Nasal inflammation, also known as chronic sinusitis, is a symptom associated with multiple medical conditions. It’s important to keep in mind that nasal inflammation is a symptom rather than a condition unto itself. Nasal inflammation is often related to sinus infections, asthma and allergies. People usually experience the symptom as an uncomfortable combination of heat, swelling and congestion in their nose.

In addition to these medical conditions, the following foods may also cause or contribute to nasal inflammation:

1. Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG, isn’t as unhealthy as most people assume. Unless you have actual sensitivity to the substance it won’t present much more risk than table salt. The big issue is that unlike salt, some people do experience extreme sensitivity to MSG. As a result, MSG can trigger inflammatory responses in people with some chronic conditions. That means MSG should be off the menu if you suffer from anything related to inflammatory problems. MSG isn’t very common in Western cuisine. However, it’s extremely common in Asian and Asian-inspired recipes.

2. Foods high in processed sugars

Processed sugars have been directly linked to inflammatory responses. This means that sugar is on the list of items that can instantly cause a problem for anyone suffering from nasal inflammation or congestion. The problem is compounded by the unhealthy nature of processed sugar. As sugar degrades one’s health the body becomes less able to properly regulate various conditions. This often makes nasal inflammation and congestion worse in the long run.

3. Dairy

Problems with dairy often occur due to the fact that different people have differing levels of tolerance for it. Some people can drink milk the same way they’d drink water and never have a single issue with it. But people with less tolerance for lactose can suffer from an upset stomach and inflammation, or even a severe allergy with anaphylaxis response. This is further compounded by the fact that these products often have high levels of fat. Fat in general is often associated with inflammatory issues. People suffering from this problem are usually advised to avoid milk and cheese. It’s especially important to avoid ice cream as it contains multiple problem ingredients.

4. Trans fatty foods

Trans-fats are part of why milk and cheese can be such a problem for people at risk of nasal inflammation. It often takes larger amounts of trans-fats to trigger an inflammatory response. But at the same time, these fats often occur in the guilty pleasure items most people love to binge on.

5. Gluten

The impact of gluten tends to vary quite a bit on a person-by-person basis. Some people have absolutely no problem with it at all. They’ll be able to eat as much as they want with no added risk of inflammation. Meanwhile, some people will experience nasal inflammation just from having a piece of toast. Though the majority of people sit somewhere in the middle. However, more and more people are discovering a sensitivity to the substance. This has given rise to gluten-free versions of most foods. It’s easier than ever to cut the substance out of one’s diet. The substance is most commonly found in bread. So gluten-free bread has been a huge breakthrough in recent years.

6. Refined carbohydrates

Carbs are partially to blame for a lot of the medical issues in modern society. There’s a good reason why so many doctors suggest cutting them out of a diet when someone wants to lose weight. It’s true that they’re quickly digested and easily converted to fat. But they can also trigger an inflammatory response. The good news is that cutting down on carbs will make most people healthier over time. And a healthier body also tends to become more resistant to inflammation. You’ll typically want to avoid fried foods if you’re trying to keep your carb intake down. But make sure to avoid cereal too. Even supposedly healthy cereal usually has far more carbs than you’d expect.