Page 73 - The Autoimmune Protocol

The Autoimmune Protocol

lead to liver disease or liver failure. If there is already a risk for liver issues for those
suffering from IBD, alcohol may expedite that chance. Of course, if you already have liver
issues as a result of IBD, alcohol can make it worse.

Some people with autoimmune disease may be able to tolerate certain types of alcohol.
Others may not be able to tolerate any at all. Knowing the risks of alcohol consumption
on the immune system, as well as for those with an existing autoimmune condition, is
important when seeking to eliminate potential triggers from the diet.

Processed Foods
You have likely heard over and over that
processed foods are unhealthy. Some
people wonder exactly what processed
foods are and why they are so bad for our
bodies. The answer is somewhat complex
because there are several reasons why
processed foods are harmful for those
with autoimmune disease, as well as the
general population.

Processed foods aren’t just foods that
have been processed in some way, because the fact is that most foods have been processed
to some extent. Fruit must be picked and washed. This is technically considered
“processing” the fruit. However, the difference is that the fruit was mechanically
processed, versus chemically processed. Keep this difference in mind as you read more
about processed foods.

The problem with many chemically processed foods is that they were made with artificial
and refined ingredients that do no good for the body. Have you ever read a label on the
food you purchased? Were you able to pronounce the ingredients? Did you know what
each ingredient was? Many people would have no clue what they were reading if they
picked up a box of processed food from the grocery store and proceeded to read off the
ingredients. This is because artificial ingredients like preservatives, food coloring, flavor
enhancers, and texturants have been added. These ingredients may have been tested for
safety, but the FDA also says sugar and vegetable oil is safe, when most people know they
cause serious health issues.

Preservatives

The purpose of preservatives is to keep bacteria in food from growing and causing the
food to go bad. Preservatives are also used to keep food from separating. The purpose of
companies adding these preservatives to food is to keep the people who consume it from
getting sick, and this is good. However, many preservatives are not meant to be consumed

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