Dietitians Say These Foods Cause Inflammation

EatingWell • March 4, 2026 • health

Key Points:

The average American consumes over half their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), with sweet bakery products like cookies and doughnuts being a major source; these foods are high in calories, salt, sugar, and saturated fat but low in essential nutrients.
Store-bought desserts often contain high levels of omega-6 fats, added sugars, and saturated fats, which can disrupt the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, promote inflammation, and increase the risk of heart disease and insulin resistance.
UPFs negatively impact gut health by altering the microbiome and increasing gut permeability, potentially leading to low-grade inflammation and contributing to conditions such as IBS, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Consuming more UPFs tends