There’s nothing better than a cold glass of soda in this hot summer. But the bad news is that soft drinks are bad for your health. Not only do they dull your waistline, but they also damage the health of your heart and immune system. Yes, soft drinks can wreak havoc on your immune system and make you vulnerable to infections.
How do soft drinks affect the immune system?
Soft drinks are mainly made up of sugar, which is known to weaken the immune system. This can make it harder for the body to fight disease. Here are five ways soft drinks can affect the immune system.
Just 350 ml of soft drink contains about 39 grams of sugar, which, in excess, is the cause of many health problems.
Sugar serves as a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses and helps them spread easily throughout the body. Sugar also suppresses the immune system.
It increases the risk of infection
This applies to everyone, but even more so to people with type 2 diabetes. The sugar in soft drinks affects the white blood cells in the immune system, which are important for fighting infection.
White blood cells are called killer blood cells. Therefore, it is best for people with type 2 diabetes not to drink soft drinks.
Increases risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Drinking soft drinks regularly may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Regular consumption of sugary drinks can reduce insulin sensitivity, which is one of the main risks for developing type 2 diabetes. In addition to limiting soft drinks, limiting saturated fats may also help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Inflammation
Soft drinks can cause inflammation in the body, which not only weakens the immune system, but can also increase the risk of developing chronic diseases later in life. had higher levels of uric acid, which can promote inflammation and even insulin resistance.
Increased risk of obesity
Being overweight can have a negative effect on your immune system, and drinking soft drinks on a regular basis can lead to weight gain over time. Soft drinks offer empty calories, which means they have no nutritional value.
The calories in soft drinks do the exact opposite of demonstrating any health benefits: they cause harm. From decreased cytokine production to impaired lymphocyte function, obesity can affect the immune system in a variety of ways.
