Inflammation 101: Protect Your Body and Prevent Disease

August 22, 2013 by eat.clean.health. 6 Comments

Inflammation is a word you hear a lot lately. News articles, medical journals, health blogs, and even beauty magazines are talking about, but few people are truly aware of what it is, what it’s caused by, and how to reduce it.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is part of the body’s immune system. It’s the body’s attempt at self-protection. When something harmful or irritating enters the body, there is a biological response to try and remove it.  Think of swelling and irritation when you sprain your ankle or get a splinter. In this way, it’s easy to understand inflammation as helpful, and even necessary, to the body.

Since its primary purpose is to protect and heal the body, why is inflammation referred to as negative?

Due to poor dietary choices, many people now suffer from chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation takes place internally and is the root cause of nearly EVERY TYPE of disease. It’s the cause of illness, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, rosacea, acne, and even cancer.

When inflammation from poor dietary choices becomes chronic, it can lead to permanent damage to the body. But the good news is that by paying attention to the foods you eat, you can actually reduce inflammation and prevent disease.

Foods that cause inflammation:

• Sugar
• Processed foods
• Meat
• Dairy
• Refined Grains
• Trans Fats
• Soda
• Food Additives

Foods that fight inflammation:

• Dark, leafy greens
• Fresh fruit, especially berries
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Whole Grains
• Nuts
• Turmeric
• Fermented Foods
• Garlic

So what does all this boil down to?

EAT REAL FOOD.

Eating real, whole, nutrient-dense, unprocessed, one-ingredient food is exactly what your body needs to thrive. The human body is unbelievably intelligent; it is designed to heal itself and will do exactly that if we feed it what it needs.

Detox your body by eliminating the foods listed above. Eat Clean Health offers a variety of detox programs that guide you towards clean eating, healthier eating habits, and weight loss by reducing inflammation and toxic build up in the body. Take advantage of a free health consultation designed to give you extra support as you move toward your health goals.

In the meantime, focus the majority of your daily diet on foods that reduce inflammation and begin to heal yourself, prevent illness and disease, and live your healthiest, happiest life.