Turns out your go-to takeaway of fish and chips is hurting your immune system

This is not good news. - by Alex Pierotti

This is the worst news we've seen in a very long time: new research has linked fish and chips consumption to lower immune system.

According to findings by Michigan State University, the preservative Teri-butlhydroquinone or tBHQ - a common additive used in cooking oils - has been linked to hindering influenza vaccines.

"If you get a vaccine, but part of the immune system doesn't learn to recognise and fight off virus-infected cells, then this can cause the vaccine to be less effective," says Robert Freeborn, who co-led the study.

Speaking to News Corp, professor Robert Booy, Head of the Clinical Research team at Australia's National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, described the study as a tease.

"It's not yet been tested on humans but in further research, I would be very keen to see if our favourite fish and chips is actually helping to make us sick."

If you're concerned about your immune system, here are some great ways to fight colds off faster.

This story originally appeared on Men's Health

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Alex Pierotti

Alex has high hopes of being the next Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. He lives for Pinterest, knows his way around a toolbox and frothed millennial pink before it was in fashion. When he's not catching up on old episodes of Better Homes and Gardens, you'll find him tending to his veggie patch or plating up a mean roast lamb (with all the trimmings).