Maintaining Your Immunity During The Holidays

Via Modern Forager

Watch Your Sugar And Processed Carbs
Being the nice guy that I am, I’m starting things off by taking away your cookies, cakes, and pies. Aren’t I sweet, no pun intended? Why though? Well, sugar and processed carbs cause an inordinate rise in insulin production, which causes a suppression of growth hormones. Unfortunately, there’s also a suppression of the immune system when these growth hormones are suppressed. Further, a high level of sugar in the blood reduces the ability of white blood cells to engulf bacteria and other infections.

But just how bad can it be?

These studies show that in adults, cell mediated immunity is significantly depressed after sugar ingestion (75 grams). A 100g portion of sugar can significantly reduce the capacity of white blood cells to engulf bacteria. Maximum immune suppression occurs one to two hours after ingestion and remains suppressed for up to five hours after feeding.

A 12oz Coke contains 40g of sugar. Add a cookie or two on top of that and you’re already up there around 75g. And of course, it’s unlikely that we’re dealing with a binary variable here (that’s an “on/off” variable in non-geek speak). More sugar is going to suppress the immune system more, but that doesn’t mean that the 40g from a Coke leaves you in the clear.

How delightful is that piece of fudge now?

Read the rest HERE.