Sugar and Immunity

You've probably heard that sugar decreases your immunity,  but how do we actually know that?

Well, the evidence is mostly based on a study done in the 1970’s which suggested a strong link between sugar and a noticeable reduction in white blood cells ability to kill bacteria.

It was observed that this effect continued for several hours after consuming sugar. So, if you’re eating a lot of sugar and you’re exposed to bacteria or viruses, the study indicates that you are going to find it harder to fight off illness.

Since then, however, the research hasn’t been repeated and that makes it hard to know from a scientific perspective whether sugar is compromising your immunity or not. 

BUT we do know that added sugars aren’t generally good for our health.

If you are prone to having a sweet tooth, you know how hard it can be to quit sugar for good, but be encourage, because any decrease in the amount of added sugars you consume is going to be good for your health — and, according to the research, possibly your immunity too.

It's also really good to know that not all sugar is created equal! Our biggest problem is really with the REFINED sugars that we find in processed foods.

Natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables are definitely good for us! These sugars are consumed in combination with other nutrients and healthy plant fibres which slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Refined sugars enter our bloodstream very quickly, creating sugar spikes giving us an energy high, shortly followed by a energy slump, and .....cravings for more of that bad stuff! 

You can find sugar can come in many different forms and it’s not always easy to spot when you’re checking ingredient labels.

TIP: Anything ending in “ose” is a no-go! Names like glucose, sucrose, dextrose and maltrose can be found in many food items, but generally ANY form of sugar that isn’t naturally found in your foods should be avoided.