products
White bread, cakes, cookies – well, who does not like to eat any pastries. However, they can also destroy the immune system. The thing is that most often pastries are made from white flour, which gives a high calorie content. At the same time, the body from such food almost does not benefit, since they contain a low amount of nutrients. Frequent consumption of such foods leads to weight gain, inflammation in the body, and insulin resistance.
Fast food
Frequent consumption of fast food slows down the speed of the immune system, provokes inflammation, an imbalance in the intestinal microflora, and the development of allergic reactions. Fast food contains trans fats, a lot of sugar and almost no fiber.
Processed meat
Ham, sausage and other products, especially those containing monosodium glutamate (E 621), slow down the activity of metabolic processes in the thymus and spleen, which leads to inhibition of the production of antibodies against foreign agents.
Alcohol
Regular alcohol consumption disrupts the synthesis of immunoglobulins and inhibits the activity of leukocytes, which leads to a decrease in immunity. Under the influence of ethanol, lysozyme, an enzyme that destroys the cell walls of bacteria and thereby kills pathogens, disappears from the tissues and fluids of our body. Moreover, uncontrolled alcohol consumption can lead to complications in any disease.
Caffeine
Coffee is an indispensable source of strength and energy for the body, however, it has a well-known property to dehydrate the body, which is critical in the fight against potential bacteria. If a person drinks little water during the day, this significantly reduces all the functional abilities of the body, including immunity.
Caffeine is not only found in coffee. Therefore, those who do not want to weaken the immune system should also be wary of other caffeinated foods, such as chocolate, certain sodas, and energy drinks.
In general, it is worth noting that the rejection of these products will be useful at any time of the year. Compliance with the principles of rational nutrition helps the body to get the maximum benefit from the incoming products. In other words, avoiding greasy burgers and sugary soda isn't just for fall or winter, so these tips will be useful all year round.
Have strong immunity and do not get sick!