New studies suggest that adding sugar to your foods can cause you to gain weight. In response, you can start to gain weight because the more sugar you eat, the more weight you might gain. It’s also known that the more overweight you are, the more often you can become sick. That is because their body is on overdrive to try and maintain the rest of the body’s systems, leaving it more vulnerable to diseases and illnesses. Studies show that obese people are twice as likely to get the flu after getting the flu vaccine.

When you decrease or stop adding sugar, you’ll start to lose weight. That helps you manage any illnesses, including chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The key is to limit your sugar to less than 5% of your daily calorie intake. So, if you follow the regular 2,000 calorie diet, you’ll only eat about two tablespoons or 25 mg of sugar every day. Avoid sugary drinks and sodas, sugary-filled snack foods, and reduce the amount of sugar you add to your coffee or tea. Every step you take to eliminate sugar brings you one step closer to having a stronger immune system.