What's Causing My Inflammation?
It happened again. You ate a delicious meal, but suddenly you’re feeling bloated, fatigued and just plain awful. What the heck is going on? The answer: inflammation.
Oftentimes, we don’t realize that the foods we love and eat everyday are actually damaging our bodies. Your diet plays a huge role in inflammation, and it can reduce your quality of life if you don’t do something to address it. CBD can certainly help provide relief from inflammation, but if you’re still loading your body with inflammation-causing products, it won’t be as effective.
So today, we’re exploring common ingredients that might be causing your inflammation and how to take control of your health with easy & healthy swaps.
Dairy
For many of us, dairy plays a big part in our diets. From milk to cheese to yogurt, the meal options are endless when it comes to dairy products. But many people don’t realize that dairy could be the source of their inflammation. While not everyone has a dairy sensitivity, it can cause bloating and digestive distress for those who are lactose intolerant or sensitive to cow’s milk. If you think that dairy might be causing your inflammation, we suggest switching up your diet to see if there’s a change.
The Alternative: Switch to non-dairy products.
There are many delicious, non-dairy alternatives that provide the same health benefits of traditional dairy. Try almond milk, coconut yogurt, cashew cheese and other dairy alternatives instead.
Refined Carbs
Research shows that refined carbs can cause inflammation in your body. Your body tends to digest refined carbs quickly, so they hit your bloodstream faster and spike your blood sugar. That elevated blood sugar triggers an inflammatory response in your body, which does not feel pleasant.
The Alternative: Replace the refined carbs with whole-grain options.
Whole-grain carbs like quinoa, oatmeal and brown rice take longer for your body to digest, so they won’t spike your blood sugar as quickly. So swap the white bread for a whole grain option, swap your traditional pasta for a plant-based alternative and incorporate more whole foods in your diet.
Added Sugar
It’s true: your favorite salted caramel coffee creamer might be the reason why you’re feeling so inflamed. Our bodies aren’t designed to process large amounts of added sugars, so sugary foods tend to trigger an inflammatory response. Added sugars can be tough to avoid -- even “healthy” foods, like protein bars and granola, can be loaded with them. That’s why it’s so important to read labels and educate yourself on what you’re putting into your body.
The Alternative: Ditch that sugary coffee creamer for a naturally sweetened one.
A good rule of thumb is to find creamers (and other food options) that are Whole30 compliant. Those products tend to be healthier, naturally sweetened, dairy-free and absolutely delicious. Check out our favorite Whole30-approved foods for more inspiration!
It’s important to remember that everyone’s bodies react differently to food. What might cause inflammation for one person may not have the same effect on another person. If you’ve talked to your doctor and made their recommended lifestyle changes to fight inflammation, then it may be time to try Thryv Organics CBD products and hit the repair button on your health.
