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Texas (KBTX) – This segment on The Three was paid for and sponsored by St. Joseph Health
A registered dietitian with St. Joseph Health said a balanced diet and adequate <a href="https://healthylife7.com/applied-nutrition-shares-drop-as-investors-cash-in-on-rampant-growth/” title=”Applied Nutrition shares drop as investors cash in on rampant growth”>nutrition can help support the immune system
Michelle Dohrman, a registered dietitian with St. Joseph Health, said protein plays a key role in immune function
“So a good diet and good nutrition can really help your immune system, especially if you’re getting plenty of protein. Your immune system is made of protein,” Dohrman said
Dohrman said many patients believe they are getting enough protein, but often are not, particularly those taking weight loss medications
“They’re actually quite a bit lower than they thought they were and not nearly as much as they probably need to have,” Dohrman said. She said women in particular often have difficulty getting adequate protein
Dohrman said vitamins and minerals also affect the immune system, recommending a diet balanced with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and some healthy fat
“Those are all things that can affect your health overall,” Dohrman said. “Because if you’re not healthy just in general, it’s going to be a lot harder to fight off an illness when it comes along.”
Dohrman said good nutrition can also help prevent or potentially prevent conditions such as cancer and diabetes. She said people with a family history of diabetes, heart disease or hypertension can be affected by diet and should be proactive
“Once you have diabetes, you have diabetes,” Dohrman said. “Even if it’s in remission or well controlled, you’ll always be diagnosed with that.”
Dohrman said people with pre-diabetes, or those who have not reached that point, may be able to prevent the condition through diet
She said eating healthy to maintain weight, along with exercise, can help prevent illnesses such as colds and have a broader impact on long-term health and quality of life
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