List of Foods That Cause Inflammation

When Inflammation is Normal

Inflammation is a regular process that protects the body from infection and injury. However, chronic inflammation is the kind that is not safe for the body and must be prevented. There are many causes of chronic inflammation, One of the major causes is entirely preventable which is dietary choices.

When Foods Cause Inflammation

Lack of proper diet is a key contributing factor to the increased risk of inflammation. In order to avoid the occurrence of chronic inflammation, there are certain types of foods that cause inflammation and must be avoided or entirely eliminated from the regular diet. Individuals must follow and incorporate in their lifestyle an anti-inflammatory diet that is high in protein and fiber which mostly consists of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Which Foods Cause the Most Inflammation

Everyone is unique and this is why it is advisable for individuals to rule out which food causes inflammation in their body. Foods that are high in carbohydrates, saturated fats and trans fats are the types of food that makes the body susceptible to inflammation. There is also an increased risk for individuals who lack protein and fiber in their regular diet.

The following list of foods should be avoided if you have inflammation. In addition, you should add fatty fish or fish oil supplements to your diet each day to drastically reduce the symptoms of inflammation.


Foods that are high in simple sugars have a high glycemic index (GI). These foods are directly linked to the development of inflammation in the body and they aggravate the symptoms of inflammation. Examples of high (GI) foods are:

-white rice
-sweet foods
-pretzels, potato chips and popcorn
-refined white flour
-gluten-containing grains
-corn syrups
-regular pasta
-sweetened cereals
-pastries such as cakes, donuts, muffins and pies
-fast food
-soda
-alcoholic beverages, especially beers


Foods that are high in LDL cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fats must also be avoided to decrease the risk for inflammation. Foods high in trans fats and saturated fats are:

-butter
-cocoa butter
-cream, cheese
-whole milk and other full fat dairy products
-egg yolks
-coconut oil
-palm kernel oil
-palm oil
-corn oil
-cottonseed oil
-margarine, shortening, lard and hydrogenated oils

Consumption of certain meats such as:

-beef, pork and lamb
-fried and canned meats
-bacon
-organ meats like liver, brain and tongue


There are also certain fruits and vegetables that need to be avoided. These are called the nightshade vegetables. Examples of nightshade vegetables are:

-tomatoes
-eggplants
-cayenne
-paprika
-peppers
-white potatoes