When your body activates your immune system, it sends out inflammatory cells. These cells attack bacteria or heal damaged tissue. If your body sends out inflammatory cells when you are not sick or injured, you may have chronic inflammation. Inflammation is a symptom of many chronic diseases.
Although inflammation is a normal part of the immune process, more and more research has shown that chronic inflammation can lead to disease, trigger pain and increase the risk of serious issues, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
So, what foods cause inflammation? Look below as we discuss foods to avoid increasing inflammation within the body.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup
High-fructose corn syrup is a type of sugar that is found in processed foods, including soda juice and ice cream. Just like table sugar, high-fructose corn syrup is at the top of the inflammatory foods chart and can have damaging effects on nearly every aspect of health.
Processed Meat
Processed meat is meat that has been smoked, salted, dried modified in order to extend its shelf life. Some of the most common examples include cold cuts, bacon, salami, sausage and beef jerky. The World Health Organization recently processed meats as a carcinogenic.
Artificial Sweeteners
Often lurking in low-calorie foods and diet products, some research suggests that artificial sweeteners could cause inflammation. Although more research in humans is needed, studies indicate that artificial sweeteners may disrupt the health of the gut microbiome, which plays a key role in regulating inflammation.