Nutritionists revealed the most harmful eating habits for immunity

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With the onset of cold and flu season, many who begins to think about strengthening immunity. Not only compliance with well-known rules, but also proper nutrition will help to reduce the risks.

Doctors said that some eating habits have the worst effect on the body's natural defenses.

Diverse diet >

Nutritionist Amanda Sauceda calls a varied diet one of the best ways to strengthen the immune system. “If you eat the same thing over and over again, it can negatively affect your immunity. Since 70% of our immune system is located in the intestines, it is important to feed its beneficial bacteria,” said the specialist. According to her, the easiest way to support the diversity of the gut microbiome is to eat different fruits, vegetables and foods from different food groups.

Low in prebiotics

If there are not enough prebiotics in the diet, the work of the intestines deteriorates significantly, warned nutritionist and founder of Uplift Food Kara Landau (Kara Landau). “A diet lacking in prebiotics depletes our gut bacteria. A poor microbiome, in turn, increases inflammatory markers in our body and decreases the immune response,” she explained.

Too much sugar and fat

Eating too much sugar and fat can have an extremely negative effect on immunity, added Sheetal DeCaria, MD. She specified that improper nutrition leads to an overload of the immune system and constant inflammation in the body. “This inflammation is linked to a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. A diet high in refined sugar, saturated fat, and low in fiber can lead to this inflammation,” she explained.

Too much processed food

Negative not only a diet with a high content of sugar and fat, but also frequent use of processed foods can affect immunity, said nutritionist Trista Best. “When we eat these foods in large quantities, they can start to irritate the gut, cause an imbalance in the microbiome and ultimately lead to chronic inflammation. This inflammation can reduce the body's proper immune response and lead to an increase in the number of acute and chronic diseases,” she said.