Get To Know More About Anti Inflammatory Diet Now.

By Darryl Craig


First and foremost, we want to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. A good rule of thumb is to eat a rainbow. In other words we want a wide variety of color in the fruits and vegetables that we eat.

As the connection between silent inflammation and a host of diseases becomes clearer, the case for dietary and lifestyle changes that can combat inflammation has become stronger.

While it was always known that some conditions such as arthritis and acne were a result of acute inflammation in the body, there is mounting evidence that silent inflammation plays a role in heart disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes and some cancers, as well as in the ageing process. Chronic inflammation can be present undetected in your body for years, until it manifests in disease.

When fat cells grow, they take up the free space around the organs. Blood flow can be constricted and the body often feels as though it needs to fight to function normally. When the body feels threatened, inflammation occurs as a natural, healing response. Unfortunately, unlike the small cut that will heal in a few, short days. Obesity takes time to correct and the longer the body lives inflamed, the greater the risk of long term effects.

Having type 2 diabetes, or eating sugary foods contributes to silent inflammation in the body as a result of elevated blood sugar and insulin levels. Recent studies have also confirmed the link between inflammation and several types of cancers. Making the necessary lifestyle changes to fight inflammation, can protect you from it's devastating effects.

Legumes are recommended at 2 servings per day. They are a very versatile food and are high in protein, folate, potassium, iron, magnesium, essential amino acids and fiber. The legume or bean is actually the fruit or seed of a plant. Examples of legumes are the soybean, peanut, lima beans, kidney beans, and black beans.

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are considered "healthy", while saturated and trans fats are considered unhealthy and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. We generally want 4 to 5 servings of healthy fats per day. Good examples of "healthy" fats are avocados, olive oil, and nuts (excluding peanuts). We also want to consume cold water fish in moderation, 3-4 servings per week is a good rule of thumb. Cold water fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines are great sources of omega 3 fatty acids. When choosing our fish, we want to ensure that it is wild caught, not farm raised.

A typical anti-inflammatory diet focuses on fighting inflammation through the consumption of foods that lower insulin levels. To actively reduce inflammation, you should therefore eat foods that have a low Glycemic load, such as whole grains, vegetables and lentils, and consume healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, fish, extra virgin olive oil and fish.

Spices such as turmeric, ginger, and hot peppers also reduce inflammation. At the same time, you also need to reduce consumption of foods that are pro-inflammatory, such as red meat, egg yolks and shellfish.

Changing to an anti-inflammatory diet does not have to be in reaction to a disease or illness. Prevention is the best choice and the anti-inflammatory diet can reduce the risk of contracting many of the listed illnesses. When the body feels as though it needs to fight for survival, inflammation occurs, so offering healthy foods that have an inflammatory effect is a great choice for all people including those who are young, healthy and feel they do not need an anti-inflammatory diet.




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