What is inflammation and what causes it? Inflammation can be good. It’s the body’s response to an injury or a way of fighting of microbial invaders. That’s the description of acute inflammation. However, there’s a more insidious type of inflammation and that’s chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation start off with vague symptoms, such as slight fatigue and can go undetected for a long time It can contribute to conditions like blood vessel disease, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease Alzheimer’s and more. You can lower your risk of chronic inflammation by making lifestyle changes and including foods that reduce inflammation, while eliminating those that do create it.
What are anti-inflammatory foods.
While whole foods make up the bulk of anti-inflammatory foods, not all whole foods are anti-inflammatory. Grapes, blueberries, garlic, olive oil and celery are a few anti-inflammatory fruits and vegetables. Spices, such as ginger, rosemary and turmeric are also on the list, so drink some ginger tea and sprinkle some turmeric on your stir-fry. A big salad of kale, spinach and other leafy greens with nuts, tomatoes and a dressing made with olive oil is an anti-inflammatory dish. Even coffee is anti-inflammatory, since it contains polyphenols and other anti-inflammatory substance.
It’s just as important to avoid foods that cause inflammation as it is to eat those that help prevent it.
What foods promote inflammation. That sugar laden snack you may crave is a big trigger, so are trans fats, corn oil, deep-fried foods and processed foods. Refined carbs like white bread and pastry, plus French fries, soft drinks, margarine, red meat and processed meat. One recent study showed eating a hot dog, a processed meat, could take 36 minutes off your life. Just imagine if you ate two or three a day.
A healthy diet can often be anti-inflammatory.
Most foods recommended in a healthy diet are inflammation fighters. A healthy diet is loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables. Nuts are part of a healthy diet and so is olive oil. Hot dogs, sugar products, white flour products and processed meat isn’t. We can create a healthy diet based on your DNA that will help fight chronic inflammation and be easy to use. If you need to lose weight, losing weight can help reduce inflammation, too.
- Besides a poor diet, other lifestyle changes can make a difference. Lack of exercise is another cause of inflammation, so is stress, excess weight, food allergies and heavy metal toxicity, which can occur in a number of ways.
- Insomnia, body pain, depression or mood disorder, joint pain, weight gain and frequent infections can be signs of inflammation. Digestive disorders and excess production of mucus are also signs.
- Drinking a glass of water with some fresh lemon or lime in it when you first wake up or sip on it throughout the day is an anti-inflammatory action.
- Chronic dehydration can add to inflammation. Increase your water intake to ensure it doesn’t happen. Sip water throughout the day. Reach for water instead of soft drinks, especially if those soft drinks contain artificial sweeteners.
For more information, contact us today at Rising Fitness Gym