Have you ever wondered why colds and the flu always seem to show up during the holiday season? There are some startling statistics that may shed a little light on the answer. According to Dr. Neil Nedley, MD, in his book, Proof Positive, (pp. 183-184) researchers performed a series of studies that examined how refined sugar consumption weakens the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria.The studies showed that the capacity for white blood cells to destroy bacteria is weakened as sugar consumption rises. If a person consumed no sugar for twelve hours, each white blood cell could destroy an average of fourteen bacteria. If that same individual ate the equivalent of six teaspoons of sugar (such as found in a half-cup of pudding or a mere two pieces of candy) each white blood cell could only eliminate ten bacteria; a twenty-five percent decrease in killing power.
Progressive deterioration in the white cells' bacteria fighting capacities beyond twenty-five percent occurred when twelve teaspoons and then eighteen teaspoons were ingested. When twenty-four 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. That represents a ninety-two percent reduction.
Impairing Effects on White Blood Cells Not Short-Lived
The researchers further demonstrated that sugar's impairing effects on white blood cells are not short-lived. The impairment lasted a full five hours in normal subjects. This means that during that five-hour period, the white blood cells could not perform optimally. When you consider how often most people consume sugar, especially during the holiday season, it becomes quite apparent why the frequency of colds and the flu increase, as their white blood cells cease to function effectively for many hours during the day.
These researchers also discovered an interesting side note: a thirty-six hour fast seemed to significantly increase the ability of the white blood cells to kill off bacteria. If you do become sick and are not hungry, it may be to your advantage to avoid eating, or at least to eat very sparingly for a day or two.
