Anti-Inflammation Diet

An anti-inflammation diet can combat chronic or “silent inflammation” which has been shown to cause disease and degeneration in the body.

Chronic inflammation can be present and undetected in your body for years, until it manifests in diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes and some cancers.

Silent inflammation has been linked with the buildup of cholesterol deposits in the arteries and inflammation of brain tissue resulting in heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Elevated blood sugar and insulin levels such as those experienced by type 2 diabetes also aggravate inflammation. Making the necessary lifestyle changes to fight inflammation, can protect you from it’s devastating effects.

Fatty Acids

Anti-Inflammation Diet and Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids play an important role in fighting inflammation, and can be obtained in the diet from vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds such as sesame and sunflower seeds.

However, there are some essential fatty acids which cannot be made by the body, and need to be obtained from the diet.
Fish oil supplements contain essential fatty acids such as Omega 3’s which can help reduce inflammation.

On the other hand, foods that cause a spike in insulin levels, such as sugary foods, or foods with a high gycemic load increase inflammation. To actively reduce inflammation, you should eat foods that have a low Glycemic load, such as whole grains, vegetables and lentils, and consume healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, fish, extra virgin olive oil and fish. Spices such as turmeric, ginger, and hot peppers also reduce inflammation.

At the same time, your anti inflammation diet can be helped by reducing consumption of foods that are pro-inflammatory, such as red meat, egg yolks and shellfish. Sugar is a key culprit in inflammation, and therefore it is essential that you cut back on sugary foods.

In addition to this anti-inflammation diet, check out these senior fitness tips for more ways to reduce risk of heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's.