Myth Busting Inflammation

Inflammation has always been a hot topic among the health conscious. But, as with all popular health topics, the large sea of information made available to us through a simple Google search can make it difficult to determine fact from fiction.

We asked Dietitian and Nutritionist, Rachel Hawkins, to set the record straight by busting some common myths on the topic of inflammation.

Is all inflammation bad for you? Do dairy and sugar really cause inflammation? Are turmeric supplements magic anti-inflammatory pills? We answer these questions and more below.

Myth 1: all inflammation is 'bad' for you

Inflammation is a normal immune response that plays an integral role in healing.
There are two main forms of inflammation; acute and chronic inflammation.

Acute inflammation comes on quickly and tends to subside within hours, days or weeks and can arise as the result of infection or injury.¹For example, acute inflammation would occur as the result of an ankle sprain. However, this inflammation is considered ‘good’ inflammation as it actually helps to protect the injured muscle from further damage.

In contrast, chronic inflammation is long-lasting inflammation. This type of inflammation is thought to be the cause of many diseases, so is what we would typically refer to as ‘bad’ inflammation.¹

Verdict: Myth.

Myth 2: all sugar causes inflammation

Table sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn syrup are two of the most common ‘added sugars’ in a western diet. Research indicates that consuming a diet high in added sugars, specifically sucrose and fructose, promotes inflammation which can lead to the development of diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes.^2-5

However, not all sugars are made equal.

Naturally occurring sugars, found in foods such a fruit, honey and maple syrup, actually contain compounds that are anti-inflammatory. Honey in particular has been well researched for its anti-inflammatory properties as it contains two bioactive compounds, called flavonoids and polyphenols, that act as antioxidants to help reduce free radical damage, and thus inflammation, in the body.⁶
Fruit is also valuable source of antioxidants, as well as fibre. Research suggests that the consumption of fibre rich foods, including fruit, help to lower the inflammatory process associated with many chronic diseases.⁷

So, when it comes to sugar, not all sugar causes inflammation. Instead, it is the type and dose that is important.

Verdict: Myth.

Myth 3: dairy causes inflammation

The question of whether dairy causes inflammation is a controversial one and there is research to support both sides of the argument.

Dairy foods include yogurt, kefir, cheese, butter, cream and ice cream. Dairy products contain many important nutrients including protein, calcium, probiotics, B vitamins and vitamin D.⁸They also contain saturated fat. The saturated fat found in dairy products was once believed to promote the inflammation that led to the development of heart disease. However, a 2017 review that analysed results from 52 human clinical trials looking at dairy and inflammation, actually found that dairy had a weak, yet statistically significant anti-inflammatory effect in the body.⁹

So, what does that mean? Well it means that the saturated fat found in dairy products might not be as inflammatory as once thought.

While the consumption of dairy products has been linked to certain inflammatory conditions such as acne¹², the evidence supporting this is weak. Therefore, if we look at the whole body of evidence, we can conclude that dairy products do not promote inflammation in the general population – except in those people with a dairy allergy.

Verdict: Myth

Myth 4: You can reduce systemic inflammation through diet and lifestyle change

Let me start by defining what systemic inflammation is.
Systemic inflammation is used to describe when inflammation occurs throughout the whole body. It is a form of chronic, or long-lasting inflammation, that contributes to the development of disease.

The Mediterranean Diet is an eating pattern that has anti-inflammatory properties and has been well-researched for its effectiveness in preventing and treating a range of chronic and inflammatory-related diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and cognitive decline.¹³
A Mediterranean Diet is predominately plant-based and includes wholefoods such as fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, beans, nuts and extra virgin olive oil, all of which are rich in antioxidants. Importantly, the benefits of this diet are related to the dietary pattern as a whole, and not individual foods or nutrients.¹³

Beyond what we eat, there are a number of other lifestyle factors that can increase the state of inflammation in our body. They include a lack of sleep, chronic stress, physical inactivity, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.¹⁴

Therefore, by implementing healthy lifestyle changes around these factors and adopting more of a Mediterranean style of eatingyou can be well on your way to reducing systemic inflammation.

Verdict: Truth

Myth 5: I’ll just have some turmeric…

While I’d love to tell you that curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, will reduce inflammation and improve symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions, the reality is that no one single nutrient is a magic cure-all. When it comes to reducing inflammation, a multifactorial and multinutritional approach which addresses the dietary and lifestyle changes mentioned previously, is best.

There are certain supplements which may help to reduce inflammation by providing the body with antioxidant protection. They include curcumin, fish oil, resveratrol and ginger.^15-18(Please note the disease states in which benefit has been observed with supplementation of these nutrients are varied).
However, don’t expect a miracle cure. The bigger picture matters more here than single nutrients alone. Thus, if choosing to supplement, do so in conjunction with a balanced wholefood diet.

Verdict: Myth

References:

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/biological-sciences-practice/biological-sciences-practice-tut/e/assemblies-of-molecules--cells-and-groups-of-cells-within-single-cellular-and-multicellular-organisms
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26081486/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19403712/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25639270/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24366371/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424551/
7. https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082010000200254&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en
8. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dairy-foods
9. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2014.967385
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4097976/
11. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2007.03434.x
12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29778512/
13. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/946049/cardiac-meddiet.pdf
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535097/
16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575932/
17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22055504/
18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24490949/