Dangerous Foods for Your Immune System: Fructose
By Lydia Wallie, Nutrition Director
How dangerous is fructose to your immune system? It’s most likely much more dangerous than we think or act!!!
Also, to clarify, I’m not talking about the fructose in fruits or other whole unprocessed real foods. “Fruit contains other compounds such as vitamin C, quercetin, and resveratrol, which may alter the metabolic activities of fructose.” (1)
I’m referring to the fructose in our processed foods. For example: high fructose corn syrup, soda, candy, sweetened yogurt, breads, salad dressing, Starbucks drinks, or that gluten-free pizza crust from a restaurant (yes, I’ve called restaurants for clients to help them understand what’s in what they’re eating that they think is fine to consume!).
True story: I thought I was safe drinking tea at Starbucks but ended up with a massive headache. Always ask! Starbucks is notorious for putting sugar in almost everything. You never know what’s in your drink/food until you ask or research.
Now, what’s the problem with fructose? It’s everywhere, we consume an incredible amount of it, and it’s detrimental to our health…
“High-fructose corn syrup is one of the most widely used food ingredients in nearly all soft drinks, canned jams, breakfast cereals and baked goods. Overconsumption of fructose is a risk factor for the epidemic of metabolic syndrome, with dysfunctions in multiple tissues and organs including liver, adipose, pancreatic islet, skeletal muscle, kidney, heart, brain and intestine.” (2)
Need help overcoming a fructose/sugar addiction? Contact us for details on our Nutrition Challenges, personalized Nutrition Coaching, and customized Meal Planning!
Sources: