Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

All this stuff about inflammation

111 replies

ThirteenRooms · 02/03/2026 13:00

To be getting a bit sick of it?
I eat very healthy, although not perfect. I don't buy ultra processed stuff and am physically fit and healthy to my knowledge.

I'm in a few recipe communities online and this week mentioned my quick and easy homemade organic flatbreads. I use organic white flour, extra virgin olive oil, water and a pinch of salt.
I've been told more than once that the white flour will give me chronic low grade inflammation. I eat them several times per week with hummus, salad, med veggies, fish and often with fermented sides (not all together!).

From what I am told, it isn't crazy influencers spreading this info, it's accepted science. I did a bit of googling and studies were mixed, but I do think this is going over the top a bit, and my gut can handle an occasional white bloody carb.

I mean, how would I even know if the flatbread gave me chronic inflammation? I feel fine??? I know that inflammation exists, and I am aware that diet can contribute to it, but isn't this going a bit far?

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonOh · 02/03/2026 13:27

ThirteenRooms · 02/03/2026 13:17

Yes, it does seem to pull attention to overthinking things.

I have tried wholemeal and really don't like it. I do eat a good amount of other whole grains, beans and legumes generally so not missing out.

I'm the same re wholegrain. I think good quality white is much healthier than shop bought wholegrain. It's all about balance. If you're getting enough roughage elsewhere, then you're fine.

Original poster
ThirteenRooms · 02/03/2026 13:27

It's like too much information about inflammation?!

Yes, it pays to be mindful but there really is too much information.

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 02/03/2026 13:26

Yeah I find it a bit tedious. It's like yeah I'm gradually dying. Am I currently in agonising pain? No. Ok then let's carry on...

It's like too much information about inflammation?!

OchonAgusOchonOh · 02/03/2026 13:25

ThirteenRooms · 02/03/2026 13:13

Thank you:) That is interesting, I have a friend with RA and she eats a lot of fresh fruits and veg. I think she still eats her own white bread but not to excess.

I don't have any health issues (yet) but I really do feel the booze these days. My gut literally burns if I have too much, for days after.

My flatbreads are the only processed carb I eat really.
I use 500g of organic white flour, a handful of seeds and a tbs of extra virgin olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and around 250ml of warmish room temp water.

Mix into a dough with hands, then form a ball and let sit for half an hour.

Split into 6 little balls and roll out to a roundish shape and drop into a pan either dry or with a few spritzes of oil for a minute each side. I then let cool and freeze them ,they taste so lovely, like a (flat) panini !

Edited
Show quote history

Sounds lovely. I'll give them a try.

My plan going forward is mindful carb eating. So my homemade bread, things like your flatbreads, basmati rice, homemade cakes etc. get an occasional yes whereas upf carbs (which I rarely ate anyway) get a no.

I have psoriatic arthritis which is a similar family to RA so a lot of the same approaches help.

damelza · 02/03/2026 13:24

I think I've had it now with all the messages about do this, don't do that, eat this, avoid that, walk 50million steps, go to the gym, lift weights, drink litres of water yada yada.

I'm not listening anymore but I use my own common sense. Any fool will know that drinking tons of alcohol, smoking, eating takeaways and burgers, sitting on your backside day in/out will not help you.

I focus on just feeling well these days, and try to avoid the crap, no alcohol anymore (meno hates it), and enjoying the little things.

Too much information can lead to mixed messages, fear of doing it "wrong" and all that angst leads to anxiety and there we go.... full circle again.

Original poster
ThirteenRooms · 02/03/2026 13:17

Yes, it does seem to pull attention to overthinking things.

I have tried wholemeal and really don't like it. I do eat a good amount of other whole grains, beans and legumes generally so not missing out.

OP posts:
Catza · 02/03/2026 13:14

This is a perfect example of taking a legitimate (and fairly minor) physiology process and turning it into a medical emergency. As the poster said above, if you have a medical condition it may be worth noting. Otherwise, human bodies experience inflammation all the time as part of normal immune response.
Same for the bloody continuous glucose monitors. If you are a diabetic - excellent idea. If you are a healthy person, there is absolutely no need to monitor your glucose. Insulin spikes after every meal as part of normal digestive process but unless we make it sound scary, we won't make any money from selling a new fad diet book/app/coaching programme.

Original poster
ThirteenRooms · 02/03/2026 13:13

OchonAgusOchonOh · 02/03/2026 13:08

Unless you have a medical issue that involves inflammation, I would just ignore.

I have an inflammatory arthritis. I recently went on a low carb diet and I did notice a big difference in pain levels. I am on a 4 week cycle with my meds and they generally wear off in week 4. When low carbing, I wasn't getting that dip.

All I know is, it is presumably one of, or a combination of, wheat, gluten, sugar, other grains, alcohol. That said, it's not a sustainable diet.

Enjoy your flatbreads and can I have the recipe please?

Thank you:) That is interesting, I have a friend with RA and she eats a lot of fresh fruits and veg. I think she still eats her own white bread but not to excess.

I don't have any health issues (yet) but I really do feel the booze these days. My gut literally burns if I have too much, for days after.

My flatbreads are the only processed carb I eat really.
I use 500g of organic white flour, a handful of seeds and a tbs of extra virgin olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and around 250ml of warmish room temp water.

Mix into a dough with hands, then form a ball and let sit for half an hour.

Split into 6 little balls and roll out to a roundish shape and drop into a pan either dry or with a few spritzes of oil for a minute each side. I then let cool and freeze them ,they taste so lovely, like a (flat) panini !

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonOh · 02/03/2026 13:08

Unless you have a medical issue that involves inflammation, I would just ignore.

I have an inflammatory arthritis. I recently went on a low carb diet and I did notice a big difference in pain levels. I am on a 4 week cycle with my meds and they generally wear off in week 4. When low carbing, I wasn't getting that dip.

All I know is, it is presumably one of, or a combination of, wheat, gluten, sugar, other grains, alcohol. That said, it's not a sustainable diet.

Enjoy your flatbreads and can I have the recipe please?

Original poster
ThirteenRooms · 02/03/2026 13:07

Googling tells me any processed food or carb, sounds a bit extreme!
I can see a lot of UPF perhaps causing it but a few bits of white flour in an otherwise high fibre diet seems over the top. But I am no expert!

I would have thought stress, booze, too much sugar, lack of exercise, but apparently not.

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 02/03/2026 13:01

Just the latest food trend used to justify an eating disorder by the sounds of it.

What foods are supposed to cause inflammation?