Acute inflammation is a normal and necessary part of the body’s immune response. It is the start of the healing process and without it we can’t heal. Problems arise when inflammation becomes chronic.When inflammation is out of control it can damage the body.

As a result, many chronic conditions have been linked with inflammation. Below you find a list of some chronic diseases that have been linked to inflammation.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn’s Disease
• Eczema & Psoriasis
• Obesity
• Asthma
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cancer

INFLAMMATORY FOODS

Our diet can contain foods with inflammatory properties, which means these types of food will exacerbate inflammation and should be avoided to limit it. Try reducing your consumption of these foods with the goal of eliminating them completely. 

• Refined grains – white flour, white rice
• Saturated and trans/hydrogenated fats
• Sugar
• Dairy foods (including milk and cheese)
• Processed foods that contain synthetic flavourings, colourings & preservatives
• Processed meat (sausages, ham, salami)
• Vegetable oils such as sunflower & corn oil
• Some people with chronic inflammation react to foods of the nightshade family – tomatoes, aubergines, white potatoes & peppers
• Heated olive oil & deep-fried food
• Alcohol
• Intolerances and allergies will further activate the immune response – common allergens are gluten, eggs & milk

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

To reduce the body’s inflammation, it is recommended to include the following foods into your diet.

• Oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring)
• Berries
• Cherries
• Beetroot
• Grapes (especially red)
• Tea (especially green tea)
• Cocoa
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Pineapple
• Turmeric
• Garlic
• Papaya
• Sweet potato
• Rosemary, thyme & oregano
• Deep coloured fruit & vegetables to provide ANTIOXIDANTS
• Broccoli

If you would like more advice on any of the points mentioned in this article or if you are concerned about chronic inflammation and would like to find out how nutrition can support your health issues please contact me on 07967 639347 or email emily@4wellpeople.co.uk. I offer one to one consultations from a family friendly clinic in Ealing.