The Worst Foods for Inflammation (And Why They Hurt)

Why You Should Even Care About Inflammation

Honestly, I used to think inflammation was just about sore joints or that post-gym burn. But it’s way deeper than that. Chronic inflammation—the silent kind—can mess with your whole system. Heart disease, diabetes, fatigue, even brain fog... all connected. I found this out the hard way.

Last year, I was feeling sluggish 24/7. Thought it was burnout. Then during a random convo with my friend Lisa (a nutritionist, super sharp), she just asked: “What have you been eating lately?” That question changed everything.

The Usual Suspects: Foods That Fuel the Fire

So yeah, turns out some of the stuff I thought was harmless was totally wrecking my system. Let's break down the biggest offenders.

Refined Carbs and Sugars: Sweet, but evil

White bread, pastries, soda, candy. You know the gang. These spike your blood sugar like crazy, which sets off inflammatory markers in your blood (CRP, anyone?). I legit used to eat toast with jam every morning. No joke. My joints started hurting by 11 a.m. each day.

And don't even get me started on sugary drinks. One soda can = inflammation party in your gut. I swapped to water with lemon and, well, I still crave a Coke sometimes, but the difference? Wild.

Processed Meats: Bacon betrayed me

Ugh, this one hurt. I loved bacon. Like, weekend ritual level love. But processed meats—bacon, salami, hot dogs—are loaded with saturated fats, nitrates, and preservatives that just scream "inflammation."

I didn’t believe it until I went off them for a month. Less bloating, better sleep. Then I had a pepperoni pizza (I know, I know)... and boom. Headache and joint stiffness like clockwork.

Trans Fats: Still lurking in places you don’t expect

Even though trans fats are banned in a lot of places, they still sneak into packaged snacks, frozen pizza, margarine, you name it. I was shocked to find them in some microwave popcorn I was eating.

These fats increase LDL (the bad cholesterol) and decrease HDL (the good one). It’s like your body’s trying to put out a fire and these just throw gasoline on it.

Sneaky Inflammatory Foods You Might Be Eating

Now this is where I was really surprised. It’s not always the “junk food” you expect.

Dairy: Not evil for everyone, but...

I’ve always been a cheese person. Brie, cheddar, feta... mmm. But for some people (including me, apparently), dairy can trigger low-level inflammation, especially if you’re even mildly lactose intolerant. Didn’t even realize I was until I cut it out and suddenly... less sinus pressure, less skin breakouts. Weird, right?

That said, some folks do just fine with dairy—especially fermented ones like yogurt. So, test and observe.

Vegetable Oils: Not as healthy as they sound

Okay, this one felt like a betrayal. I thought sunflower oil was healthy. Turns out, oils high in omega-6 (sunflower, corn, soybean) can mess up your omega-6 to omega-3 balance, which ramps up inflammation.

Switched to olive oil and avocado oil. Took a while to adjust, but now I weirdly prefer the taste.

What I Do Now (Not Perfect, But Better)

Honestly? I still mess up sometimes. Ate a giant croissant last week and felt like a bloated balloon by noon. But now, I try to keep my plate colorful, my oils clean, and my sugar intake low-ish. No more mystery fatigue.

My go-to swaps

• Soda → sparkling water with lime

• White bread → sourdough or sprouted grain

• Bacon → smoked salmon (less processed, still tasty)

• Chips → roasted chickpeas (okay, not the same, but decent)

Don’t stress, just start

You don’t have to throw out your whole pantry overnight. But if you’ve been feeling kinda "off" for a while? Start with one thing. That’s what I did. (It was sugar for me. Brutal week, but worth it.)

Final Thoughts (And One Tiny Confession)

Well... I used to roll my eyes at anti-inflammatory diets. Like, how bad can pizza be, really? But after a year of experimenting, listening to my body, and honestly messing up a few times, I’m convinced. Food does affect inflammation more than we think.

One last thing: I still eat pizza. Just... less. And with more veggies on top. Baby steps, right?

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.