20 Surprising Foods That Wreak Havoc On Your Immune System

It's more important than ever to take good care of your immune system, and while eating immune-boosting foods like oranges and broccoli can certainly help, avoiding other foods may be even more important.

"With the coronavirus spreading through communities, there's a lot of talk about important measures like hand-washing, social distancing, and not touching our faces or shaking hands," says Dr. Anna Cabeca, author of Keto-Green 16. "Yes, we should be practicing all of these, for sure. But not many experts are talking about something I feel is just as vital: strengthening your immune system."

"If pathogens enter your body, the immune system will dispatch white blood cells to fight it off and will not stop until the threat is gone," Dr. Cabeca says. "If your immunity is weak or compromised in some way, the immune system has a tough time doing its job—and your susceptibility to catching the coronavirus, the flu, a cold, or other infection increases."

Below are the foods you might not suspect that could be keeping your immune system from doing its job, increasing the likelihood that you'll fall ill—whether it's now during the pandemic, or in the future. And for what you should be eating instead, here are 10 Best Pantry Staples to Strengthen Your Immune System.