Boost Your Immune System by Eating More
I’m what you might call a disordered eater. I’m the first to admit that I have issues with food and control, and it’s definitely caused me problems in the past. Now, I don’t consider myself as having an eating disorder per se, but me and food, well, we don’t always get along. And new research suggests that even if you don’t officially have an eating disorder, if you’re not taking in enough food, you may face serious health risks.
A study published in the May/June issue of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology and summarized by HealthDay News suggests that folks who don’t eat enough, for whatever reason, may be damaging their immune systems:
“A 30 percent restriction in food intake doesn’t affect body mass and only minimally reduces activity in deer mice, but it eliminates the long-term immune protection provided by antibodies,” study co-author Lynn Martin said in a prepared statement. “One wonders whether similar moderate food restriction has comparable immune effects in humans.”
Martin and fellow researchers cited previous studies that had found that infections were “more frequent and tend to be chronic in malnourished children.” Previous studies have also found that vaccines that provoke B cells to protect the body long-term, such as the vaccine for measles, are less effective among the malnourished.
In addition to better weight control, faster metabolism, more consistent blood sugar, and a general healthy lifestyle, this is just one more reason to make sure you’re eating enough and frequently enough.
Have questions about eating disorders? Think you may be a disordered eater? Check out b5media blog Breaking the Mirror, where host Angelique shares her experience with eating disorders and offers resources and support for folks dealing with their own relationship with food. It’s a must read.
(source: Eating Less May Hinder Immune System)
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, eating disorder, immune system, how much you eat, affect on immune system, eating more makes you healthier, breaking the mirror, disordered eater, lively women, kristen king
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