Have you ever ate a bowl of ice cream and your stomach got upset? Or drink a pop and break out? Went to your favourite fast food restaurant and left feeling bloated?

If you’ve answered YES to any of these, you have experienced inflammation. Sure there are many things that you can take to remedy the symptom you’re feeling in the moment. However as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist I encourage you to dig deeper.

Whenever I notice my body reacting in a less than satisfactory way, my first inclination is to assess what I’m eating and doing to see if there have been any changes.

Why would I do that?

Research shows that inflammation, quite regularly, can be attributed what we eat. You’ll be stunned how many inflammation-causing foods we consume on a daily basis. Continuously eating foods that create an inflammatory response in your body can lead to weight gain, drowsiness, skin and digestion issues, and a variety of other illnesses. Now let me be clear, it may not be the core problem but understanding your diet’s impact on your system can certainly help provide significant relief.

Below is a list of the Top 5 inflammatory foods

1. Sugar
   Chocolate bars, candy, baked goods, pop, your favourite Starbucks seasonal latte. All these things have sugar. Not only does sugar contribute to inflammation, but excessive sugar intake has also been linked to obesity, diabetes and acne.
2. Dairy
   Approximately 1 in 4 adults have issues digesting dairy, whether it’s due to diagnosed lactose intolerance or a general sensitivity. Dairy is responsible for a number of inflammatory responses such as constipation, stomach distress, diarrhea, acnes, skin rashes, hives and more.
3. Refined Flour
   Foods made from refined flour are everywhere. Pizza, breakfast cereals, pasta, bagels, crackers, you name it. While they may taste good (trust me, I know!) they’re void of fibre and vitamin B, and are pretty much empty calories.
4. Alcohol
   It’s may be true that the antioxidants found in wine and the probiotics in beer, might contribute help combat inflammation. However, regular alcohol consumption can not only cause inflammation, but also weaken your immune system, damage your liver, promote tumor growth, increase your risk for cancer.
5. Trans Fats
   Known for igniting systemic inflammation, trans fats are found in fast foods, deep fried foods, processed snack foods

All the above foods can be enjoyed in moderation, depending on your sensitivity and reaction to them. I also recommend listening to your body. There very well could be other foods that are not listed that your body might not respond to well. When it comes to food sensitivities, not everything can be diagnosed and everyone is different. Take the time to really get in tune with your system and how foods make you feel so you can make smarter choices.

If you are experiencing bloating and you’re not sure why, download my free 5-Day Reset Diet. My 5-Day plan removes all common inflammatory foods and focuses on fueling your body with an abundant of macro and micro nutrients. Once you finish and you start reintroducing your regular diet, you’ll be able to feel more clearly which foods, if any, might be contributing to your discomfort.