Almost 60% of Americans follow diets that promote inflammation, raising their risk for serious health issues like heart disease and cancer, according to recent research that evaluated dietary inflammation. Additionally, the study revealed that specific groups, including Black Americans, men, and individuals with lower incomes, are more inclined to consume pro-inflammatory foods.
Recent research indicates that nearly 60% of Americans eat pro-inflammatory diets, which heightens their risk for health issues such as heart disease and cancer.
The study highlighted that certain demographics, such as Black Americans, men, and those with lower income levels, are more susceptible to these inflammatory diets.
“Overall, 57% of U.S. adults are found to have pro-inflammatory diets, with rates being higher among Black Americans, younger adults, and those with less education and income,” stated lead researcher Rachel Meadows, who is part of the Ohio State University’s College of Public Health.
The research team utilized the dietary inflammatory index, a framework created a decade ago that assesses 45 dietary elements by analyzing the food habits of over 34,500 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2005 and 2018.
Using self-reported dietary information, they assigned inflammation scores ranging from −9 to 8, where 0 indicates a neutral diet. Approximately 34% of participants maintained anti-inflammatory diets, while the remaining 9% fell into the neutral category. This study was recently published in the journal Public Health Nutrition.
Previous dietary assessments generally focused on specific food groups (like fruits, vegetables, and dairy) or macronutrients (including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) to align with national dietary guidelines or popular diets like keto or paleo.
“However, considering inflammation is essential, and the total dietary balance is vital,” Meadows added.
“Even if one consumes adequate fruits and vegetables, excessive alcohol or red meat can still lead to a pro-inflammatory diet.”
Meadows expressed that her focus isn’t on labeling foods as “bad,” but rather on promoting anti-inflammatory foods as beneficial options for health improvement.
“There’s an opportunity to explore positive changes, like incorporating more garlic, ginger, turmeric, and green and black tea into your meals,” she mentioned.
“Adopting a diet that reduces inflammation could positively influence various chronic ailments, including diabetes, heart disease, and even depression and other mental health issues.”
Other anti-inflammatory food options include largely unprocessed items like whole grains, leafy green vegetables (such as spinach), legumes (like beans and lentils), fatty fish (such as salmon), and berries.
Obstacles to consuming a less inflammatory diet include limited access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and other health-promoting foods. Even when these items are available, they can sometimes be pricier, posing challenges for individuals with low income, according to Meadows.
Moreover, many people experience heightened chronic inflammation because of non-diet-related factors like stress and negative childhood experiences, she noted.
“Many elements contribute to chronic inflammation, and they all interconnect — even sleep plays a crucial role. Diet can serve as a vital tool to counteract this,” Meadows stated.
Additional researchers from Ohio State involved in the study include Electra Paskett, Julie Bower, Gail Kaye, Stanley Lemeshow, and Randall Harris..
