Be careful what you eat!
For decades, scientists have been discovering more and more dangers of inflammation. We’re not talking the sort of inflammation caused by injuries or wounds. No, we’re talking the sort of low-grade inflammation common with disease, infection, and chronic health conditions. Even foods can cause inflammation, particularly in your intestines. According to a new study, EVERYTHING you eat causes inflammation.
A study from the Swiss Universität Basel found that the food we eat can trigger inflammation. It doesn’t matter what type of food it is—healthy proteins, natural fatty acids, fiber, or fruits and veggies—it will cause inflammation!
When you ingest food (more commonly known as eating), you ingest a lot of bacteria in addition to the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes. While your body is busy breaking down the nutrients to be absorbed and used, it also has the fight against the bacteria, germs, and other pathogens absorbed via your food.
It takes a lot of effort for your body to break down, absorb, and process all the nutrients you eat. It can’t properly do so at the same time as it’s fighting off bacteria. As a result, there is an inflammatory response triggered. The inflammatory response is intended to stop the bacteria in its tracks and prevent infections. The low-grade inflammation remains until your body is able to deal with the infection. This essentially protects your body.
However, among the very overweight and obese, this inflammatory response can be dangerous. In fact, it may lead to serious problems, including diabetes. The activation of the inflammatory response will kill off the cells responsible for producing insulin. As a result, insulin production may skyrocket, leading to a greater risk of insulin resistance. This is, of course, the precursor to diabetes.
READ MORE: 7 Surprisingly Inflammatory Foods
But don’t freak out quite yet. The study also gives us a silver lining: if you eat sufficient nutrients, you won’t have to worry about the inflammatory response.
You see, it takes energy for your body to fight off the invading bacteria. If you give your body enough calories, it will have all the energy required to protect your body AND digest nutrients. By consuming enough of the foods that boost immune activity, you can reduce the risk of infection even further. A combination of sufficient calorie intake and a healthy variety of vitamins and minerals is all it takes!
Yes, the consumption of foods can cause inflammation that may lead to serious consequences, especially for those with insulin problems. However, the human body is designed to repair itself, meaning it has what it needs to keep everything in working order. You just have to give it the “building blocks” it needs. As long as you deliver a balanced influx of nutrients, you will have nothing to worry about.
So what sort of foods should you include in your diet? Pretty much anything that contains:
- Fiber
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Plant-based fats
These four elements provide your body with all the bacteria-fighting nutrients it needs. The fiber will help to keep your intestines (and the beneficial bacteria living there) healthy and digesting your food properly. The vitamins and minerals will play a role in your body function and keep your immune system working well. The plant-based fats (such as the lauric acid in coconuts) will also act as antibacterial agents.
But it’s also time to avoid any inflammation-triggering foods: artificial, processed, and high-sugar foods. Eliminate these from your diet, and you won’t have to worry about inflammation causing health problems.
