Study Links Eating Inflammatory Foods

Most of the time, inflammation has benefits like giving our bodies protection when we cut ourselves and prevents foreign bodies from going inside our cuts and cause us harm in the long run. But when inflammation stays for a long time, there might be something inside us that keeps our body in alert mode.

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Harvard Medical School said that inflammation plays an important role in heart disease because it indicates and helps develop atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty, cholesterol-rich plaque inside the arteries. According to a study by the American College of Cardiology, eating certain foods that cause or triggers inflammation may increase stroke and heart disease risk. 

According to the study, certain inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukins, adhesion molecules, and chemokines have been associated with atherosclerosis's early and late stages. In an interview, Jun Li, MD, Ph.D., lead author of the study and Department of Nutrition research scientist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, they found that dietary patterns rich in inflammatory foods were associated with an increase of rate in cardiovascular disease, using a tested and developed food-based dietary index in evaluating the levels of inflammation related to dietary intake. 

The food-based pro-inflammatory index is based on 18 pre-defined food groups showing robust links with an increase in biomarkers. The study emphasized that participants consuming inflammatory foods in their diet have an increased rate of 46 percent higher risk for heart disease and 28 percent higher risk of stroke than those who consume anti-inflammatory foods in their diet. This was found out after controlling the respondents' other risk factors such as BMI, physical activity, multivitamin use, and their family history of heart disease.  

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The researchers suggested eating foods rich in antioxidants and fiber that can fight or reduce inflammation, such as green leafy vegetables, yellow vegetables, coffee, whole grains, tea, and wine. In an interview, Ramon Estruch, MD, Ph.D., and Hospital Clinic of Barcelona's  Department of internal medicine senior consultant, said that a better knowledge of health protection provided by diverse foods and dietary patterns, mainly the anti-inflammatory properties they possess, should be the basis for designing or concocting healthier dietary patterns that can prevent you from heart disease. 

Foods that can trigger inflammation

Food give us energy; however, consuming so much of the same kind can cause harm to your health in the long run. Here are some of the foods that are pro-inflammatory.

According to Healthline, Artificial fats are the unhealthiest fats an individual can have. They added that these fats are added with hydrogen to give them stability. They emphasized that this fat has shown to cause inflammation and increase heart disease risk unlike natural fats found in meat and dairy. This fat can be present in foods, so remember to check the label. 

Sugary foods are also on the list of pro-inflammatory foods. According to Harvard Medical School, consuming too much sugar can raise blood sugar and increase chronic inflammation, causing heart disease. 

Processed meat is also on the list. Suppose you're a fan of sausages, jerkies, and other red or processed meat. You might want to moderate your intake of this food. Cleveland Clinic research shows that processed and red meats are rich in saturated fat that causes inflammation. They also added that studies have shown that higher intakes of these meats can lead to cancer, heart disease, and stroke, along with inflammation. 

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