These foods are delicious but highly inflammatory. Avoid them
Inflammation can be both beneficial and harmful. On one hand, it protects the body when you are injured or unwell, on the other, excess and sustained inflammation can give rise to various chronic diseases. The food you consume plays a massive role in inflammation, which is why it is wise enough to make conscious choices. Here are some inflammatory foods you should avoid.
Foods with added sugar: Packed juices, candies, and aerated beverages
Offerings with added sugar are highly inflammatory. In an animal study, mice were fed with foods high in sucrose. Consequently, they developed breast cancer that spread to their lungs. Experts believe that it is majorly due to the body's response to sucrose. Consuming excessive sugar leads to obesity, diabetes, and heart-related issues, all of which are inflammation-induced conditions.
Foods with refined carbohydrates: Bread, pasta, cakes, and pastries
Refined carbohydrates, irrespective of their quantity, are unfit for human consumption as they trigger inflammation. Most of the fiber in them gets removed during the refining process, simply making them toxic with no beneficial nutrients. Bread, pasta, cakes, pastries, cookies, aerated beverages, packed juices, etc are the top foods rich in refined carbohydrates and hence, reducing their consumption is a wise thing to do.
Highly processed foods: Fast food, biscuits, chips, and buns
Fast food favorites like french fries, burgers, pizza, nuggets, onion rings, and noodles are tempting but top the list of most inflammatory foods. Yes, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that these dishes cause inflammation in the brain that causes depression and anxiety. If you are addicted to these foods, start limiting your intake already.
Foods rich in trans fats: Frostings, crusts, and fried foods
According to Mayo Clinic, foods with trans fats are "the worst type of food to eat." This is because they increase LDL "bad" cholesterol and decrease HDL "good" cholesterol, causing inflammation in your system and consequently, giving rise to fatal diseases like cancer and heart-related issues. They are mostly found in pizza crusts, pies, frostings, and fried foods. Best to avoid.
What to do: Follow an anti-inflammatory diet
One of the best and natural ways to avoid or cut down inflammation in your body is to eat foods that reduce it. There are a plethora of foods like tomatoes, nuts like almonds and walnuts, virgin olive oil, and berries that feature anti-inflammatory properties.
