Inflammation is your body’s healthy response to infection and a way of defending yourselves. There are also foods to avoid to keep illness and inflammation at bay.
Below are the worst food offenders that causes inflammation:
Dairy
Contrary to the belief and advertisement, bone strength does not come from the consumption of milk and other dairy products but from plant foods. In fact, dairy is considered to be a highly inflammatory food for most people. Also skim milk does not make it any healthier, only more inflammatory.
Food additives
Food additives, flavor enhancers, colors, preservatives and stabilizers. It may also include benzoates, sulfites and colors named FD&C.
Hydrogenated and Trans Fat
Hydrogenated and trans fats found in shortening, margarine, lard or products made with them. These includes cookies, baked goods, buns and pies.
Red Meat
Eating a meal loaded with saturated fat reduces the anti-inflammatory potential of good or HDL cholesterol. It also impairs blood vessel function, which contributes to heart disease and high blood pressure.
There is no need to eliminate steak, but keep your portion to 3 ounces or the size of a deck of cards. Also choose lean cuts that contain the words loin, round or sirloin.
Refined Grains
Refined grains should be avoided along with fortified, milled and sweetened grains. Limit your intake of pasta to once a week and avoid refined grains in cereal, white bread and pizza.
Soft Drinks
Studies have shown that people who consumed about two daily cans of soda saw levels of C-reactive protein, a sign of inflammation that’s been correlated with heart attack, heart disease and stroke by at least 109% in 3 weeks. You may swap your soda for sparkling water with a squeeze of citrus.
Sugar
Sugar is not natural just because it comes from sugarcane. It’s not natural because all the cells within the sugarcane have been removed during the refining process. Artificial sweeteners have their drawbacks as well because they are said cause many diseases, not to mention weight gain.