Managing Our Sweet Tooth
There is no doubt that the development of inflammation in the body is multifaceted and often appears to be quite complicated. But there are several key risk factors that are worth noting that could be life-changing and for some – life-saving as well. There are even several foods we eat that can create an inflammatory reaction in your body that can keep you from feeling your best.
Inflammation and Digestion
First, let’s look at the connection between chronic inflammation and your digestive system. Two thirds of your body’s defenses are found in your GI tract which is often the last place a traditional doctor may look for keys to health issues.
When your microbiome is in great shape, your digestion works well, and you are getting and absorbing the proper nutrients. But if it’s thrown off — which can happen due to anything ranging from a poor diet to medications like antibiotics to chronic stress or even a bout of the stomach flu — some undigested toxins and unfriendly bacteria can stray from your GI tract, causing inflammation throughout your body. (1)
Inflammation and Food
One way to keep inflammation in the body from being health-threatening is to focus on the foods we eat that can be problematic. Unhealthy eating, drinking alcohol and a decrease in exercise are factors that could lead not only to permanent unwanted weight but serious health issues caused by something often overlooked. The health-threatening inflammation caused by the foods we eat. Here are a few to be wary of indulging:
Sugar-sweetened beverages like soft drinks, fruit drinks, and punches are one of the major sources of dietary sugars that many have overlooked. Drinking a can of Coke is as good as sucking ten sugar cubes? Other obvious sugar-loaded foods to avoid or at least limit include pastries, desserts, candies, and snacks.
Hidden on the food labels: corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, golden syrup, maltose, sorghum syrup, sucrose, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose. (2)
Trans Fats
Deep-fried foods, fast foods, commercial baked goods, and those prepared with partially hydrogenated oil, margarine and vegetable shortening. Note that items that list 0g trans fats on the label may still contain some amount of these toxic fats. This is because, in the US, the government allows items containing less than 0.5g of Trans fats to be declared as trans-fat free. (3)
Alcohol
Regular high consumption of alcohol has been known to cause irritation and inflammation of the esophagus, larynx (voice box), and liver. Over time, the chronic inflammation promotes tumor to grow and gives rise to cancer at the sites of repeated irritation. (4)
Dairy
Milk is a common allergen that can trigger inflammatory responses, such as stomach distress, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, acne, hives and breathing difficulties, in susceptible people.
Milk and dairy products are as pervasive as foods containing partially hydrogenated oil or omega-3-deficient vegetable oil. Apart from obvious milk products like butter and cheese, foods with hidden dairy content include bread, cookies, crackers, cakes, cream sauces, and boxed cereals. (5)
Red and Processed Meats
These have a lot of saturated fat, which can cause inflammation if you get more than a small amount each day. It is especially best to stay away from meats that have been smoked, cured, salted, or chemically preserved like ham, sausages, and salami. (6)
Artificial Food Additives in Packaged Foods
Look for additives like aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) and others can trigger inflammatory responses, especially in people who are already suffering from conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. (7)
1) https://ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13054-016-1458-3
2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986486/
3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3173005/
4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2842521/
5) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26287637/
6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540319/
7) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567822/
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