Here are six foods that can raise your levels of inflammation and lead to an array of physical and medical problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, not to mention discomfort, pain, and premature aging, so try to reduce or eliminate these foods as much as possible in your daily diet.

 

Processed & Regular Meats:
ausage, bacon, ham, smoked meats and beef jerky form harmful substances in protein and fat called AGEs (advanced glycation end-products).These are formed by high-temperature cooking as the meat is processed and contribute to inflammation in every cell in the body, leading to detrimental health effects like heart disease and, in particular, colon cancer.

 

Sugar:
Sugar, fructose and high-fructose corn syrup (sugary drinks, desserts, candy) increase insulin resistance and uric acid levels, injures blood vessels and contain lots of calories, leading to weight gain.

 

Trans Fats:
These fats — found in many processed and deep-fried foods — lower your “good” cholesterol (HDL), increase your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and damage blood vessels.

 

Vegetable and Seed Oils:
Oils with high amounts of omega-6 fat, such as corn, soy, sunflower, safflower, canola and peanut, can be healthy in small amounts. But most people use too much, which throws off the balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fats (fatty fish, flax), leading to inflammation.

 

Refined Carbs:
White bread, rice, pasta, chips and snack foods raise blood glucose, contribute to weight gain and inflame your gut.

 

Alcohol:
Excessive alcohol consumption causes bad bacteria to move out of the digestive tract into other parts of the body, leading to increased inflammation.

 

In general, avoid processed or junk food with artificial additives and increase your intake of organic veggies and fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and spices like turmeric, cinnamon , and cayenne, and drink green or ginger tea, that help fight inflammation and keep your body and mind well balanced.