Your diet has a huge part to play in your overall body function.
While a wholesome diet strengthens your immune system, bad foods can weaken your immune system and increase your risk of contracting certain diseases.
Below are some foods that may weaken your immune system.
1. Added sugar
Meals high in added sugars increase inflammatory proteins in your body, adversely impacting your immune function.
This is especially prevalent in people with diabetes as they can have high blood sugar levels longer than people with normal blood sugar levels.
In addition, meals high in added sugar have been proven to increase your susceptibility to certain diseases like arthritis.
It includes foods that are high in added sugar include ice cream, candy, cake, and sugary beverages.
2. Salty foods
Diets with high salt content increase the risk of autoimmune diseases and may trigger tissue inflammation.
That’s right, chips and fast food can decrease your body’s immune response. Overeating salt has also been proven to worsen existing autoimmune diseases.
So, if you want your immune system to fight diseases effectively, it’s best to reduce your salt intake.
3. Charred and processed meat
Research dysfunction and processed meats have a high amount of saturated fats. Saturated fats also contribute to inflammation.
In summary, processed meats and meats cooked at high temperatures can harm your immune system, so it is best to avoid them.
4. Foods with certain additives
Food items, mainly processed foods, often contain additives to improve their lifespan, taste, and texture.
However, some of these additives can have a negative effect on your immune system.
For instance, emulsifiers added to food to improve their texture can induce inflammation and harm your gut.
Thickeners and sweeteners can also affect immune function. So how do you know foods that contain these additives?
You can check the ingredients of whatever you’re consuming and know if you need to reduce your intake.