Your body uses inflammation to fight off illness and heal injuries, but chronic, long-term inflammation can be dangerous: <ul><li>It <a href="https://www.foxchase.org/blog/chronic-inflammation-and-cancer-what%E2%80%99s-connection">damages cell DNA </a>, which can lead to cancer. </li><li>It <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6523054/">increases insulin resistance </a>, which can cause diabetes. </li><li>It <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/fight-inflammation-to-help-prevent-heart-disease">promotes the growth </a>of plaques in arteries and triggers blood clots, which can cause heart disease. </li> </ul>

Inflammation in the 

Foods that are high in sugar like soda and baked goods can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986486/">trigger inflammation </a>in two ways:<ol><li>Sugar <a href="https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_7frg4jjd">stimulates the production of fatty acids </a>in your liver. </li><li>Eating sugary foods causes your body to produce more of the hormone insulin, which, in turn, can boost body fat. This is a problem because fat cells can produce chemicals in the body that <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.01607/full">lead to inflammation </a>.</li></ol>

1. Sugary Foods

Processed meats are meats that have been modified through curing, salting, smoking, or adding preserving chemicals. Some examples of processed meats are:<ul><li>Bacon.</li><li>Deli meats.</li><li>Hot dogs.</li><li>Beef jerky.</li><li>Chicken nuggets.</li></ul>Both processed and red meats tend to be high in saturated fat. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540319/#R11">Studies have found </a>that eating fatty processed and red meats may cause weight gain and inflammation.

2. Processed Meats and Red Meats

Many common cooking oils contain a type of fat called <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-foods-that-can-cause-inflammation/">omega-6 fatty acids </a>. Omega-6 fats aren't necessarily bad — your body uses them for energy and normal growth. But your omega-6 fats need to be in a careful balance with <a href="https://www.insider.com/omega-3-benefits">omega-3 fats </a>that you can get from foods like salmon, mackerel, and flaxseed. If you eat too much omega-6 fat, it can throw off this balance, which triggers inflammation. Some common cooking oils that contain omega-6 fats include: <ul><li>Corn oil. </li><li>Canola oil. </li><li>Sunflower oil. </li><li>Safflower oil. </li><li>Peanut oil. </li> </ul>

3. Some Cooking Oils

Fried foods like chicken nuggets, doughnuts, and french fries are big inflammation culprits for several reasons, including:<ul><li>Fried foods tend to have high levels of omega-6 fatty acids.</li><li>Fried foods produce compounds in the body called advanced glycation end products, also known as AGEs. These compounds <a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2009/study-shows-that-reducing-processed-and-fried-food-intake-lowers-related-health-risks-and-restores-bodys-defenses">directly stimulate inflammation </a>in the body.</li></ul>

4. Fried Foods

There are also many <a href="https://www.insider.com/anti-inflammatory-diet">anti-inflammatory foods </a>that can help fight chronic inflammation. These foods are rich in key compounds like antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that work to reduce your levels of inflammatory proteins.Some key anti-inflammatory foods to add to your diet include:<ul><li>Fatty fish.</li><li>Extra-virgin olive oil.</li><li>Fruits and veggies like oranges, broccoli, and peppers.</li><li>Nuts.</li><li>Berries.</li><li>Tomatoes.</li></ul>

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Avoiding inflammatory foods can help reduce your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

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4 foods that cause DNA-damaging inflammation in your body

<ol><li>Put on headphones and turn on the binaural EMDR music (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7L6OpwIhZukbabyh66knpa">here's a playlist </a>). "It immediately starts to soothe your system, because it's just so relaxing," Bernstein says.</li><li>Then for 20 minutes, just write. Spill all of your emotions onto the page, whatever you're feeling in that moment. </li><li>After those 20 minutes are up, put down your pen and meditate for 20 minutes after that. Lie on your back, and press your right hand on your heart and your left hand on your belly. </li></ol>

Rage on the Page

<ol><li>"If you're feeling anxious, stressed out, or afraid, tap between your ring finger and your middle finger," she says. "Tap right there on that meaty part of your skin." </li><li>While you're tapping, say to yourself: I am safe. I am safe. I am safe. "That's extremely settling to the system, to repeat that affirmation while tapping that point," she says. She even calls it the "holy shit" point for whenever you're feeling uneasy.  </li><li>Remember to breathe deeply and completely, and keep reminding yourself: I am safe. I am safe.  </li> </ol>

EFT Technique

<ol><li>Spend five minutes a day checking in with the fearful thoughts that are running the show. Notice them. Acknowledge when those fears crop up and call them out. </li><li>Take a moment to reflect on what you know about those fears: When do they tend to make their appearance, what's their origin, how do they physically feel in your body? </li><li>Ask them what they need. How can you react in a way that honors your true self? "We spend so much time pushing past these thoughts and fears and trudging forward. But what if we just spent five minutes a day getting to know them and listening?" Bernstein poses. </li></ol>

Get to Know Your Fears

Here, spiritual teacher Gabby Bernstein compiles the three simple therapeutic techniques that helped her work through her own past trauma.

4 foods that cause DNA-damaging inflammation in your body

3 Exercises To Heal Unresolved Trauma, From Gabby Bernstein

Jodi