Burger And Fries, Anyone? Processed Foods Could Cause Autoimmune Diseases

In today’s hustle and bustle world, processed foods are commonplace time-savers. But that convenience may come at a high price to one’s health; a new study suggests that the effects of processed foods might not be reversible.

In findings recently published in the scientific journal Autoimmune Reviews, researchers from Israel and Germany present evidence that processed foods weaken the intestine’s resistance to bacteria, toxins and other hostile elements, which in turn increases the likelihood of developing autoimmune diseases.

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Chocolate Bar via Pixabay

The study was led by Prof. Aaron Lerner of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Dr. Torsten Matthias of the AESKU.KIPP INSTITUTE in Germany.

The research team examined the effects of processed food on the intestines, and on the development of autoimmune diseases – conditions in which the body attacks and damages its own tissues. More than 100 such diseases have been identified, including type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune hepatitis, and Crohn’s disease.

Oreo Cookies via Pixabay

“In recent decades, there has been a decrease in incidence of infectious diseases, but at the same time there has been an increase in the incidence of allergic diseases, cancer and autoimmune diseases,” Prof. Lerner said in a statement. “Since the weight of genetic changes is insignificant in such a short period, the scientific community is searching for the causes at the environmental level.”

In their study, the researchers focused on the dizzying increase in the use of industrial food additives aimed at improving qualities such as taste, smell, texture and shelf life, and found “a significant circumstantial connection between the increased use of processed foods and the increase in the incidence of autoimmune diseases.”

Many autoimmune diseases stem from damage to the functioning of the tight-junctions that protect the intestinal mucosa. When functioning normally, tight-junctions serve as a barrier against bacteria, toxins, allergens and carcinogens, protecting the immune system from them. Damage to the tight junctions (also known as “leaky gut”) leads to the development of autoimmune diseases.

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The researchers found that several common food additives weaken the tight junctions: glucose (sugars), sodium (salt), fat solvents (emulsifiers), organic acids, gluten and microbial transglutaminase (a special enzyme that serves as food protein “glue”).

“Control and enforcement agencies such as the FDA stringently supervise the pharmaceutical industry, but the food additive market remains unsupervised enough,” according to Lerner. “We hope this study and similar studies increase awareness about the dangers inherent in industrial food additives, and raise awareness about the need for control over them.”

Infographic by Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

The researchers also advise patients with autoimmune diseases, and those who have a family background of such diseases, to consider avoiding processed foods when possible.

Infographic: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology