EAT TO FIGHT INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE

Type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases together represent the leading causes of death around the world. But do you know: There is a precursor to these diseases – chronic inflammation.

What is inflammation? Your immune system becomes activated when your body recognises anything that is foreign – such as an invading microbe or chemical. This often triggers a process called inflammation. Intermittent bouts of inflammation directed at truly threatening invaders protect your health.

However, sometimes inflammation persists, day in and day out, even when you are not threatened by a foreign invader. That’s when inflammation can become your enemy. Many major diseases that plague us – including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s – have been linked to chronic inflammation.

How to prevent? Doctors are learning that one of the best ways to reduce inflammation lies not in the medicine cabinet, but in the refrigerator. By following an anti-inflammatory diet you can fight off inflammation for good, says an article in Harvard Health. (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation)

Choose the right anti-inflammatory foods, and you may be able to reduce your risk of illness. Consistently pick the wrong ones, and you could accelerate the inflammatory disease.

AVOID or limit foods that cause inflammation: refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and pastries; French fries; soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages; red meat (burgers, steaks) and processed meat (hot dogs, sausage); margarine, shortening, and processed lard.

EAT an anti-inflammatory diet that has the following: tomatoes; olive oil; green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and collards; nuts like almonds and walnuts; fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines; fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges.

See picture on the right for more.