Study Reveals High-Fat Diet Helps in Strengthening Immune System

New research by scientists has revealed that a high-fat diet allows the immune system to eliminate a parasitic worm, which is a major cause of death and illness in the developing world.

The study was published in the journal named Mucosal Immunology. Up to a billion people, mostly in developing countries with poor sanitation, are at risk of contracting parasitic worms. The whipworm is one such parasite that can cause chronic infection in the large intestine.

Scientists have found that parasites like whipworms can be eradicated through a high-fat diet. U.K. researchers at Lancaster and Manchester universities found that eating lots of fat stimulates the immune system to attack and kill the parasite.

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Can a High-Fat Diet Really Eliminate Parasites?

T-helper 2 cells are a type of white blood cell that has been instrumental in the elimination of gastrointestinal parasites through immune responses.

Further, it showed that a high-fat diet, and not just obesity, causes an increase in molecules in T-helper cells called ST2, resulting in a greater T-helper 2 response that drives the parasite out of the large intestine.

Avocados are an excellent source of healthy fats (Image via Pexels @Polina Tankilevitch)

Dr. John Worthington, of Lancaster University's Department of Biomedical and Life Science, collaborated on the study. The team was quite surprised with the results, given that high-fat diets are generally associated with increased pathology during disease.

In the specific case of the whipworm infection, a high-fat diet helps T-helper cells make the correct immune response to expel the worm, he said.

Read about the effects of high-fat diet on your brain health.

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What Do Parasites Look Like?

Worms in the intestines live parasitically off the human body. Numerous worms, including tapeworms, hookworms, pinworms, and others, can invade and affect the human body. All worms, regardless of type, are treatable.

Tapeworms, hookworms, liver flukes, threadworms, ascariasis-causing ascaris, and trichinosis-causing trichinella are all examples of intestinal worms.

Some of the symptoms of intestinal worms are similar to those of other gastrointestinal disorders. Early treatment and prevention of complications are the benefits of a timely and correct diagnosis. Medication is typically effective in treating most cases.

Eggs are also an excellent source of healthy fats (Image via Pexels @Jane Doan)

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How Do You Get Parasites?

There are numerous vectors for the transmission of parasitic infections. Protozoa and helminths, for instance, can be transmitted via drinking water, garbage, gardens, and even blood.

In some cases, it's possible to spread the disease via sex. When it comes to parasites, insects can be both a vector and a carrier. Mosquitoes, for instance, spread the parasitic protozoa that cause malaria when they feed on human blood.

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Healthy Recommended Foods for High-Fat Diet

Some healthy fatty foods recommended for a high-fat diet are:

1) Avocados

Avocados have more fat than most animal foods, with fats making up about 80 percent of their calorie content.

A five-ounce (150-gram) serving of avocado contains 15 percent of the DV for potassium, making it one of the best dietary sources of this mineral. As an added bonus, they contain many antioxidant compounds.

Contrary to popular belief, cheese is actually quite nutritious, being an excellent source of healthy fats, protein and calcium (Image via Pexels @Nastyasensei)

2) Cheese

Cheese is a healthy food to include in a high-fat diet. Calcium, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and selenium are just some of the nutrients it contains.

An ounce of cheese (28 grams) has six grams of protein, which is almost as much as a glass of milk.

3) Whole Eggs

Recent studies have demonstrated that egg cholesterol has no negative effect on blood cholesterol, at least in the vast majority of people.

Eggs are a great source of protein and contain many essential nutrients. As an illustration, choline is a vital nutrient for the brain, yet the majority of people (around 90 percent) don't consume nearly enough of it. The choline content of a single egg (weighing in at 50 grams) is equivalent to 27 percent of the daily value.

Some other foods that are high in fat include dark chocolate, fatty fish, nuts, chia seeds, olive oil and full-fat yogurt.

Check out these high-fat foods that are actually super healthy.

In conclusion, although research has found that a high-fat diet may help treat parasitic infections, you should focus on eating more of a balanced diet with healthy fats instead of just fatty food in general. All of the above-listed foods are high in healthy fats.