Avoid these foods if you want to be healthy…
Did you know that inflammation is a sign that something is wrong in your body? If there is even minor swelling, it’s an indication of damage or decay. Your body uses inflammation as a defense mechanism to protect itself from further damage. However, long term inflammation can reduce the efficiency of your body’s internal systems, and can lead to a number of health problems. It’s in your best interest to reduce inflammation as much as possible.
That may mean avoiding certain foods that increase inflammation in your body! Here are a few surprisingly inflammatory foods you’d do well to avoid if you want to beat internal inflammation:
- Margarine — Margarine is made up of partially hydrogenated oils, which are basically a form of trans fats. Trans fats are one of the worst inflammatory foods around, as they can damage the cells in the lining of your arteries, veins, and other blood vessels. It may be marketed as a “healthy” alternative to butter, but you’d be better off with the high-calorie butter instead of the inflammation-causing margarine!
- Whole Wheat Bread — Just because it looks darker than white bread and says “Whole Wheat” on the label, that doesn’t mean it’s 100% healthy. Many whole wheat breads are just white bread made with enriched flour and added fiber, making them only marginally healthier. They still have the refined grains that can trigger inflammation in your body. Unless you’re certain the bread is made from whole grains, you’d be better off with another starch.
- “Healthy” Sugars — We all know that white and refined sugar is terrible for our health, but what you might not know is that other “healthy” sugars (like honey, molasses, maple syrup, agave syrup, etc.) may be just as bad when it comes to inflammation. Excessive sugar consumption can cause your body to produce more cytokines, the immune response that can lead to inflammation. If you want to reduce inflammation, it’s time to cut back on all that sugar!
READ MORE: 8 Inflammation Causing Behaviors to Stop Immediately
- Alcohol — We all know that a glass of wine can do wonders for your heart health and circulation. But what happens when you reach the three or four-glass mark? Not only are you taking in A LOT of sugar (which triggers an inflammatory response), but you’re also flooding your stomach with bacteria that can seep into your body via your intestinal lining. Unless you can stick with just one glass, you’re better off avoiding alcohol.
- Seeds — Seeds may seem like a truly healthy option thanks to their high Omega-3 content, but did you know that many of them contain lots of Omega-6 fatty acids as well? Too much Omega-6 can cause inflammation in your body. It’s better to focus on the Omega-3 foods and limit your Omega-6 intake.
- Grilled Meat — You may think that grilling meat is the healthier, lower-calorie option to frying, and you’d be right. However, it may not be the best way to avoid inflammation. You see, when you grill the meat, flames and high heat can char the meat, and that charring can cause carcinogens to form in the meat. These carcinogens can damage the body, leading to inflammation. Unless you’re certain you can grill the meat just right without charring it, you’re better off cooking in the kitchen.
- Milk — Whole milk is rich in healthy fats, calcium, and Vitamin D, making it a good food to include in your diet. But many adults have a hard time digesting the lactose in milk. Lactose can trigger inflammation, making milk a food to be wary of.
