We are constantly flooded with information about what foods are considered to be healthy. There is endless information about macronutrients and micronutrients and the fact that some are more beneficial to your health than others. That is all certainly true, but it is not only about the foods that you eat and the nutritional components of which they are comprised. It is also about how your body responds to the various foods that you put inside of it.

When you think about food and health from that perspective, it helps you to understand why some foods may not be as good for you as others are and why you may want to choose certain foods to fuel your body. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to healthy eating, but different foods work to activate the defense systems within your body.

For example, some foods help to boost your immune system. Capsaicin is a powerful compound found in chili peppers and it has incredible immune-boosting properties. There was a recent study done in China that examined thousands of adults over seven years. Researchers discovered that the people who ate more spicy foods every day had a reduced risk of all-cause mortality.

Along with immunity, there are foods that will activate your body’s other defense systems of regeneration, angiogenesis, DNA protection, and gut microbiome as well. On the flip side of that, some foods will damage these defense mechanisms. For more information on how your body responds to different foods, check out my interview on the Real Leaders podcast and my book, Eat to Beat Disease.