On The Side: Putting Out The Flames

People often ask me what are the best anti-inflammatory foods to eat? And my response is to turn that question around and ask: what foods are creating inflammation in your diet?

To answer this question we need to look at foods rich in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fats contain the precursors to signal the body to "start fires", whereas, the omega-3 fats produce the molecules to "put out the flames".

This is important because the standard American diet has a 15-20:1 ratio of omega-6’s to omega-3’s - meaning we are 15-20 times more likely to start fires rather than put them out. With a ratio that significant, it becomes critical to understand where omega-6 fats come from and what you can do to limit them in your diet. Ideally, we want that ratio to be 6:1.

The list of high omega-6 fat containing foods is long, but here are some of the worst ones that have the highest levels of the direct precursor to inflammation signaling - arachadonic acid.

Peanuts & Peanut Oil. Peanuts naturally have one of highest levels of arachadonic acid. To give you some perspective, one tablespoon of peanut butter has enough inflammatory potential to negate the anti-inflammatory benefits of taking 2,000 milligrams of pharmaceutical grade fish oil.

Corn, Corn Oil and Corn-Fed Animals. This is primary reason why free-range, grass-fed and wild caught meat and eggs are healthier for you.

Cow Dairy & Their Products. Cow's milk natutrally contains high levels of arachadonic acid which become even higher with a corn-fed diet.