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Can you reverse chronic inflammation?

One of the most powerful ways to calm inflammation and reverse chronic conditions is through the foods we choose to eat. Many foods have anti-inflammatory effects that help reduce the risk of illness, while others contribute to inflammation.

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When looking at chronic illnesses, the root cause of a majority of their symptoms is chronic inflammation. There are a lot of foods that trigger inflammation. The most common culprit is sugar, found in conventional food products in excessive and unhealthy amounts. An anti-inflammatory diet consists mainly of plant-based foods, organic fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, fish, whole grains, and healthy oils such as extra virgin olive oil. Leading an anti-inflammatory lifestyle is an effective way to mitigate inflammation and improve your overall health, and you can start by following an anti-inflammatory diet.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is a normal response to injury or infection. During the inflammatory response, the body ramps up the production of white blood cells, immune cells, and signals molecules called cytokines that regulate immunity. This response activates the immune systems’ natural repair process to fight off infection. Most people will experience acute or short-term inflammation from time to time. For example, a bee sting will cause an immune response in the form of pain, swelling, and redness. Symptoms of short-term inflammation usually only last a few days. Chronic (long-term) inflammation often occurs inside the body (usually without any noticeable symptoms) and continues for months, years, or indefinitely if not mediated. In contrast to acute inflammation, the production of white blood cells is prolonged and as a result, white blood cells can end up attacking nearby healthy tissues and organs.

What Causes Inflammation?

Habitual lifestyle factors such as obesity and chronic stress can cause inflammation, increasing the body's sensitivity and accelerating the inflammatory disease process. Other stressors such as toxins and chemicals can also promote a continual state of inflammation. This ongoing inflammation can result in an over-worked immune system. Common inflammatory diseases include but are not limited to: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's, dementia, and cancer.

Signs of Inflammation

There are several key signs and symptoms that develop during chronic inflammation including:

Chronic fatigue and insomnia

Gastrointestinal complications

Anxiety

Mood disorders (such as depression)

Weight fluctuation

Recurring infection

Body aches and pain

Role of Diet

One of the most powerful ways to calm inflammation and reverse chronic conditions is through the foods we choose to eat. Many foods have anti-inflammatory effects that help reduce the risk of illness, while others contribute to inflammation. An anti-inflammatory diet is a nutrient-rich, healthy balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates at each meal.

Eat MORE:

Fermented foods

Organic fruits and vegetables

Healthy fats

Spices and herbs

Beans & legumes

Whole Grains

Eat LESS:

Processed foods

Canola oil

Farmed, factory fish

Conventional dairy products

Alcohol

Check out our list of 12 Anti-Inflammatory Foods You Should Be Eating to get you started!

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How long does it take to reduce inflammation through diet?

How long does anti-inflammatory diet take to work? It's important to remember that chronic inflammation doesn't happen overnight, so neither will reducing it. While you may start to feel relief in just 2 weeks, full healing can take between 3 and 6 months or longer, especially if you suffer from an anto-immune disease.

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to infection or injury. Think of inflammation as an army of white blood cells that surrounds a hurt area to protect it. Most of us are familiar with acute inflammation. It’s what helps your body heal if you get a cut or have a sore throat. According to Harvard Health, our army of white blood cells is what causes the redness, heat, and swelling around tissues and joints when you bang your knee or get a cut. The same process also protects you from viruses like the flu. It starts and then stops. Chronic inflammation is more like a fire in your body that you cannot see or feel. It’s when your immune system keeps calling the white blood cell army to start repairing, but the system never stops so your white blood cells attack nearby healthy tissues and organs. Dr. Andrew Luster of the Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital warns that chronic inflammation is “a smoldering process that injures your tissues, joints, and blood vessels, and you often do not notice it until significant damage is done.

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