health
5 signs of a weakened immune system due to excessive sugar intake
The immune system plays a critical role in maintaining our overall health. Its function is to protect the body from cell changes, germs, and substances that may cause harm and lead to health disorders. This is why following healthy food habits, sleep patterns, and exercise routines is recommended to keep the immune system strong. However, having a sweet tooth and eating too many sugary foods and beverages can negatively affect your immune system.
Here are the signs of a poor immune system due to excessive sugar:
- Your body is unable to fight off infections
You may feel like reaching out for a packaged snack when midday hunger pangs strike. Since such snacks usually have high amounts of sugar, regularly eating them can affect your body’s ability to fight infections. This happens because the excess sugar you consume affects your body’s white blood cells. These cells are responsible for dealing with viruses, bacteria, and other infection-causing substances. - Your wounds don’t heal fast enough
Another common sign of a poor immune system due to excessive sugar is the slow healing of wounds. Eating foods with too much sugar inhibits the normal functioning of the white blood cells. The white blood cells work as the body’s defense mechanism whenever you have a cut or a wound. These cells help to close and heal the wounds faster and avoid infections. But with the high levels of sugar in the body, the white blood cells cannot function normally, leading to slow wound healing. - You feel constant fatigue
The excessive sugar you consume through snacks, beverages, and regular meals affects your body’s infection-fighting abilities. As a result, you are highly susceptible to frequent illnesses. Your overall health will decline, bringing down your energy levels. As a result, you will have a constant feeling of fatigue. You may always feel tired, which is another sign of a weak immune system. - You feel constipated
Foods that are high in sugar are usually low in fiber. So when you have excessive sugar, your body doesn’t have enough fiber to allow for normal bowel movements. This can leave you feeling constipated. This results in a toxic buildup in the body that affects the immune system. - Your body becomes prone to inflammation
Overeating sugar can cause systemic inflammation in your body. Due to this, you may experience frequent pain in your joints. You will also become susceptible to several other inflammatory conditions. Also, excessive sugar will worsen your symptoms if you already have a preexisting inflammatory condition.