Doctors Agree: These ‘Healthy’ Foods Could Be To Blame For Your Chronic Inflammation

Occasional bloating is one thing, but chronic inflammation can entirely derail your day, leading to struggles with self esteem and even a potentially unhealthy relationship with food as you work to navigate which ingredients are “safe” to eat and which will leave you blown up like a balloon. Many people who struggle with regular inflammation of the gut will attempt to follow healthier diets to eliminate foods which may be aggravating the gut, but the surprising reality is that even some nutritionally dense ingredients may be to blame for your tummy troubles, particularly if you’re eating them in bulk. 

We spoke with registered dietitian Trista Best and chief medical officer and pain specialist for Clearing, Dr. Jacob Hascalovici to get a better sense of the healthy foods which may be exacerbating your bloating and chronic inflammation, and what you can do to reduce symptoms.

According to Best, nearly 40% of Americans struggle with chronic inflammation, so it’s important to know what common healthy foods may be triggers so as to eliminate or reduce them within your diet. “The standard American diet is rich in omega-6 fatty acids and refined carbohydrates. Because omega-6 is pro-inflammatory and omega-3 is anti-inflammatory there is a balance that must be struck between the two to keep the body from becoming inflamed,” she explains. While it’s unrealistic to entirely cut fats or carbs out of your eating plan, there are several specific foods which may be to blame for your chronically inflamed gut.