Inflammatory Foods
Understanding what foods inflame your body is the first step to healing when you have significant chronic pain, especially if that pain came without injury. You see, inflammation is pretty much intertwined with every illness out there. Its effects vary depending upon the condition, but it’s unanimous that if you have a chronic illness and chronic pain, you have your share of inflammation.
There are widely available food lists that offer the “so called” best anti-inflammatory foods, but you must look at them with a skeptical eye, because each body is different. One food may be ideal for one person but can cause other issues for another.
Just because a food is said to be anti-inflammatory doesn’t mean it’s anti-inflammatory for you. There may be histamines, oxalates or other compounds in foods that don’t agree with you and these may cause further inflammation in your body.
A simpler way to look at inflammation through food is to understand what foods cause inflammation for everyone. It’s not complicated to see that some food groups are just not good for you and that’s across the board not good! Once you know what’s best to avoid, you can have fun finding foods that you love to eat and pay attention to how your body reacts to them. Take it slow and let your body guide you.
Foods that are inflammatory for pretty much everyone in varying degrees:
Fried food and other foods cooked at very high temperatures create what’s called AGE’s (advanced glycation end products). Your immune system reacts to these with inflammation. In addition, fried foods are cooked in oils that have become oxidized so it’s inflammation in overdrive.
Grain Fed Meats. Conventionally raised farm animals receive hormones and antibiotics to make them grow bigger and are fed soy and corn. The level of Omega 6 fats in these is very high and increases inflammation, as does the antibiotics and growth hormones they are given. If you’re going to eat meat, it may be better less often and buy a really good piece of meat that has been grass fed and finished with none of the offending inflammatory issues. Know what you’re buying.
Gluten. Due to modern processing, many people who have regular digestive issues will most likely suffer from the inflammatory effects of gluten. You don’t need to be allergic or completely intolerant to experience some of the effects of gluten. If you are trying to figure out what’s causing your inflammation it’s best to avoid for a period of time while trying to solve your issue.
Processed Meats. Meats like deli meats, sausage, salamis, hot dogs and bacon cause inflammation. In a healthy body, that inflammation will be short-lived if not overdone. In someone who is dealing with inflammatory health issues, eating these foods will irritate the problem.
Refined Carbohydrates like cereals, white rice, cakes, cookies, crackers and breads are not high in fiber or nutrition and when they enter the digestive system they can cause a rapid spike in blood sugar which means inflammation for the body as it tries to remedy the problem. Packaged snacks are big here. Best to lower your daily intake of these if you are experiencing chronic pain or other symptoms of chronic inflammation.
Sugar. In any form it’s not good for you beyond a small amount daily. In simple terms, when the body takes in too much sugar it can’t digest it quickly enough and then in the processing sends out messengers that release inflammation to actually protect the body from the sugar overload. When that inflammation is constant, due to too much sugar, it causes problems elsewhere throughout the body. Look for different types of sugar in the packaged food you buy.
Seed oils are high in Omega 6 fats and taking in too much of these will throw off a person’s balance of fatty acids. Omega 6 fats are very inflammatory.
—Canola oil, Soybean oil, Sunflower oil, Safflower oil, Peanut oil, Corn oil, Hydrogenated oils. ( most mayonnaise is made with these oils). Choose wisely.Other oils can be inflammatory in cooking if used improperly. For example, If you heat olive oil above its smoking point of 375 degrees it will oxidize and become harmful when ingested, ultimately causing inflammation in the body.
Foods that may cause inflammation. These are very often a problem for those with joint, arthritic issues and chronic pain.
Corn
Dairy - Cow’s milk cheese, milk. Goat’s milk is more tolerated. Cultured and fermented dairy like plain yogurt, cultured butter, kefir and buttermilk are less inflammatory.
Eggplant
Peppers - all varieties
Red spices like cayenne and paprika
Soy
Tomatoes
White Potatoes
