08/01/2025
“Anti-inflammatory” is one of the buzziest nutrition buzzwords. Walk down the aisle of your local health-food store, and you’ll find product after product touting anti-inflammatory benefits. But you may not need to spend a bunch of money in your quest against inflammation.
Q: What foods cause inflammation?
A: We’ve all experienced inflammation in our body at some point. Any time we have a fever, a sore throat, or a cut that becomes red and warm, it’s our body using inflammation to fight off infection and heal itself. Heat, pain, redness, and swelling are all signs of acute inflammation, which usually lasts less than 2 weeks.
Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, can last several months to years. Various health conditions, certain medications, or exposure to irritants may cause it. Symptoms of chronic inflammation include pain, chronic fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, weight changes, and frequent infections.
Many factors can cause chronic inflammation, including the food we eat. Diets high in ultra-processed foods and low in nutrient-dense foods can lead to conditions that cause inflammation, such as obesity and diabetes.
Thus, if you want to limit inflammation through your diet, consider cutting back on:
-foods high in saturated fats, such as beef, pork, processed meats (e.g., hot dogs and deli meats), and fried foods
-foods high in added sugar, such as sodas, juices, coffee drinks, desserts, candy, and sugary breakfast cereals
-refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, pasta, cereals, and pastries
-alcohol
Instead of the foods above, eat more nutrient-dense foods that contain antioxidants. These include:
-vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower
-fruit, especially deeply colored fruits like blueberries, pomegranates, grapes, and cherries
-healthy fats like olive oil and avocado oil
-foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish, certain nuts (e.g., walnuts and pecans), and -ground flaxseed
-spices, such as turmeric, fenugreek, and cinnamon
-green and black tea”
— Lindsay Mahar, RD