Foods That Exacerbate Inflammation

Jana Evans By Jana Evans0 Comments3 min read679 views

Inflammation can worsen auto-immune conditions such as arthritis. When inflammation causes your body to consistently produce immune cells, it may result in heart disease or cancer. These conditions are only some examples of why inflammation is dangerous, and why you should make healthy food choices to avoid it.

Sugar

Sugar increases inflammation in your body. It is not enough to avoid refined sugar. Look for other words on product labels. Fructose, sucrose, and corn syrup are common examples.

Alcohol

Alcohol can cause inflammation and irritation to your liver, larynx, and esophagus. This increases your risk of cancer. Wine, hard liquor, hard cider, liqueurs, and beer all contain alcohol.

Dairy Products

Dairy products can cause an inflammatory response in your body. You can start by eliminating dairy products from your diet. Milk, ice cream, ice milk, cheese, and butter contribute to inflammation. You may also want to read labels to see how many foods contain milk.

Artificial Food Additives

Monosodium glutamate is a popular additive in processed foods and take-out foods. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in many products. They are two common examples of additives to avoid when you want to reduce inflammation.

Refined Grains

Foods made of refined grains are essentially empty calories with a high glycemic index. Refined grains can be difficult to recognize, as they are found in many products. Pastries, pasta, white bread, white flour, and white rice can worsen inflammation.

Certain Meats

Some meats can exacerbate inflammation. One example covers most meats raised on farms. The animals are usually fed grains.

You should avoid red meats and processed meats, too. Salami, sausage, and beef do not need to be in your diet.

Trans Fats

Trans fats are unhealthy for many reasons, and worsening inflammation is one reason. Look for the words vegetable shortening or partially hydrogenated oil on food labels. Avoid ready-made baked goods, fast-food products, and deep-fried foods. You will even find trans fats in many peanut butters.

Some Cooking Oils

Some of the most popular cooking oils can contribute to inflammation because the level of Omega-3 fats is too low and the Omega-6 fats are too high. To reduce inflammation, avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils.

If you must fry food, choose extra virgin olive oil or macadamia oil. The healthiest approach is to avoid frying altogether, and bake or broil food instead.

A Healthier Life Without Inflammation

When you reduce or eliminate these foods, you will be healthier. It will lower your risk of serious health conditions. However, as the list is so extensive, you may wonder if there is anything you can eat.

You can build your diet around fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat cold-water fatty fish. Snack on nuts to reduce inflammation. Eat foods made from whole grains. Coffee also contains anti-inflammatory properties. You can have a satisfying diet that appeals to your taste buds without eating foods that worsen inflammation.

You will be less prone to viruses, and be less likely to develop medical conditions that reduce your quality of life. When you are free from chronic inflammation, you will be healthier.

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