Before we learn ‘do tomatoes cause inflammation in the body,’ let us learn what is inflammation, why is it bad, and in the end, which foods actually cause inflammation in the body.
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation can be seen as the body’s attempt to defend itself against injury. Acute and chronic are the two main types of inflammation.
If you’ve ever slammed your knee or sliced your finger, you know what acute inflammation is. An army of leucocytes or white blood cells sent by your immune system surrounds and protects the infected spot, causing swelling and redness.
An infection such as the flu or pneumonia follows a similar course of action. Inflammation is crucial in these situations because without it, wounds might become infected and even mild infections could be fatal.
The body’s reaction to other noxious chemicals, such as poisons from cigarette smoke or an abundance of fat cells, can cause chronic inflammation (especially fat in the belly area).
Why Chronic Inflammation Is Bad?
Atherosclerosis – the accumulation of fatty, cholesterol-rich plaque in the arteries – is triggered by inflammation in the arteries. Because this plaque is perceived as aberrant and alien by your body, it tries to isolate it from the circulating blood.
However, if that wall is breached, the plaque might rupture. After mixing with the blood, the contents of the plaque form a clot, which prevents the flow of blood. Most heart attacks and strokes are caused by blood clots.
Are There Any Tests to Measure Inflammation?
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation, especially arterial inflammation, and may be measured using a simple blood test called the hsCRP test.
Do Tomatoes Cause Inflammation in the Body?
Tomatoes do not cause inflammation and arthritis, yet a longstanding belief holds that they do.
Other nightshade (potato family) vegetables, such as potatoes, peppers, and eggplants, are also included in this myth.
It is said that arthritis sufferers may alleviate their symptoms by cutting down on the intake of certain veggies.
However, some arthritis patients claim to feel better after eliminating certain foods, despite the lack of scientific evidence to support this.
Only a Mediterranean-style diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, and olive oil, and restricts red meat, has been demonstrated in tests to help arthritis sufferers.
The Italian research participants who ate this way for 12 weeks reported a 15% reduction in pain, but no improvement in stiffness in the morning or physical function.
In another research, it was found that tomato juice actually reduced systemic inflammation in obese and overweight women.
Even according to Harvard, tomatoes (along with olive oil, almonds, salmon, strawberries, oranges, blueberries, etc.) help in decreasing inflammation.
Foods that help in reducing inflammation also help in reducing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Which Foods Cause Inflammation?
Foods that cause inflammation are as follows:
- Refined carbohydrates like bread, pasta, pastries, etc.
- Sweetened beverages like soda.
- Fried foods like French fries, chips, etc.
- Lard, shortening, and margarine.
- Red meat like steaks and processed meat like sausage.