I am grateful to Dr. Tank, for recommending this website to me nutritiondata.self.com. You can type in any food, and it will tell you virtually everything about that food. The information I found most fascinating was the inflammation factor rating number (which I had never seen, and have to admit I don’t know exactly how they determine this number, but it is cool!). Negative numbers represent foods that are inflammatory, whereas positive numbers represent anti-inflammatory foods. The goal is to balance the foods so that you end up with a positive number (usually 50 or more). However if you’re already suffering from inflammatory conditions a rating of 200 or higher is more desirable. I set to work to investigate this system, so I looked up all kinds of food (and put them in a chart that you can view below). Here is just some that I found interesting to compare:

• Spinach at 466 compared to an M&M McFlurry at -452
• Broccoli 222 and a Bran Muffin (what those who aren’t fat-burners may consider healthy) -233
• Almond Flour 174 and a medium French Fry -176
• Raw spinach 78 and a Granola Bar (again healthy for a many an ignorant American) -78
• Brussels Sprouts 62 and Jelly and Lucky Charms both -63
• Asparagus 41 and Rice Cake (another staple for the average naive dieter) -38
• Strawberries 28 and Popcorn -30
• Grass-fed steak 60 and White Bread -60
• Top Round Steak 50 and Orange Juice (what your kids guzzle) -48
• Goose 32 and Whole Grain 31

Something else interesting is that a banana is higher than Lucky Charms (this is why I’ve always recommended not eating them)! Here are some of the anti-inflammatory foods that I found:

• Spinach (cooked) 466
• Cabbage (cooked) 384
• Kale (cooked) 226
• Broccoli (cooked) 222
• Brussels Sprouts 62
• Asparagus (cooked) 62
• Carrots (baby) 20
• Tomato (cooked) 18
• Celery 14
• Cauliflower (cooked) 12
• Cucumber 3
• Strawberries 28
• Grapefruit 18
• Orange 9
• Salmon (chinook) 144
• Grass-fed steak 60
• Top Round Steak 50
• Goose 32
• Duck 14
• Pork (loin) 9
• Elk 7
• Moose 6
• Deer (ground) 2
• Almonds (1 cup) 262
• Almond Flour (1 cup) 174
• Olive Oil (1 tbsp) 71
• Almond Butter (1 tbsp with salt) 41

Some of the inflammatory foods (some are surprising):

• Banana -69
• Watermelon (just 1 slice) -13
• Turkey -183
• Walnuts -158
• Pizza (whole pepperoni) -1147
• Chips (8 oz bag) -594
• M&M Mclurry -452
• Nachos and Cheese -249
• Bran Muffin -233
• Granola -184
• Potato -179
• Cake (1 slice) -178
• Snickers -170
• Rice (white -153
• Corn -151
• Blueberry Muffin (small) -148
• Oatmeal -146
• Brown Rice -143
• Spaghetti -141
• Big Mac -138
• Soy-133
• Pizza (1 slice) -129
• Ramon Noodles -123
• Cheese (Colby) -118
• Oreo -101
• Fruit Parfait -97
• Corn Flakes -93
• Raisins (1 oz) -88
• Doughnut (mini chocolate covered) -83
• Ice Cream (1/2 cup chocolate) -82
• Granola Bar (1 oz) -78
• Jelly (1 tbsp) -63
• Chicken McNugget -59
• Chicken Noodle Soup -58
• Milk -57
• Beans -45
• Whole Grain Bread -31

Look at the vegetables and then look at these foods! I put a whole pizza because I know some people who can put away a whole pizza (over a negative thousand, really!) Some of these are American staples or comfort foods (potatoes, spaghetti, ice cream, fast food, etc). Once more look at the grains, starches, and sugars (3 poisons), they all show up negative. Some of these aren’t even complete (spaghetti just cooked not with butter or sauce, only a little doughnut, look at a potato after you add everything, or add to your bread, who eats only a 1/2 cup of ice cream and this is plain there are way worse verzions out there, I would hate to see mac and cheese). Jelly is only a tablespoon, who only spreads a tablespoon on their PBJ, that is on the bread that is in the negative. Some supposed healthy choices are listed here, or at least what the food guide pyramid recommends and what people tend to drift towards when they are going on a ‘diet’. Think about, how many people decide to lose weight and think that they’re doing well eating: bran muffins, granola, brown rice, soy, fruit parfait, granola bars, milk, rice crackers, and whole grain breads. Another offense against these foods that are spiking your insulin (and causing damage), they are causing inflammation and making you sicker. Food for thought!