Stay Away From These Commonly Eaten Food Items, Else be Ready to Negatively Affect Your Immunity
Image Credit: Foods that can be debilitating for your immunity. (Picture Courtesy: Pixabay)

Your body's immunity majorly depends on the type of foods you eat. That is why you are told by medical professionals to have a balanced and nutritious diet. Also, we must always check the label of any packaged food item that we buy. This is significant as not doing so can take a toll on your body's defense system.

As per a new study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, a food preservative called tert-butylhydroquinone or TBHQ, which is commonly used to increase the shelf life of processed eatables are toxic to your immune system and affects its cell proteins. It can also potentially cause allergies. As per a few other study results "forever chemical" or PFAS that is used in packaging materials migrate to food. This can be extremely harmful to your body

Therefore, if possible, do stay away from processed foods. Also, carbonated beverages, refined carbs, and sugary foods are not good for your health. Foods rich in added sugars can increase the production of inflammatory proteins ( IL-6, CRP, etc) in your body that can further affect your immunity. Notably, these proteins can inhibit the response of two types of immune cells namely neutrophils and phagocytes that protect you from infections. 

On the other hand, if you eat too many packaged salty foods, you need to immediately stop doing that. This is because salty food items including frozen dinners, chips, etc. can trigger tissue inflammation and may further cause autoimmune diseases. Salt can not only affect your immune response but also potentially suppress the anti-inflammatory response. It can alter gut bacteria too, says a study published in the journal Nutrients.

Also Read

Food items rich in omega-6 fats are also a 'no' 'no'. Your body requires both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, but these should be in balance. An imbalance in their levels in the body is associated with an increased risk of immune dysfunction. Opting for a diet packed too much with omega-6 fats can promote the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins and that can impact your immunity significantly.