It’s natural to experience a little bit of inflammation from time to time. However, when the issue becomes chronic, it can pose a serious risk to your health, potentially leading to diseases such as cancer and type 2 diabetes. Another possible result of chronic inflammation is weight gain and obesity, which is one reason it’s so important to make an effort to keep your inflammation levels low if you’re trying to lose weight. And while there are many obvious culprits to avoid, such as sugary, processed snacks, there are a few harmful ingredients that you may not be aware could be leading to inflammation.
To discover some of the worst options out there, we spoke to health experts Lisa Richards, nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, and Joanna Wen, weight loss coach and founder of Spices & Greens. They told us that vegetable oils and artificial sweeteners are two sneaky ingredients to look out for.
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1. Vegetable oils
Vegetable oils may sound harmless enough—after all, they come from vegetables, and vegetables are healthy, right? However, Richards warns that many vegetable oils are actually highly inflammatory and could be holding you back from your weight loss goals.
"Vegetable oils can be inflammatory due to an imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids," she explains. "While both types are essential for health, the typical Western diet contains an excessive amount of omega-6 fatty acids, primarily found in vegetable oils like corn, soybean, and sunflower oils."
When you consume to many omega-6 fatty acids, she tells us, your body could produce more pro-inflammatory molecules in your body. For this reason, it's important to prioritize healthy fats instead. "In contrast, omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, have anti-inflammatory properties," Richards notes. Replacing vegetable oils with healthy fat-rich olive oil is one good way to go.
2. Artificial sweeteners
Since we know that consuming too much sugar can result in a range of health risks, including weight gain, you may think that artificial sweeteners make a good alternative. Unfortunately, though, Wen says that these sugar replacements can also lead to inflammation.
"While they may seem like a healthy alternative to sugar, artificial sweeteners can actually lead to inflammation in the body, which can contribute to weight gain and other health issues," she says. Instead, you're better off sticking to natural sweeteners whenever possible.
While making changes to your diet and cutting out inflammatory foods like this may be difficult at first, your body will likely thank you in the end. By prioritizing a healthy diet, in combination with a great workout routine, you'll be one step closer to a slimmer waistline.
