The Top 5 Inflammatory Foods And How To Detox From Them

Throughout history, humans have survived solely on whole foods and meats that came straight from nature. There was no such thing as refined sugars, preservatives, genetically modified foods, or chemical additives.

It’s no coincidence that with the introduction of these ingredients, the overall health of Americans has plummeted! These ingredients are partially responsible for the increase of inflammatory diseases in America. Inflammation is an integral part of our body’s natural healing process and is triggered when your body senses some sort of invader or injury.

It’s about time we learn how to detoxify our bodies from these harmful ingredients and additives!

Inflammation-Inducing Food and Their Healthy Substitutes

1. Processed Sugars

Instead of eating food with added sugar, or using recipes that require you to add sugar, stick to natural sweeteners! Eat fruit when you’re craving sweets and when you cook, use raw honey, organic maple syrup or vanilla instead of refined sugars.

Sugars trigger the release of cytokines in your body which promotes inflammation, so cutting refined sugars from your diet can reduce pain brought on by inflammation.

2. Wheat Flour

Substitute almond and coconut flour in for wheat flour when possible! Generally, these two flours are less processed than wheat flour, have more fiber, healthy fats, and best of all… they’re gluten-free!

If you’re dealing with inflammation pain and you’re not sure why, I always suggest trying a gluten-free diet for a couple of months. Sometimes gluten can affect your body in the strangest ways, one of which being increased inflammation! If your inflammation pain subsides throughout your gluten-free months then you may want to consider cutting it out of your diet permanently.

3. Sodium

Get rid of regular table salt (which is packed full of sodium!) and instead use organic sea salt or pink Himalayan salt. Both these natural alternatives have less sodium content and countless essential minerals needed for a healthy body!

If you’re interested in learning more about pink Himalayan salt’s health benefits, then check this article devoted to this pretty in pink salt!

4. Vegetable Oil

Stop cooking with hydrogenated oils like vegetable oil and canola oil, and use omega-6 and omega-3 rich oils. Healthy balance! In order to stay healthy make sure that your diet includes both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.

Some of the healthiest oils out there are coconut oil, olive oil, hemp seed oil, chia seeds and avocado oils. Steer clear of butter alternatives like margarine and Becel, which are very high in hydrogenated oils.

5. Alcohol

I know it’s easier said than done, but minimizing your alcohol content will alleviate inflammation pain and actually decrease the severity of your inflammation flareups. Even if you can just take a long break from drinking alcohol, your body can return to an optimal state.

There’s nothing wrong with having a drink or two with your friends, but you’ll notice drastic results when you cut down on your alcohol intake, especially if you suffer from the pain of gout or arthritis.

Check out this video by Clean and Delicious to learn the basics of Coconut Flour!