What is inflammation?
Inflammation is the body’s natural process of protecting us from injury or infection. Inflammation is generally a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful.
Types of inflammation:
- Acute inflammation is a rapid response triggered by injury or infection. The body’s immune system works to restore balance within a few hours or days.
- Chronic inflammation occurs when the immune system response fails to remedy a problem. This type of inflammation can last for month or even years. If this continues, white blood cells begin to attack healthy tissues, resulting in a chronic inflammatory response. This type of inflammation is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Signs of chronic inflammation:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Redness of joints
- Frequent infections
- Depression and anxiety
- Weight gain
How to Reduce Inflammation:
Eating real whole foods that are rich in phytonutrients has been linked to reducing chronic inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory foods:
- Nuts and Seeds
- Berries
- Leafy Greens
- Whole grains
- Healthy fats
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Cinnamon
Anti-inflammatory recipes:
Foods that cause inflammation:
- Dairy
- Refined grains
- Processed oils and fried foods
- Sugar
- Sugar-sweetened or sugar substitute-sweetened beverages
- Red meat and processed meat
