Four Habits that weaken the Immune System

[Guest guest]

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Four Habits that Weaken the Immune System

Certain foods and environmental influences can keep the immune system army from doing a good job. Watch out for these threats to your body's defenses. 1. Overdosing on sugar Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of one 12-ounce can of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune system. 2. Excess alcohol Excessive alcohol intake can harm the body's immune system in two ways. First, it produces an overall nutritional deficiency, depriving the body of valuable immune- boosting nutrients. Second, alcohol, like sugar, consumed in excess can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs. High doses of alcohol suppress the ability of the white blood cells to multiply, inhibit the action of killer white cells on cancer cells, and lessen the ability of macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factors. One drink (the equivalent of 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ounces of hard liquor) does not appear to bother the immune system, but three or more drinks do. Damage to the immune system increases in proportion to the quantity of alcohol consumed. Amounts of alcohol that are enough to cause intoxication are also enough to suppress immunity. 3. Food allergens Due to a genetic quirk, some divisions of the immune army recognize an otherwise harmless substance (such as milk) as a foreign invader and attack it, causing an allergic reaction. Before the battle, the intestinal lining was like a wall impenetrable to foreign invaders. After many encounters with food allergens, the wall is damaged, enabling invaders and other potentially toxic substances in the food to get into the bloodstream and make the body feel miserable. This condition is known as the leaky gut syndrome. 4. Too much fat Obesity can lead to a depressed immune system. It can affect the ability of white blood cells to multiply, produce antibodies, and rush to the site of an infection.

[Guest guest]

I agree with these 100% but feel that sugar is probably the most

common habit that we don't look at as a habit. I mean for most of us

alcohol and fat are a no brainer! Anyhow I do agree that high sugar

intake is not good for us, but I think that in moderation most people

can have some sugar in their lives and not be affected by it. When

your ill however, sugar may have a much more detrimental effect on

health than in someone with a normal system. Caffiene probably is

another one of these. I work with people who would not drink coffee

due to religious preferences, yet they think absolutely nothing of

sitting down and drinking a 32 ounce coke! Soda pop has got to be one

of the worse things you can drink! I have never been big on pop and

now I can thank god for that.

hugs

C

In , " Dave and Patty Faussett "

<faussettdp@y...> wrote:

>

http://www.immunecentral.com/templates/info_template.cfm/1696/70/1

> Four Habits that Weaken the Immune System

> Certain foods and environmental influences can keep the

immune system army from doing a good job. Watch out for these threats

to your body's defenses.

>

> 1. Overdosing on sugar

>

> Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the

equivalent of one 12-ounce can of soda, can reduce the ability of

white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. The immune-

suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after

ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of

complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune

system.

>

> 2. Excess alcohol

>

> Excessive alcohol intake can harm the body's immune system in

two ways. First, it produces an overall nutritional deficiency,

depriving the body of valuable immune- boosting nutrients. Second,

alcohol, like sugar, consumed in excess can reduce the ability of

white cells to kill germs. High doses of alcohol suppress the ability

of the white blood cells to multiply, inhibit the action of killer

white cells on cancer cells, and lessen the ability of macrophages to

produce tumor necrosis factors. One drink (the equivalent of 12

ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ounces of hard liquor) does

not appear to bother the immune system, but three or more drinks do.

Damage to the immune system increases in proportion to the quantity

of alcohol consumed. Amounts of alcohol that are enough to cause

intoxication are also enough to suppress immunity.

>

> 3. Food allergens

>

> Due to a genetic quirk, some divisions of the immune army

recognize an otherwise harmless substance (such as milk) as a foreign

invader and attack it, causing an allergic reaction. Before the

battle, the intestinal lining was like a wall impenetrable to foreign

invaders. After many encounters with food allergens, the wall is

damaged, enabling invaders and other potentially toxic substances in

the food to get into the bloodstream and make the body feel

miserable. This condition is known as the leaky gut syndrome.

>

> 4. Too much fat

>

> Obesity can lead to a depressed immune system. It can affect

the ability of white blood cells to multiply, produce antibodies, and

rush to the site of an infection.