Foods That May Lower WBC

White blood cells (leukocytes) are essential to the body's health. A low white blood cell (WBC) count leaves the body highly vulnerable to infection. A leukocyte count above the normal range is not necessarily indicative of an adverse medical condition, although it can be a symptom of an underlying infection such as tuberculosis or hepatitis, or of an allergic condition. It is important to understand that a high white blood cell count is associated with these conditions, but is not the cause of them. Perhaps because of this, the effect of diet on lowering white blood cell count has not been extensively researched.

White Blood Cells

• White blood cells (leukocytes) form an important part of the body’s immune system. Like red blood cells, they develop from bone marrow in the body’s large bones, and are found throughout the bloodstream as well as in the lymphatic system. The normal white blood cell count in a liter of human blood is 4.3-10.8 × 103/mm3.

High and Low Counts

• A WBC count that is higher or lower than the normal range can be a cause for concern. A high count is referred to as leukocytosis. A low count, or leukopenia, can be dangerous as it shows the body’s immune system to compromised, increasing danger of infection. It is associated with a wide range of illnesses, from leukemia to influenza and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Effect of Diet

• Diet and nutrition can affect white blood cell count. Individuals with a low count are advised to eat foods that help boost the immune system. These include live yogurt, fruit, garlic, spinach and other vegetables, and foods rich in zinc such as shiitake mushrooms. Caution should also be taken about foods that carry a risk of infection, such as raw milk and cheese.

Reducing White Blood Cells

• There may be a link between white cell count and nutrition.

  Although little research has been done on ways to reduce leukocytes through diet, a condition known as digestive leukocytosis offers pointers. This condition was first reported in 1930 by Dr, Paul Koukachoff, who found an increase in white blood cell count immediately following consumption of cooked food. The increase was not seen in subjects who ate raw food (or food heated only below a certain temperature) or in subjects who added raw food to their cooked food diet. It should be noted that Koukachoff’s methods and results have been questioned.

Raw Diets

• At face value, then, either a raw or uncooked food diet, or a diet incorporating a significant proportion of such food, might reduce white blood cell count or help maintain it within the normal range. Advocates of raw food diets generally advise that food should not be heated above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The claimed benefit is that this preserves dietary enzymes that are destroyed at higher temperatures. Little research, however, has been conducted on the connection between raw food and leukocyte count, and the benefits of raw diets continue to be debated.