Your body uses inflammation to fight illness and heal injuries, but chronic, long-term inflammation can be dangerous. Chronic inflammation can happen with certain diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, psoriasis, and obesity. Your risk of chronic inflammation may be higher depending on your diet.
Here are a few foods known to cause inflammation in your body!
Sugar
Sugar is a substance that helps make food sweet. Sugary foods are high in calories, and excess calories get converted into fat, which is then stored in the body and can lead to obesity.
Sugar also stimulates the production of fatty acids in your liver. When the body digests these fatty acids, the resulting compounds can trigger inflammatory processes.
Red and Processed Meat
Processed meats are meats that have been modified through curing, salting, smoking, or adding preserving chemicals. Red meat is any meat that comes from cows, pigs, sheep, and goats. Some processed meats you might enjoy are:
- Bacon
- Hot dogs
- Salami
- Sausage
- Pepperoni
- Meat jerkies
Red and processed meats are high in saturated fats, which can cause inflammation in fat tissue. You don’t necessarily have to cut them out of your diet completely, and some will be less unhealthy than others, but processed meats should be eaten in moderation.
Alcohol
Drinking is a common social activity, but consuming too much alcohol can wreak havoc on your health. One problem with excess alcohol consumption can be bacteria moving into the body from the colon, leading to inflammation and organ damage. While alcohol is okay to consume in moderation, the potential risks involved mean that it should always be treated with caution!
Cooking Oils
Many common cooking oils contain a type of fat called omega-6 fatty acids. Your body uses Omega-6 fats for energy and growth, but your omega-6 fats need to be in a careful balance with omega-3 fats that you can get from foods like salmon, mackerel, and flaxseed. If you eat too much omega-6 fat, it can throw off this balance, which triggers inflammation.
Eating these foods in moderation and including herbs and spices in your diet that fight inflammation will keep your body healthy and in check!
At Dande-Lion Herb Shop, we offer a wide selection of bulk herbs and other natural products that can help reduce and relieve inflammation in your body.
Contact us at (410)768-8144 to learn more about our alternative medicines and services.