Are Your Favorite Foods Causing Inflammation?

The immune system is an imperative part of keeping us healthy. Whenever there is injury, disease, or illness our inflammatory cells come to the rescue. However, inflammation can stay in our bodies when it isn't even needed. Chronic inflammation can cause havoc on the body and also contribute to chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease.

The thing that we don't usually realize is that a lot of the foods that we eat can aggravate the inflammation in our bodies. Sugary foods and those with high fructose corn syrup can incite inflammation. Foods containing artificial trans fat (partially hydrogenated oil) contribute to inflammation and also may affect levels of our “good” HDL cholesterol. Processed meats are also associated with increased risk for disease including heart disease and colon cancer.

Even if we eliminate the bad foods that are causing inflammation, we still need to make sure that we are eating foods that are healthy and anti-inflammatory in nature. The Mediterranean diet is one of the most popular anti-inflammatory diets because it consists of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and whole grains.

The main thing to remember is to eat whole foods. Fruits, like blueberries and apples, and leafy green vegetables are known to contain natural antioxidants. Tomatoes, olive oil, and nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, are also known to reduce inflammation. Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna are high in omega-3 fatty acids which fight inflammation. Spices such as turmeric and curry also contain anti-inflammatory properties.

Balance is key. Please make sure that you are eating a well-rounded diet with fresh produce and decreasing the amount of sugar, processed foods, and trans fat.

Keisha Davis M.D. is a triple board-certified pathologist with the American Board of Pathology. As an unconventional pathologist, Dr. Davis has set herself as an outgoing diagnostician who wants both patients and clinicians to understand more about the practice of pathology and how diseases are diagnosed. She founded AskPath, LLCtodo just that. In her free time, Dr. Davis teaches West African dance and group fitness and enjoys spending time with her family.

Sources

1.”Anti-Inflammatory Diet:Road toGood health?” https ://www.webmd.com/diet/anti-inflammatory-diet-road-to-good-health