Chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can cause pain in your body at any time. You can change your diet and eliminate certain types of foods that may increase inflammation. Keep track of your inflammation after eating by writing in a journal. You may notice a trend with certain foods and how they make you feel. Talk with a registered dietitian who can help you design a personalized meal plan that excludes foods that cause flare-ups.
Oils
Polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as safflower, sunflower, peanut, corn and soy may increase inflammation in your body. These oils contain linoleic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid. Omega-6 needs to be balanced with omega-3 fatty acids at a 1:1 ratio, or inflammation may occur. Omega-3s are the types of anti-inflammatory fatty acids found in salmon. The average diet has anywhere between a 10:1 and 25:1 ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids, reports WomentoWomen.com. Limit these types of vegetable oils to help reduce inflammation in your body.
Sugar and Refined Foods
Table sugar and refined foods cause a sudden spike and decline in your blood sugar. This may trigger a response from your immune system and cause inflammation. Limit sweets such as candy, chocolate, ice cream, cake and cookies. Do not eat refined foods such as white bread, instant oatmeal and white pasta. Replace them with whole-wheat bread, quick oats and wheat pasta.
Common Allergen Foods
Some foods cause severe allergies. The top food allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat, according to MayoClinic.com. Tree nuts include almonds, walnuts and cashews. If you have a known food allergy or intolerance, do not eat these foods or any foods that have come into contact with them. Read food labels carefully to make sure the food you consume does not contain any of these allergens. You can develop a food allergy as an adult that will trigger a strong response from your immune system. Inflammation can occur anywhere in your body, but food allergens typically cause inflammation on the tongue and in the throat and chest.
Saturated Fats
Consuming high amounts of saturated fat can cause an inflammatory response in your body, reports the Arthritis Foundation. This will increase joint and tissue inflammation. Animal foods such as red meat, whole milk, butter and dark poultry meat contain saturated fat. Saturated fat is also hidden in tropical oils such as coconut oil. Avoid these foods if you notice inflammation after you consume them.
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