Systematic use of fast food "kills" immunity
Last reviewed: 27.11.2021
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German specialists representing the University of Bonn conducted a study that demonstrated: human immunity "responds" to the use of fast food in about the same way as the introduction of microbial infection. Moreover, immune defense is damaged by fast food so that the subsequent transition to healthy and useful products does not lead to its recovery.
Scientists began an experiment with the study of rodents. They fed healthy mice from the beginning with "wrong" food: many people call this food a "Western" diet. Mice consumed a large amount of saturated fat, salt and simple carbohydrates, and practically in an insignificant amount - vegetable food and fiber.
"Unhealthy food unexpectedly provoked a sharp increase in the number of individual immunocytes in the blood of rodents. In particular, the increase has affected monocytes and granulocytes, "says Annette Christ, the head of the research project. "Such changes indicated the defeat of immunocytes, which were precursors in bone marrow structures."
After its noteworthy discovery, experts also determined that such unhealthy diet led to the development of an acute inflammatory process, and also stimulated individual genes in previous immunocytes. These cellular structures are responsible for dividing the cells of immunity inside the body. Previously, it was proved that such structures are able to "remember" information about the damage. So, after the defeat, the defense system is in an active state and can potentially react quickly to subsequent attacks.
During the research work, the internal reaction of immunity programming was activated not by a viral or microbial infection, but by a certain type of food. A careful assessment of rodent blood cell structures led to the discovery of an inflammasome, a protein complex responsible for identifying the infectious agent and stimulating the inflammation reaction.
Similar reactions of inflammation were observed in the body of patients with diabetes mellitus, heart disease, autoimmune processes. Specialists are not the first to raise the topic of the relationship of unhealthy nutrition and disorders in the work of immune protection. However, for the first time scientists received obvious evidence of the existence of long-term complications, "killing" immunity in a living organism. The results obtained in the course of the study forced the specialists to seriously think about the quality of people's nutrition.
If we take into account the annual global increase in the incidence of obesity and diabetes, we can make an unambiguous conclusion: unhealthy food in the form of fast food and semi-finished products can seriously harm human health.
Indeed, to date, many people do not represent their lives without visiting fast food restaurants, without consuming hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. It's no secret that, for example, in the United States obesity associated with the constant use of fast food has become a number one problem, both for doctors and for the patients themselves. Therefore, the conclusions made by scientists can become vitally important for many people.
Full information about the study was published by the publication New Atlas.