However, chronic inflammation is a long-term, slow-burning immune response that can damage healthy tissue and lead to variouschronic diseases. Unlike short-term (acute) inflammation that fights off an infection, chronic inflammation is a persistent state that can cause damage throughout the body, leading to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

"The key is to get into the details," he says when it comes to dietary changes such as eliminating specific food groups to combat inflammation. "It depends on what condition you're talking about and how the contribution of dietary strategies will improve your [health] outcomes."

Peter argues that 'nuance is lost' with elimination diets, which typically target healthy individuals and take a blanket approach, cutting out dairy or gluten, without considering specific health outcomes for each person, and may not work for everyone.

If someone has cardiovascular disease, abnormal lipids and obesity, a well-controlled diet and reduced weight loss could make a significant impact on their overall risk.

Many videos gaining traction on social media promote anti-inflammatory diets to lose weight or feel less bloated. Some posts pushing the value of these diets have over 20 million views.

"If they're saying avoid gluten, avoid dairy completely, when you look at that data, there is very little, if any data at all, that that is a good strategy," warns Peter.

To listen to Peter in conversation with John Maytham on CapeTalk's Afternoon Drive show, click below: