A while back I wrote a post about what inflammation does to your body, so I thought I would expand on that a little bit and talk about foods that cause inflammation.

Your diet plays a huge part in your health and in how your body functions. If you have inflammation going systemically, or everywhere in your body, then that can cause a lot of issues, including chronic pain.

So what are some foods that cause inflammation?

1. Trans fats: Trans fats can induce inflammation by damaging the cells in the lining of blood vessels.
2. Sugar: Too much sugar can alert the body to send out extra immunity messengers, called cytokines to cause inflammation.
3. Refined carbohydrates: flour products (breads, rolls, crackers) white rice, white potatoes (instant mashed potatoes, or french fries) and many cereals are refined carbohydrates.
4. MSG: Mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor-enhancing food additive that can trigger two important pathways of chronic inflammation, and affect liver health.
5. Gluten and Casein: allergens like gluten and casein (proteins found in dairy and wheat) may also promote inflammation. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley and any foods made with these grains. Casein is found in whey protein products.
6. Aspartame: Aspartame is an intense artificial sweetener found in more than 4,000 products worldwide. It is a neurotoxin, which means it affects the brain. If you are sensitive to this chemical, your immune system will react to the “foreign substance” by attacking the chemical, which in return, will trigger an inflammatory response.
7. Alcohol: Excessive use weakens liver function and disrupts other multi-organ interactions and can cause inflammation.
8. Saturated fats: It has been shown that saturated fats trigger adipose (fat tissue) inflammation, which is not only an indicator for heart disease but it also worsens arthritis inflammation. Examples include cheese, meat products (especially red meat), full-fat dairy products, pasta dishes and grain-based desserts.
9. Dairy products: As much as 60% of the world’s population cannot digest milk. Milk is a common allergen that can trigger inflammatory responses, such as stomach distress, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, acne, hives and breathing difficulties in susceptible people.
10. Red meat and processed meats

If you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation, there are anti-inflammatory diets out there you can try and give your body a chance to function properly and naturally.

Dr. Jess

Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.