High-calorie Food Lowers Immunity

Author: Alexander Bruni Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about High-calorie Food Lowers Immunity. High-energy food disrupts the response of lymphocytes and T-cell functions .....

Adherence to the principles of healthy eating is necessary in every season, but it is especially important in the spring, as it creates the basis for maintaining good immunity and dealing with the unpleasant spring fatigue and general fatigue characteristic of this season. A balanced diet reduces the risk of nutritional deficiencies in the body, which create a prerequisite for lowering immunity.

Some foods have a special relationship with our immune system. Such are protein foods and those rich in vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C, B vitamins, some minerals such as zinc and magnesium are involved in the functioning of the immune system.

Maintaining an optimal and healthy weight is the basis for good immunity. Both underweight and overweight and obesity impair immunity. Obese people are more likely to suffer from respiratory diseases and show a higher risk of infections during surgery. Obesity has been found to reduce the response of both T and B lymphocytes.

Measures should be taken when a person is overweight but severely restrictive diets are not appropriate. Protein-energy deficiency disrupts most of the defense mechanisms, even when it is moderate. It has a special effect on T lymphocytes, which leads to a decrease in their number.

More fruits and vegetables should be consumed, preferably seasonal.

It has been shown that the immune system is affected by energy intake from food and fat levels. High energy intake disrupts the response of lymphocytes - important protective cells of the immune system.

On the other hand, the high fat content of food suppresses the functions of other major immune cells - T cells and natural "killer" cells. The capacity of immune killer cells has been found to be increased when fat intake is reduced from 32% of the energy value of food to 22%.

What matters is not only the amount but also the type of fat. The n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in sunflower oil stimulate the production of cytokines - substances that are released by macrophages and other immune cells in response to viral or bacterial infection. Although cytokines are important for the normal functioning of the immune system, they play a major damaging role in inflammatory processes when formed in large quantities. However, fish oil is rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which suppress the release of cytokines and reduce their inflammatory action.

High-calorie Food Lowers Immunity

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