But it can be uncomfortable, and chronic inflammation can damage healthy cells while creating a series of unpleasant symptoms such as joint stiffness, muscle pain and digestive issues. As a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical school, I'm often asked how to fight inflammation. But over the last few years, we've learned that foods have a large impact on inflammation. Some foods decrease healthy, anti-inflammatory bacteria in the gut, while others produce compounds that decrease inflammation and improve healing. Here are four foods I try to avoid that cause inflammation:

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Persons: I'm, we've Organizations: Harvard Medical