Inflammation happens when your body sustains an injury or something foreign that doesn’t belong in your body, like germs or toxins. Inflammation is a normal process that allows your body to recover. However, inflammation can be harmful if it occurs in healthy tissues or stays in your body chronically. It is important know what foods should be avoided in a Anti-Inflammatory Diet.
There are two types of Inflammation—acute and chronic. Acute Inflammation is your body’s response to sudden injury or illness when inflammatory cells travel to the site of injury to start the recovery process. Chronic inflammation occurs when your body continues to send inflammatory cells even when there is no threat or danger. In chronic Inflammation, processes that are supposed to protect and heal the body end up hurting it.
The harm that Inflammation can cause
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Heart disease
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Breathing difficulties
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Neurodegenerative diseases
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Infectious diseases like pneumonia
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Asthma, emphysema, arthritis
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Inflammatory bowel diseases
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Kidney disease and liver disease
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Depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders
There are many reasons behind chronic Inflammation. Eating inflammation-causing foods can contribute to chronic Inflammation. Here are the worst foods for Inflammation:
Five types of foods that must be avoided on a anti-inflammatory diet
While managing weight, one must avoid certain foods as they may cause Inflammation, making it difficult to lose weight.
1. Refined grains
If you are battling chronic Inflammation, you must avoid refined grains like white bread, white rice, white flour, cereals, etc. These foods are simple carbohydrates that break down easily and spike blood sugar levels.
The blood sugar spike leads to an inflammatory response from the body. Refined grains are highly processed and thus must be avoided to control chronic Inflammation.
2. Trans fats
Foods high in trans fats cause Inflammation by raising bad cholesterol without increasing good cholesterol. Packaged foods with long shelf life are high in trans fats and must be avoided at all costs to control Inflammation. Foods that are high in trans fats include baked goods like cookies, pastries, crackers, margarine, fried foods, non-dairy creamers, store-bought popcorn, etc.
5. Omega-6 fatty acids
Research shows that your body needs a healthy balance of omega-6s and omega-3s. However, having too many omega-6s and not enough omega-3s can cause Inflammation. There are certain oils that are high in omega-6 fatty acids. They include canola oil, corn oil, mayonnaise, safflower oil, peanut oil, and sunflower oil. Avoiding foods high in omega-6 fatty acids and eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help control inflammation effectively.
4. Sugary foods and drinks
Foods and drinks high in added sugars keep your body in a pro-inflammatory state as your blood sugar and insulin levels increase rapidly. Several research studies say that consuming foods high in sugar leads to chronic Inflammation. Sugary foods and drinks include cookies, biscuits, crackers, bread, granola bars, protein bars, flavored yogurt, sodas, sports drinks, etc. Consuming sugary foods and drinks in excess leads to weight gain and insulin resistance as the volatile levels of insulin try to store excess in the fat cells, causing them to get larger.
5. Red and processed meats
The shelf lives of processed meats are long due to their harmful preservation process, which includes salting, curing, and fermenting. Red and processed meats are both high in trans fats that can contribute to chronic Inflammation. Some of the examples of processed and red meats include beef, bacon, cured meats, pepperoni, hot dogs, meat jerky, etc.
Inflammation can impact our health in multiple ways. However, the key is to manage our diet and avoid things that may cause Inflammation. For more such information – CLICK HERE.
