Inflammation - Why it is important

Written By James F. Kane, PhD.

Today’s Topic : Why do we have inflammation and why is it important to do something about it? 

You: I don’t have inflammation!

Dr. James: Yes, you do.

You: Really?

Dr. James: Yes!

Dr. James: Everyone experiences inflammation to some degree; it’s a part of being alive and it’s totally normal. The key is knowing how to keep your inflammation in check before it's too late.

You: So what should I do?

Why address inflammation?

Here’s the deal….

Inflammation is our body's highly evolved system of protecting itself. The inflammatory system is like our bodyguard; on standby and ready to strike in case of emergency. An “emergency” could be anything from a physical injury, like a cut or bruise, and infection from a virus, bacteria, fungi, or mold (gross!). It could also be breathing in airborne pollutants or even just a stressful situation. Inflammation is the body’s normal reaction to these common occurrences.

However, as inevitable as it is, the aging process seems to trigger an overactive inflammatory response to these “emergencies”. Yikes.

Medical studies are telling us that many diseases and chronic conditions are a result of an overactive inflammatory response which can becomes Moreland more pronounced as we age. If you have inflammation without any of the typical “emergencies” mentioned above then this is when you get into trouble.

So our challenge is learning how to keep our inflammatory response under control now, so it doesn’t continue to escalate as we age.

What can we do?

Unfortunately, this is not a one-pill solution. That would be nice, but that’s not how it works.

The immune system is responsible for the body’s inflammatory response and is replenished and supported by the nutrients in our food choices. When we fail to provide the proper nutrients our body’s immunity will be down and our inflammatory response flare up and will eventually spiral out of control.

The good news is that there is significant research on how certain foods can address and resolve inflammation. These foods contain a vast array of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that can help our body control inflammation and resolve it BEFORE it gets out of control.

Controlling inflammation could be as simple as working these foods into your diet. Now that is nice, right? Who doesn’t like eating to resolve health issues.

foods that contain anti-inflammatory compounds…..

Foods like fruits, vegetables, and spices contain anti-inflammatory compounds. But don’t just pick one and think you are covered. The idea is to eat a variety of these foods because, while there may be overlap in their nutrient and anti-inflammatory content, each of these foods also contribute other essential components necessary for overall good health. To get the broadest impact, the best idea is to add as many of these foods to your diet as possible.

  • Thyme, parsley, onion & fennel

  • Mushrooms

  • Turmeric

  • Teas from green & black tea leaves

  • Fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, sardines, anchovies

  • Flax seed oil & chia seed oil

  • Milk from PASTURE RAISED COWS (read our KNOW YOUR COW post to understand why this is important)

  • Avocado

  • Extra virgin olive oil

  • Brussel sprouts & asparagus

  • Tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, & beets

  • Broccoli, cauliflower, & kale

  • Oranges, lemons, & grapefruit

  • Peppers

  • Grapes & Cherries

  • Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries & cranberries

  • Dark chocolate with high cacao content

 
James F. Kane, PhD.