What foods cause inflammation?

I’m a foodie, and I love to eat. I’m also pretty adventurous, so you can put just about any healthy food in front of me—from alligator to escargot—and I’ll give it a shot. What I won’t do, however, is pollute my body with junk—and, in particular, with foods that hike inflammation. We now know that inflammation underlies nearly every disease of aging, from diabetes and obesity to cancer and heart disease. That’s why I avoid the following pro-inflammatory foods, and I advise my patients to give them the thumbs-down as well:

1. Sugar is on the top of my list of foods that cause inflammation.

You already know that sugar is bad for your teeth and your waistline—but did you know that it fans the flames of inflammation as well? When you eat sugar, it triggers the release of pro-inflammatory molecules called cytokines that rev up the fire inside you.

2. Inflammation is cause by artificial sweeteners

A diet high in these sweeteners can lead to inflammation that puts you at risk for glucose intolerance and metabolic disease—steps on the path to diabetes. (Researchers believe that some of the bacteria in your gut react to artificial sweeteners by secreting chemicals that provoke an inflammatory response, making it harder for your body to handle sugar.) What’s more, a new study reports that in addition to hiking your risk for diabetes, these sweeteners can increase your risk for obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

3. Glutinous grains may cause inflammation

I know that lots of people pooh-pooh the idea that gluten sensitivity is common. But I speak from experience, because I’ve helped thousands of patients get better control over inflammatory diseases—ranging from arthritis to psoriasis to inflammatory bowel disease—by having them cut out foods that contain gluten. (It’s actually smart to reduce or eliminate all grains because of their pro-inflammatory effects, but at a minimum, give gluten the boot.) Try this: This naturally gluten-free pizza recipe will make you forget all about the typical, gluten-filled kind.

4. You may become inflamed when cooking with seed oils.

Oils like canola, corn, sunflower, safflower, and soybean—as well as margarine and vegetable fats—are highly processed and contain an unhealthy ratio of inflammatory omega-6 to anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Instead, I recommend reaching for healthy substitutes like avocado and olive oil.

5. Your inflammation may be caused by dairy.

In more than 20 years as a clinician, I’ve found that the majority of my patients don’t tolerate dairy foods well. Frequently, they don’t even know this is a problem until they eliminate dairy from their diet. When they do, symptoms like headaches, skin breakouts, bloating, and a stuffy nose clear up—and that tells me that their internal inflammation is dropping as well. If you’re not sure whether dairy bothers you, I recommend eliminating dairy foods, carefully reintroducing them, and then discontinuing them if you experience a bad reaction. Try this: A nondairy milk that can be made in five seconds flat eliminates any excuse to not just have it on hand.

6. Inflammation can be caused by Foods packed in BPA-lined cans or packages.

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is already linked to many scary problems ranging from birth defects to obesity. In addition, research now links BPA to increased inflammation in post-menopausal women. Luckily, more and more manufacturers are offering their products in BPA-free packaging; read labels carefully, and reach for BPA-free products whenever you can.

7. Inflammation is caused by commercial condiments (with exceptions)

Most grocery-store mayos, ketchups, and salad dressings are loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, harmful emulsifiers, seed oils, and other junk. I make my own condiments, with a few exceptions including additive-free salsa (available in most stores), mustard (most brands are fairly clean), and avocado mayo (available at Costco and many health food stores). Try this: You can easily make your own ketchup, barbecue sauce, or mayo.

8. Soy "Frankenfoods” can cause inflammation.

I know you hear all the time that soy is good for you. However, the heavy processing of foods like soy burgers and soy hot dogs can lead to the formation of lysinoalanine and nitrosamines—toxins that can damage your cells, leading to inflammation. If inflammation is a problem for you, try kicking these eight pro-inflammatory foods out of your diet and see what happens. It may take a few weeks (or even a few months), but I’m betting that you’ll feel healthier and look younger all over!

Keep thinking Big and living BOLD!

This post was originally published on Mind, Body, Green. References: The effects of diet on inflammation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16904534 Gut bacteria, artificial sweeteners and glucose: intoleranceNonnutritive sweeteners: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/189/28/E929 Chemical in Plastics May Be Especially Harmful to Women: https://www.rodalewellness.com/health/bpa-postmenopausal-women