Sugar Damages Your Immune System

**IfasehunReincarnated** · 10-14-2004

"Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of one 12-ounce can of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune system."

It makes you look at that can of Coke® in a whole new light, doesn't it?

Our immune system is our first defense against any disease, and we can't afford to disable any of it's functions. Now, don't get me wrong - I'm in no way suggesting that you will be able to fight off every new disease that comes your way if you simply give up sugar. However, it just makes sense to take good care of your immune system, just in case a cold or flu germ, or worse, shares an elevator with you.

Eating sugar is the exact opposite of taking care of yourself - it actually weakens your ability to protect yourself from contagious disease and infections.

We do know that the people who haven't recovered from the new SARS virus almost always have a weakened immune system to start with. Diabetes is one of the chronic illnesses that has been associated with the victims of this illness, and some victims in China have been infected with the Chlamydia bacteria.

Recovering from any virus, bacteria, infection - or even injury - is more likely when the immune system is strong.

There are two known dietary factors that reduce the immune system, and American diets are full of both of them. Sugar, as we have seen, is one of the primary dietary causes of a lowered immune response. The other factor is fat in the diet.

Many experts believe that the fried potatoes you ate this morning will raise the fat level in your bloodstream, causing your blood to lose it's viscosity. This means your blood can't flow as fast as it should, and your white blood cells and other members of your immune response team can't get to the location of infection as quickly.

When we think of problems that arise from being overweight we tend to think of diabetes, heart disease, and some kinds of cancer. All these illnesses develop slowly, and the risk can be held in the back of our minds, where we don't have to think of them very often. However, it has been proven that people who are overweight miss more work, and spend more time and money at the doctor's office and pharmacy.

Fit people are less apt to catch the latest bug that is going around the office. When they do catch it, they don't get as sick, and they recover faster. Being "fit" affects every cell in our bodies, including the cells that protect us from disease.

So there you have it: One more excellent reason to get yourself on a healthy diet, and to stay committed to following it - every single day.

**IfasehunReincarnated** · 10-14-2004

Sugar - A Major Cause
Of Immune Deficiency

Of all the factors in our modern world that are working against our immune defenses, sugar must surely be the worst. This totally unnatural product (I choose not to call it a food) causes more illness - and certainly more colds and flu - than perhaps any other product that civilization punishes itself with. When you see a child with a runny nose - think sugar - when you see someone sneezing - think sugar. When you hear someone coughing - think sugar. When you see someone laid up in bed with a red nose - think sugar. It may not be the primary cause in every case, but I would bet that sugar is a primary cause in most cases.

Some years ago researchers carried out a series of studies that examined how sugar consumption weakens the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria (germs). The results of this study showed that if a person eats no sugar for 12 hours, each white blood cell could destroy an average of 14 bacteria. When 24 teaspoons of sugar were consumed (the amount in a medium piece of cheesecake or a milk shake), the white blood cells were so compromised that they could only destroy an average of one bacterium each. Study the following chart carefully and then, whenever you sneeze, or cough, or have a runny nose, think back on your recent sugar consumption.
How Refined White Sugar Weakens
Our White Blood Cell's Ability To Destroy Bacteria
Teaspoons of Sugar Number of Bacteria Destroyed This Amount of Sugar
is Found in . . .
0 14.0 -
6 10.0 1 Scoop of Ice Cream
12 5.5 1 Soft Drink
18 2.0 Less Than Half a Malted Drink
24 1.0 1 Sweet Cheesecake Slice

(Kijak. E.; Foust G; Steinman R.R.; Relationship of Blood Sugar Level and Leukocytic Phagacytosis; Southern California Dental Association 1964; 32(9):349-351)

Little wonder, therefore, that enlightened researchers are saying what they are saying about the dangers of refined white sugar - and of this denatured product's ability to compromise the immune system . . .

`If only a fraction of what is already known about the effects of sugar were to be revealed in relation to any other food additive, this material would promptly be banned.' (Dr J. Yudkin., Sweet and Dangerous, New York: Bantam, 1972, p.5)

`White sugar is the curse of the civilized world.' (Dr. Michael Sharon, Complete Nutrition, p.29)

`Refined sugar, divorced from its associates, is one of the tragedies of our civilized diet. This is the result of scientific tampering with one of Nature's products.' `Sugar is mineral hungry - it robs the system of its vital organic salts, thereby causing, or laying the foundation for, many serious and distressing diseases. Reliable tests show that the discontinuance of the use of sugar reduces the frequency of adenoiditis and tonsillitis amongst children almost one hundred percent. Honey [raw or natural] is an excellent substitute; in fact, it is the natural sweet. Refined sugar [white and brown] is unnatural; it is artificial and wholly harmful in whatever way it is taken. Honey supplies heat and energy; its use should be encouraged to satisfy a natural desire for sweet things. Fruits and vegetables contain all the sugar, in its very best form, that the system requires.' (George Teasdale, Nature Heals!, pp.16, 61)

Those who follow the Nature's Way program will be amazed at the improvement in their vitality. By following the program, your immune defenses will be reinforced and colds and flu will soon become ailments of the past.

In the light of the above, the reader is urged to consider the feature entitled Overcome Colds And Flu Forever.

**Nia Imani** · 10-14-2004

I was once a white sugar addict. Then I became enlightened partially by an informative book written by Dr. Llalia Afrika entitled African holistic Health. I no longer threaten my health by eating white sugar. I have found that that a raw vegan diet devoid of meat, dairy, refined sugar, bleached flour, and processed foods has had a positive benefit on my health. In this book, Dr. Afrika explains the negative ramifications of white sugar consumption. Dr. Afrika also promotes an organic raw food diet as this was the diet of holistic African people.

Substitutes for white sugar. (These do not suppress the immune system.)
raw agave nectar
raw yacon syrup
date sugar
unsulphured, unsweetened dried fruit
fresh fruit
raw maca flour
raw pod meal
raw carob

Some of these products can be purchased at the following websites.
Note: These websties may not be African or African-American owned.
http://www.eatraw.com
http://www.naturalzing.com
http://www.sunorganicfarm.com
http://www.essentiallivingfoods.com
http://www.rawfood.com
https://www.organic.com
http://www.nspired.com
http://www.melissas.com
http://www.diamondorganic.com
http://www.glaserorganicfarms.com
http://www.rawganique.com
http://www.livingtreecommunity.com
http://www.originalorganic.com
http://www.greenpeople.org/organicfood.htm

**Burningspear** · 10-24-2004

Thanks for the link : www.eatraw.com. It's just what I need . Iam very near a 100% raw food diet . If the opportunity avails itself please attend a lecture by Dr. Llalia Afrika , he has a quaint and avant garde style of delivery that will hold you spellbound .

**Nia Imani** · 10-25-2004

Where does Dr. Afrika lecture?

**Burningspear** · 10-25-2004

Last I saw him he was living in southeastern U S , near the coast of South Carolina . That was nearly ten years ago . I'll ask around about his present whereabouts . He stands about 5' 6'' , dimunitive in build , and handsome . He was attired in cultural clothing . He mused for an hour or so and it appeared that he could go on forever . I was so impressed that I wrote his every word, verbatim . He is one of a kind , a true genuis .

**Burningspear** · 10-27-2004

Dr. Afrika is living in Beaufort ,S C , I just communicated with a cultural sister who attended a symposium featuring the brilliant Dr. last week in Carolina .