Inflammation

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Inflammation has been found to be associated with just about every health condition. This is a change in direction from how medicine has been approaching diseases. Modern medicine has been focusing on treating symptoms, not addressing the root cause of an issue.

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. Heart disease is inflammation of the arteries. Instead of taking a medication to reduce joint pain or lower cholesterol, it is smarter to reduce inflammation in the body–the source of the symptoms.

Although inflammation has long been known to play a role in allergic diseases like asthma, arthritis and Crohn’s disease, it is now believed that Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and Parkinson’s disease may all be related to chronic inflammation in the body.

Researchers believe that the cause of chronic inflammation is that our immune system becomes overactive. Your immune system gets overactivated from dietary and environmental toxins that build up in the body, turning the immune system on and keeping it highly reactive. This results in the body being flooded with immune defense cells and hormones that damage tissues.

Foods that promote inflammation include:

• Corn and Soybean oils
• Wheat and gluten containing products
• Pasteurized dairy products
• Refined carbohydrates
• Conventional meat
• Sugars
• Trans fats
• Foods you are specifically allergic too

Anti-Inflammatory foods can help you to reduce your inflammation and risk for disease and it can reduce any symptoms you are currently having. It is advised to eat foods with healthy fiber and plenty of organic non GMO fruits and vegetables to reduce inflammation.

Specific foods that can help you to reduce inflammation:

• Acai fruit
• Allium vegetables (chives, garlic, leeks, onions, scallions and shallots)
• Beans and lentils
• Green vegetables
• Hot peppers
• Nuts and seeds
• Berries
• Beans and Legumes (Ansazi beans, adzuki beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas or lentils)
• Healthy Fats (avocadoes, expeller-pressed organic canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed, hazelnut oil, hemp seeds, high-oleic safflower or sunflower oils, sesame oil or walnut oil)
• Herbs (basil, chili peppers, cinnamon, curry powder, garlic, ginger, rosemary, turmeric and thyme)

Supplements that can help you to reduce inflammation:

• Co-enzyme Q10
• Carotenoids
• Fish oil
• Selenium
• Vitamins C, D, & E
• Curcumin
• Turmeric and reservatrol.

Reducing your cortisol (stress hormone) is also important. Supporting your adrenal glands by proper stress management and hormone balancing can also help reduce your inflammation. This takes some time and patience. Your health is worth it! Schedule time to focus on you on a daily basis. Unplug from electronic devices regularly. Be aware of negative influences on your health and minimize your exposure to them.

Reducing your inflammation has been linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In addition, it can help you to lose weight. Inflammation must be addressed if you want to stay or become healthy.

Come to Joseph Montgomery’s talk on inflammation at 10 am on September 17th at our Wellness Expo if you would like to learn more about this important topic!