Could this common ingredient be THWARTING your immune protection?
If the last year as taught us anything, it’s that we can’t rest on our laurels when it comes to our immune systems.
Because if you LET DOWN your guard… and RELAX your defenses…
That’s when infection can STRIKE!
And you might NEVER see it coming.
You wouldn’t go on vacation and leave your doors unlocked at home… and you wouldn’t park your car for hours with the windows rolled down.
So why wouldn’t you PADLOCK your immunity… to make sure your vulnerability is NEVER exposed?
Friend, you may THINK you’re doing everything you can to support healthy immune function.
You might be getting plenty of quality sleep… eating right… and even taking your vitamins and supplements.
But there’s one bad habit that could SABOTAGE all of those good efforts…
And leave your immune system DAMAGED.
SNUFF OUT this immunity suppressor
A recent in vitro study on white blood cells in a lab dish revealed a HIDDEN culprit behind dysfunctional immunity.
And it’s something that could be CHIPPING AWAY at your immune function on a cellular level right now.
It’s high-fructose corn syrup!
I recently shared with you how HFCS can lead to fatty liver… and a leaky gut.
But this latest study out of the UK adds to the concern over this highly-processed sweetener that’s so common in much of the “junk food” of the Western diet.
It turns out that when the researchers exposed immune cells to HFCS, it triggered changes in their cellular metabolism…
Ones that could be DETRIMENTAL to your immune protection, should those cells ever encounter something they need to fight off.
I’m talking about bacterial infections… sepsis… and even cancer.
You see, healthy cells in your body usually break down sugar in the form of glucose for energy (a.k.a. glycolysis).
But according to this latest study, when immune cells are treated with HFCS instead, their metabolic mechanisms change… and their functions become REPROGRAMMED.
HFCS-treated immune cells embark on a different type of metabolism, called glutaminolysis… which breaks down the amino acid glutamine into a substance called glutamate.
The problem with that is twofold.
First of all, this metabolic shift produces A LOT more inflammation.
And secondly, glutamate SUPPRESSES immunity!
In fact, one of the ways that cancer cells DODGE an immune response is by relying on this alternate type of metabolism.
This gets worse — because these metabolic changes DON’T appear to be temporary.
In fact, the immune cells in the study appeared to be STUCK in their new gear… and INFLEXIBLE to new challenges.
And if there’s anything you need your natural defenses to do… it’s ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES!
Don’t let a junk food habit CANCEL OUT all the good work you’re doing to support a healthy immune function.
While it may not be possible to eliminate 100% of all HFCS from your diet… try to cut out as much as possible.
And to OFFSET any lingering effects of HFCS… including excess inflammation… a 2014 study showed that getting your steps in could do the trick.
To not undermining your immunity,
Melissa Young
