Chronic Inflammation has been the leading cause of diseases in developed nations. Inflammation in the human body tissues leads to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Alzheimer’s, etc. It’s in your best interest to avoid foods that cause inflammation in the body. To help you get started, we have created a list of foods that are known perpetrators of the crime called inflammation.

Sugar

The main culprit behind a good number of heart diseases. Sugar is found in sweetened beverages, bottled fruit drinks, pastries, and so forth. Sugar is also linked to a growing number of risks related to obesity, tooth decay, and type-2 diabetes. Always ensure you read the nutritional information of a product to cut down sugar intake.

Meat

Red meat and organ meat is known to contain a molecule called Neu5Gc;  upon ingesting the meat, an individual may experience a chronic inflammatory reaction within the body alerting the immune response system. And multiple studies suggest that all meat and poultry products are causing inflammation in the body. Removing meat, and especially processed meat such as lamb, beef, and pork from your diet can help your body ease the digestive system.

Alcohol

Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause inflammation within your larynx, esophagus, and liver. An individual can also develop tumors due to the dehydration caused by alcohol consumption. In worst-case-scenarios, cancer can manifest within an individual. Therefore, it’s advisable to make the switch to a refreshing pure water or green tea for detoxification.

Refined Grains

White Rice, white flour, pasta, biscuits, cereals, and so on are made from refined grains. These foods are devoid of fiber and vitamins. Due to high glycemic index, refined grains are well-known agents for cancer-causing ailments. Switch to unrefined grains that have the bran and germ intact for a healthy alternative.

Trans Fats

Trans fatty foods directly disturb your body’s cholesterol levels’ balance; they bring down the good cholesterol and raise your bad cholesterol levels. They also increase your overall insulin resistance and escalate heart diseases to an alarming degree. Fried foods and fast food are infamous for containing trans fatty acids. Avoid eating bad food that is also loaded with trans fats.

Artificial Food Additives

Chinese food or packaged food products are prominent carriers of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and additives like Aspartame. Consuming the following products raise the inflammatory levels within an individual’s body and can increase the affliction chances of cancer. Always stick to natural herbs and spices while preventing the use of artificial food additives.

Gluten Intolerance

Gluten is the spongy substance found in bread and cakes, to give them a ‘hot air balloon’ effect. Gluten ingestion can cause a number of auto-immune disorders as well as chronic inflammation. Gluten bonds with an individual’s intestinal organs to form a powerful immune reaction and this can lead to the onset of Celiac disease. Ensure your foods are gluten-free to ward off inflammatory reactions that will set your body back.

Written by Benjamin Roussey for bodono.

Benjamin Roussey is from Sacramento, CA. He has two master’s degrees and served four years in the US Navy. His bachelor’s degree is from CSUS (1999) where he was on a baseball pitching scholarship. He has an MBA in Global Management from the Univ. of Phoenix (2006) where he attributes his writing prowess. He has worked everywhere from small businesses to large corporations, and also for public agencies. He has lived in Korea and Saudi Arabia where he was an ESL instructor. He misses Saudi food and living in Korea. Benjamin has a tremendous work ethic and is quite focused. Now he writes professionally for several clients that covers one sector of our economy to another. Currently he lives in the Phoenix area after living in Cabo San Lucas, MX for 3 years. He enjoys sports, movies, reading, and current events when he is not working online: www.infinista.com.