11 Foods To Avoid When You Are Sick

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These days we are inundated with information on the internet about the foods you should eat and those you should avoid when you are sick or unwell. From increasing your intake of vitamin C to taking natural flu shots, everybody seems to have a different answer.

When your body is fighting against the negative impacts of the foods you consume, it cannot focus on other pathogens and illnesses. Therefore, by avoiding these foods, you are enabling your immune system to concentrate on making you healthy overall.

There are some foods you must avoid at all costs which are especially detrimental to a weak immune system. Consuming them when you are sick can spell doom for your health. Let us take a closer look at these foods to avoid while you have a cold.

11 Foods To Avoid When You Are Sick

A. 3 Foods That Cause Immunosuppression

It’s a well-established fact that your primary line of defense against illnesses is your immune system. It is your immune system that fights against infections and diseases, and gives you a healthy body. When your immune system is in a weakened state, or is actively responding to an attack on your health, you can notice the symptoms. Certain foods can seriously inhibit the proper functioning of your immune system. Some of these foods to avoid are listed below:

Red Meat – All carnivores produce the sugar N-Glycolylneuraminic acid to help them break down animal proteins. Human beings don’t produce this sugar in their bodies naturally, and consequently when we consume red meat with this sugar, it triggers an immune reaction and leads to inflammation.

Fried Foods – Apart from raising your cholesterol levels and clogging your arteries, fried foods also cause inflammation in the body, which in turn has a negative effect on the proper functioning of your immune system. Furthermore, most fried foods are often fried in unhealthy oils that can lead to serious health problems in the long run.

Soda – Even if we disregard the sugars and other artificial sweeteners that it contains, soda also contains a high level of phosphoric acid, known to deplete the sources of calcium and magnesium in the human body. In addition to this, soda has zero nutritional value, so you are only harming your health by consuming it.

B. 4 Foods That Cause Mucus Production

Mucus is very misunderstood by common people. Most people think that it is gross and superfluous. However, mucus plays an important role of protecting your body against disease causing bacteria, viruses and fungi. Having mentioned this, it is also important to note that excess mucus in the body can lead to improper absorption of nutrients, digestive problems and poor overall health. Some foods that lead to excess mucus production in the body are:

Dairy Products – All dairy products contain a protein known as casein, which is not easily digestible by the human body. More often than not, some undigested particles are left over, which the body ends up covering in mucus in order to help prevent putrefaction. The bottom line is that excessive dairy consumption means too much mucus production.

Gluten – Gluten, just like casein, is very tough for the human body to digest. If you are already sick, gluten consumption will only increase the mucus production in your body, thus preventing your body from fighting off illnesses effectively.

Corn – Have you ever changed a baby’s diaper who’s just been fed mixed vegetables? If you have, you might have seen whole kernels of corn in the baby’s excreta. Human beings are unable to digest corn completely. This leads to excess mucus being produced in your digestive system.

Soy – Soy is known to cause nearly the same amount of mucus production in the human body as dairy products. Now, although fermented soy can be digested much more easily, the sodium it contains causes dehydration. Therefore, it is wise to avoid soy altogether if you are already feeling sick.

C. 4 Foods That Cause Headaches/Migraines

Certain foods to avoid can trigger a headache or migraine in human beings. The most common of these are:

Aged Cheese – When cheese ages, the proteins it contains break down and form a compound called Tyramine, which has been associated with headache and migraines. Therefore, if you cannot cut dairy products from your diet altogether, you need to avoid aged cheese at least.

Red Wine – Despite all the health benefits it provides, red wine also contains tannins. The combined effect of these tannins and the alcohol makes red wine a widespread trigger for headaches and severe migraines. You should completely avoid drinking red wine if you are feeling unwell.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – Although MSG occurs in a few food items naturally, it is mostly used as an added flavoring agent in many processed foods such as soups and broths. You should always read the labels of the processed foods you are buying to make sure that they do not contain high levels of MSG.

Processed Foods – Common processed foods like sausages and bacon contain both nitrites and nitrates which can dilate your blood vessels, thus leading to severe headaches. Avoiding such processed foods enables your immune system to fight of illnesses more efficiently.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it is always advisable to eat healthy foods and avoid unhealthy ones. However, when your immunity is in a depleted state, it becomes all the more important that we watch out for foods to avoid that could make the situation worse.

If you feel like you cannot be disciplined all the time, then you need a good digestion aid to be sure the nutrients in the food you eat are broken down efficiently and used by your body