Inflammation is crucial for our healing, drawing blood and immune cells to where they’re needed. However, too much inflammation can harm healthy cells, leading to symptoms like joint and muscle pain and digestive problems.
A Harvard Medical School gastroenterologist and associate professor talks about how diet affects inflammation.
While we can’t control some inflammation causes, like autoimmune diseases or toxins, our diet’s impact is clear.
Here are four foods known to trigger inflammation:
- Fatty Meats: Research connects eating fatty meats, including beef, pork, and lamb, to mild inflammation. These meats can upset the balance of bacteria in the gut, increasing harmful substances that trigger inflammation and reducing beneficial ones important for digestive health.
- Ultra-Processed Foods: Heavily processed foods, packed with excess fats, salt, and sugar, add to inflammation. They miss out on the healthful antioxidants found in their whole food origins, like the antioxidants in whole grains versus white bread.
