Although nasal polyps are noncancerous, these soft growths in the lining of your sinuses or nasal passages can worsen if your body's inflammation levels rise. That can lead to uncomfortable symptoms like congestion, facial pressure, and reduced sense of smell. Because of that, treatment and lifestyle changes often focus on bringing that inflammation down — and that’s where your diet comes in.
"What's occurring throughout the body and in the immune system can have an effect on nasal polyps," says Cheryl Rozario, DO, MPH, a physician specializing in allergies and immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. "Factors like diet and everyday activity can play a major role, and can help prevent issues."
When dealing with nasal polyps, mindful nourishment is important, but it's also crucial to check in with your doctor if you're experiencing worsening symptoms no matter what you eat, says Dr. Rozario.
"Nasal polyps may be developing from an issue like uncontrolled allergies, and that can also lead to sinusitis," she says. "That might have a ripple effect like causing blocked nasal passages, frequent sinus infections, and difficulty sleeping." Dietary changes might reduce inflammation, but to deal with problems like these, prompt treatment is beneficial.
“A health professional like an allergist or otolaryngologist can help you evaluate symptoms and determine what triggers are present," Rozario says. "That can help you come up with an individualized plan to manage nasal polyps symptoms long term." With that in mind, here are five foods that may be problematic since they're tied to higher inflammation, and some less inflammatory alternatives.
1. Cookies
Cookies and any kind of sweet treat fits into this category. That means foods like pies, cakes, brownies, candy, and pastries, too.
That's because refined sugar has been shown to trigger an inflammatory response and may lead to chronic, low-grade inflammation, research suggests. In addition to making nasal polyps worse, studies note that high sugar intake can also raise your risk of other conditions like type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease.
If you're looking for a better-for-you sweet treat, try berries, says Jamie Baham, a registered dietitian-nutritionist based in Oklahoma City and the owner of Ladybug Nutrition, a private practice that provides medical nutrition therapy to people with chronic health conditions.
"Any type of berry is a tasty part of an anti-inflammatory diet, because they're high in quercetin and anthocyanins," she says. Quercetin blocks histamine release, and anthocyanins are anti-inflammatory. Since histamines are associated with allergic reactions and sinus issues, leaning toward foods with these properties is helpful, she says.
2. Aged Cheeses
Although some cheeses aren't a problem for those with nasal polyps, aged cheeses are often high in histamine, a chemical compound that can trigger inflammation and allergic reactions for some people. (This is why antihistamine medications are used to help treat allergies.) This happens with certain aged cheeses like blue cheese, Parmesan, or brie because a years-long aging process causes proteins in the cheese to break down into histamine.
Fortunately, that doesn't mean avoiding cheese altogether, says Baham. Cheeses that aren't aged don't have this issue, so as long as you're not sensitive to dairy, you can opt for cheeses like goat cheese, provolone, and mozzarella.
3. Yogurt With Added Sugars
Probiotic foods like yogurt have been shown to reduce inflammatory markers, and they can also support mucosal immunity, says Baham. That's the part of the immune system located in the mucosal surfaces (moist linings of organs and body cavities), including the nasal cavity lining.
But some yogurts on grocery store shelves contain a significant amount of added sugars, which can knock out those benefits. Similar to baked goods like pastries and other sugary treats, high-sugar yogurts may raise inflammation levels while presenting itself as a healthy food.
Because of that, Baham suggests checking yogurt labels and comparing sugar content, and choosing unsweetened kinds instead of those that are flavored or have fruit included. If you need a sweet pick-me-up, you can add a small amount of honey yourself, since it has anti-inflammatory properties of its own.
4. French Fries
French fries and any type of food that's deep fried — like onion rings, doughnuts, fried chicken, beer-battered fish, and falafel — can be inflammatory. That's because these foods can cause the immune system to release a specific type of protein called cytokines. Excess cytokines are linked to inflammation.
In addition to being pro-inflammatory, foods like these may also:
Contain high amounts of calories and trans fats
Negatively affect gut health
Increase the risk of conditions like obesity and heart disease
If you have deep-fried foods occasionally, it's helpful to balance out those portions with foods that are known to reduce chronic inflammation, says Baham. A good choice, for example, would be dark leafy greens like spinach and kale, which have been shown to support immune regulation.
5. Bacon
Cured and highly processed meat like bacon, hot dogs, salami, pepperoni, deli meats, and sausage can contribute to inflammation because they're often produced with nitrates and other compounds. What’s more, cured meats tend to be high in saturated fat, which has also been linked to inflammation.
If you want to add protein to your diet while steering away from cured and processed meat, Baham suggests adding fatty fish like salmon and sardines instead.
"These are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, which are instrumental in reducing leukotrienes and prostaglandins," she says. "These are inflammatory substances that are often elevated in nasal polyps and chronic rhinosinusitis, so adding in more omega-3s can help."
The Takeaway
Nasal polyps can worsen with increased inflammation in the body and cause problems like congestion, facial pressure, and reduced sense of smell.
While diet can’t cure nasal polyps, if you bring inflammation down by avoiding certain foods, that will directly improve the condition and prevent polyps from becoming more problematic.
Foods known to cause inflammation include refined sugars, fried foods, and cured meat, so limit or avoid them entirely to keep inflammation in check.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology: Nasal Polyps
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Ma X et al. Excessive intake of sugar: An accomplice of inflammation. Frontiers in Immunology. August 2022.
Golovinskaia O et al. Review of Functional and Pharmacological Activities of Berries. Molecules. June 2021.
5 Types of Foods That Cause Inflammation. Cleveland Clinic. April 2024.
Machado-Carvalho L et al. Prostaglandin E2 receptors in asthma and in chronic rhinosinusitis/nasal polyps with and without aspirin hypersensitivity. Respiratory Research. August 2014.
Jessica Lee, MD, practices general otolaryngology at Charleston ENT and Allergy in South Carolina. After several years in clinical and surgical practice, Dr. Lee wanted to learn more about the impact of nutrition, activity, and sleep on general health and ear, nose, and throat health, so she pursued additional training in integrative, lifestyle, and functional medicine topics and became board-certified in lifestyle medicine in 2021.
Her practice centers on first addressing the lifestyle causes of disease and chronic illness, with the understanding and ability to use medical and surgical care for more acute concerns. She is also the co-founder and director of the Keto Hope Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families use the ketogenic diet as medical treatment for epilepsy
Lee enjoys cooking, strength training, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Elizabeth Millard is a freelance writer based in northern Minnesota. She focuses on health, wellness, and fitness, and has written for Runner's World, Bicycling, Self, Women's Health, Men's Health, Prevention, Experience Life, and more. She is an American Council on Exercise–certified personal trainer and a Yoga Alliance-registered yoga teacher. She graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in English.
