This Food Harms Immunity!

Substances that negatively affect the state of immunity. Enzyme inhibitors. Vitamins and anti-vitamins. Saturated fatty acids. Substances that are demineralized.

Many food products contain substances that have a negative impact on the state of the immune system. We will tell you about 4 groups of substances that can damage immunity.

Enzyme inhibitors

Enzyme inhibitors are specific substances that suppress the activity of enzymes that accelerate the assimilation of proteins and amino acids from food products. Since proteins and amino acids are the main structural elements for the cells of the immune system, excessive consumption of products with a large number of enzyme inhibitors can harm immunity.

Enzyme inhibitors are found in large quantities in foods such as peas, beans, soybeans, and other legumes. It is noteworthy that these substances are resistant to heating. Even after 40 minutes of cooking, enzyme inhibitors are not destroyed. Similar substances are also contained in chicken eggs, but they are destroyed when heated, so cooked eggs do not pose any danger to your health.

Antivitamins

Every vitamin has an anti-vitamin! Substances that destroy vitamins were discovered relatively recently. Interestingly, along with vitamins, they are present in food products. The most popular of these antivitamins is the enzyme that destroys vitamin C - ascorbatoxidase. This substance is part of many fresh fruits and vegetables, for example, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, cucumbers, and others. Experts recommend eating dishes from fresh vegetables as soon as possible, because ascorbatoxidase works faster in chopped vegetables due to the access of oxygen.

Thiaminase (an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1) and avidin protein, which binds vitamin biotin in the digestive tract, are also known antivitamins.

Due to the large amount of anti-vitamins in food, the body does not receive vitamins, including those necessary for maintaining optimal resistance of the body.

 

Saturated fatty acids

By themselves, saturated fatty acids are not dangerous for the immune system. However, their harm is due to the negative impact on the cardiovascular system.

As you know, excessive consumption of food rich in saturated fatty acids (pork, beef, lamb) contributes to an increase in the level of "bad" cholesterol, which over time settles on blood vessels. This is how atherosclerosis develops, which complicates the work of the heart, lungs, and immune system.

To avoid such problems, it is recommended to eat food rich in omega-3 unsaturated acids. They are abundant in fatty sea fish, olive and linseed oil.

Substances that are demineralized

There are substances in food products that bind to minerals, preventing them from being absorbed in the intestines. As a rule, such substances bind to zinc, iron, calcium and manganese. And these are the key trace elements necessary for the normal functioning of the immune system.

Substances that are demineralized are:

• polyphenols contained in large quantities in tea and coffee;
• phytin, which is rich in cereals, legumes, potatoes and nuts;
• oxalic acid, which is part of spinach, sorrel, beetroot and other vegetables.