Health-conscious people are curious and deeply involved in their food choices.
I consider the healthfulness of all the food I bring into my home. Instinctively I’m asking myself: How processed is it? How much carbohydrate, protein, and fiber does it have? What’s the glycemic index?
There’s another question I should be asking. How does this food affect inflammation? Why should I add this question? Some foods contribute to inflammation, while others combat it.
Acute vs Chronic Inflammation
Acute inflammation is short-term and is the body’s response to a threat or injury. This is your body’s natural healing process, it will subside once your body has done its job, and you are on the mend. We’ve all experienced acute inflammation as a result of a bug bite, a fall, break, or strain.
Chronic inflammation is a pattern of inflammation that develops over time due to an unresolved inflammatory process that lasts for months and possibly years. This type of inflammation is many times internal and therefore invisible. You feel the aches and joint pain, but do not see a direct cause for the pain like a fall. This type of inflammation can be identified by a blood test called CRP or C-Reactive Protein Test. CRP can identify inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and heart disease, or make you aware of life choices that are making your body ache. There are many factors that lead to chronic inflammation. The good news is you can make a difference by making healthy choices. [1] [2]
There are foods that promote inflammation and food that are considered anti-inflammatory.
Inflammatory Foods
Which foods are considered inflammatory?
Refined carbohydrates, like white bread and pastries
Fried foods
Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages
Red meat and processed meat, like hot-dogs and sausage
Margarine, shortening, and lard [3]
Anti-inflammatory Foods
Which foods are considered anti-inflammatory?
Tomatoes
Olive Oil
Green leafy vegetables, like spinach, kale and collards
Nuts, like almonds and walnuts
Fatty Fish, like salmon, marcel, tuna and sardines
Fruits, like strawberries, blueberries, cherries and oranges [3]
Add this to the long list of reasons why “We Believe in the Power of Plants”.
Sources
[1] http://pathwaymedicine.org/acute-inflammation
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/c-reactive-protein-test/about/pac-20385228
[3] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20425759