Inflammation plays an important role in causing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and aging in general. Although inflammation is a healthy response by the body to repair injury, ongoing inflammation contributes to many of our most common chronic diseases.
The best way, by far, to reduce inflammation is—you guessed it—a healthy lifestyle, meaning a wholesome diet, exercise, good sleep, sunshine and stress management. Exercise in particular helps the body move the damaging debris of inflammation out of the body, which is why people with diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia are encouraged to move, even if just by gentle stretching.
Foods that Cause Inflammation
One of the primary causes of inflammation is too much of certain fats and oils. The saturated fat found in meat is one culprit. Let me emphasize here that the key concept is excess; there’s no evidence that having a steak or lamb chop or bacon now and then does any harm. Ironically, the other fatty acid culprit is at the other end of the saturation spectrum—the omega-6 unsaturated oils such as corn, cottonseed, safflower and soybean. These are the oils found in chips, cookies, mayonnaise, salad dressings, and countless processed food products. It almost goes without saying that the hydrogenated oils (trans-fats) are particularly villainous inflammatory agents, but most of those have been removed from processed foods.
Refined carbohydrates, especially the fatty carbs like French fries and the sweet carbs like cookies and doughnuts, are likely one of the primary causes of inflammation in the U.S.
Food sensitivities also contribute to inflammation. In some people, certain foods set off immune system alarm bells that can create inflammation throughout the body. The most common culprits are wheat, dairy, soy and citrus products. The nightshade family of plants, including tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and nicotine can also cause inflammation.
The best way, by far, to reduce inflammation is—you guessed it—a healthy lifestyle, meaning a wholesome diet, exercise, good sleep, sunshine and stress management. Exercise in particular helps the body move the damaging debris of inflammation out of the body, which is why people with diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia are encouraged to move, even if just by gentle stretching.
Foods that Cause Inflammation
One of the primary causes of inflammation is too much of certain fats and oils. The saturated fat found in meat is one culprit. Let me emphasize here that the key concept is excess; there’s no evidence that having a steak or lamb chop or bacon now and then does any harm. Ironically, the other fatty acid culprit is at the other end of the saturation spectrum—the omega-6 unsaturated oils such as corn, cottonseed, safflower and soybean. These are the oils found in chips, cookies, mayonnaise, salad dressings, and countless processed food products. It almost goes without saying that the hydrogenated oils (trans-fats) are particularly villainous inflammatory agents, but most of those have been removed from processed foods.
Refined carbohydrates, especially the fatty carbs like French fries and the sweet carbs like cookies and doughnuts, are likely one of the primary causes of inflammation in the U.S.
Food sensitivities also contribute to inflammation. In some people, certain foods set off immune system alarm bells that can create inflammation throughout the body. The most common culprits are wheat, dairy, soy and citrus products. The nightshade family of plants, including tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and nicotine can also cause inflammation.
No comments:
Post a Comment