Posted on Leave a comment

Anti-inflammatory food – What you need to know

Chronic inflammations in the body could be life-threatening. But an anti-inflammatory diet could help in keeping the doctor away!

Are we well aware of what inflammation does to our bodies? Inflammation is the body’s response to any injury or infection, and it helps in fighting illness as a function of the immune system. While acute inflammation aids in repair and healing, low-level chronic inflammation could be harmful to the body and poses many health risks. The constant inflammation drives the body to overreact and this damages the cells and tissues. So what could happen if our defense-mechanism in the body is faulty?

Chronic inflammation in the body can lead to auto-immune disease

Chronic inflammation in the body can lead to auto-immune diseases including Rheumatoid arthritis, Inflammatory bowel disease, and Lupus, where the body falsely attacks itself, sensing the healthy cells as a threat. This could be long-term and painful. Studies also suggest consistently low-level inflammation levels in the body can also lead to heart diseases, diabetes and stroke. But why how does chronic inflammation occur in the first place? Well, it’s all related to the way we live. Our lifestyle that includes dietary and environmental factors play a major role in our health. Food, in fact, can make or break the deal. Researchers have found consumption of processed meat, red meat, and dairy products have an immediate negative effect on our body as the saturated fats, heme iron, and other carcinogenic components flow directly into the bloodstream. These components initiate inflammations in the system. Unfortunately, these stay in the bloodstream long enough to form a plaque in the blood vessels. This is identified as the body as a foreign substance that results in an inflammatory response. Now how do you check the inflammation levels in the body? A CRP test is the solution! CRP or C-reactive protein is a type of protein produced in the liver which gets sent to the bloodstream as a response to signs of inflammation. A higher level of CRP indicates higher risks for heart diseases and stroke.

Anti-inflammatory foods in your diet reduces chronoic inflammation

They say “Prevention is better than cure”. So is there a way to reduce the chances of inflammation-induced diseases without solely depending on drugs? Yes, food is the healer here! While we focus on different forms of diet like Keto, Paleo, etc, mostly to lose weight and have a healthier lifestyle, considering anti-inflammatory food to heal the body could take us a long way. Antioxidants, polyphenols and other anti-inflammatory components including Omega-3 fats in the food help in the balanced functioning of the immune system, thereby reducing the levels of inflammation in the body. A plant-based diet with a balanced amount of micro and macronutrients aids in the proper functioning of the body. While you include fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts in the diet, it is important to stay away from packaged, processed food, junk food, refined sugar, and carbohydrates.

It is rightly said “You are what you eat”. We still can have a better quality of living with a few alterations in the diet. So why not embrace it?

Want to know more about the anti-inflammatory foods you can have today? Check out our article on the top anti-inflammatory foods.

Healthcoach

GetTested – Vi kan hälsa Healthcoach

Related Articles

5 inflammatory foods to avoid

Leave a Reply