Researchers are uncovering an insidious new medical reality: inflammation, the body's most primitive weapon against infection and injury, may be at
the root of some of the deadliest diseases of the 21st century, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and alzheimer's.
Here's how the inflammatory cycle can go awry. Under normal circumstances, inflammation is part of the immune reaction that helps the body heal when
injured. When you slice your finger cutting onions, for example, blood vessels near the accident scene expand. The body sends more blood to the affected area, first in an attempt to cleanse the area of any invaders. White blood cells, good guys annihilate any bacteria that sneak in on the knife blade They also mend ragged tissue
by ordering in new cells to seal the cut. By the time the signs of inflammation kick in-heat, soreness, and swelling-the wound is well on its way to healing.
Still, like an inconsiderate houseguest, inflammation can overstay its welcome. Medical researchers discovered long ago that certain diseases, such as lupus, Graves disease, and fibromyalgia, emerge when the immune system flips on and refuses to turn off. Too much dairy and white flour can kick the immune system into high gear, particularly if you're lactose intolerant or have celiac disease. In people who suffer from these conditions, the gut treats dairy and wheat products as hostile invaders: often it only takes a bite of bread or a spoonful of ice cream to get the inflammatory cycle going. One exception to the diary rule is eggs, especially those enriched with omega-3s. Sugary foods can also be a problem, especially when eaten between meals, since they cause a surge in blood sugar. To establish balance, the pancreas lets out a gush of insulin, which in turn switches on the genes involved in inflammation. This biochemical roller coaster is thought to contribute to the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Scary stuff for sure, but fortunately, experts are also learning more about some simple, even pleasurable ways to reduce inflammation. Exercise and stress
relief are important, but the best defense, most researchers agree, is through diet. Most foods either fuel the fires of inflammation or tamp them down. Fat is the crux of the issue. The goal is to eat a good balance of inflammatory fats (mainly omega-6s, as found in safflower, sunflower and corn oil) and anti-inflammatory fats (like
omega-3s, found in fish and omega-9s, which olive oil has). But most people chow down on up to 30 times more inflammatory fats than anti. The typical American diet is priming people for inflammation. Dozens of foods, herbs and spices are proven to rev up the body's ability to stomp out inflammatory hot spots. For evidence,
a study of rheumatoid arthritis published in Rheumatology International, patients who followed an anti-inflammatory diet had a 14 percent decrease in joint tenderness and swelling compared to those who ate a typical Western diet. Fish oil supplements goosed the results even further, bringing the final tally of those feeling an improvement up
to 31 percent. Small studies suggest that an anti-inflammatory diet may also hold Alzheimer's disease at bay. In a French study of cognitive decline, scientist followed the diets of 1,600 seniors for seven years. In the end, those who ate fish at least once a week were less likely to develop the disease.
The Bottom Line:
1. Get friendly with fish. Eat fish at least twice a week. Why? Because it overflows with two key omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA for short), that are potent
anti-inflammatories. Recent research has established that fish oils play a crucial role in the prevention of atherosclerosis, heart attack, depression and cancer. A high
intake of fish has been linked to a significant decrease in age-related memory loss and cognitive function impairment and a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's
disease. An enormous amount of medical literature testifies to the fact that fish oils prevent and may help ameliorate or reverse atherosclerosis, angina, heart attack,
congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Fish oils help maintain the elasticity of artery walls, prevent blood clotting, reduce blood
pressure and stabilize heart rhythm.
2. Choose fats wisely. Replace trans fats with those high in omega-3s. Good fats include fatty fish, extra-virgin olive oil, walnuts and their oil, hemp oil and flaxseed or
flaxseed oil.
3. Embrace your inner herbivore. Load your plate with fruits and vegetables, the more colorful the better.
4. Cut back on white foods. Give dairy, sugar and refined grains a smaller spot on your plate. Too much dairy and white flour can kick the immune system into high gear.
5. Take supplements. If you want to take just one supplement every day, make it fish oil and my recommendation is HSG Omega-3 Fish Oil available
online at www.hammond-simmonsgroup.com. But a host of vitamins and herbs can help. The most rigorously tested herbal anti-inflammatories are ginger and
turmeric. Vitamin E is a good bet.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
How to find out if you're inflamed. Take the test. Inflammation is measured by a marker called C-reactive protein or CRP. As inflammation creeps up , so do CRP levels in the blood. Those who have the most to gain from being tested are people at moderate risk (poor diet plus a lack of exercise) with otherwise healthy-looking cholesterol levels.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
I hope you find this information informative and begin to implement your plan today to feel better, look better and live longer.
To your good health and better living,
Clem
References
1. Simopoulos, Artemis. Omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease and in growth and development.
2. Uauy-Dagach, Richard and Vanzuela, Alfonso. Marine oils: the health benefits of n-3 fatty acids.
3. Connor, William E. Importance of n-3 fatty acids in health and disease.
4. Yehuda, S, et al. Essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and cognitive function in very old men.
the root of some of the deadliest diseases of the 21st century, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and alzheimer's.
Here's how the inflammatory cycle can go awry. Under normal circumstances, inflammation is part of the immune reaction that helps the body heal when
injured. When you slice your finger cutting onions, for example, blood vessels near the accident scene expand. The body sends more blood to the affected area, first in an attempt to cleanse the area of any invaders. White blood cells, good guys annihilate any bacteria that sneak in on the knife blade They also mend ragged tissue
by ordering in new cells to seal the cut. By the time the signs of inflammation kick in-heat, soreness, and swelling-the wound is well on its way to healing.
Still, like an inconsiderate houseguest, inflammation can overstay its welcome. Medical researchers discovered long ago that certain diseases, such as lupus, Graves disease, and fibromyalgia, emerge when the immune system flips on and refuses to turn off. Too much dairy and white flour can kick the immune system into high gear, particularly if you're lactose intolerant or have celiac disease. In people who suffer from these conditions, the gut treats dairy and wheat products as hostile invaders: often it only takes a bite of bread or a spoonful of ice cream to get the inflammatory cycle going. One exception to the diary rule is eggs, especially those enriched with omega-3s. Sugary foods can also be a problem, especially when eaten between meals, since they cause a surge in blood sugar. To establish balance, the pancreas lets out a gush of insulin, which in turn switches on the genes involved in inflammation. This biochemical roller coaster is thought to contribute to the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Scary stuff for sure, but fortunately, experts are also learning more about some simple, even pleasurable ways to reduce inflammation. Exercise and stress
relief are important, but the best defense, most researchers agree, is through diet. Most foods either fuel the fires of inflammation or tamp them down. Fat is the crux of the issue. The goal is to eat a good balance of inflammatory fats (mainly omega-6s, as found in safflower, sunflower and corn oil) and anti-inflammatory fats (like
omega-3s, found in fish and omega-9s, which olive oil has). But most people chow down on up to 30 times more inflammatory fats than anti. The typical American diet is priming people for inflammation. Dozens of foods, herbs and spices are proven to rev up the body's ability to stomp out inflammatory hot spots. For evidence,
a study of rheumatoid arthritis published in Rheumatology International, patients who followed an anti-inflammatory diet had a 14 percent decrease in joint tenderness and swelling compared to those who ate a typical Western diet. Fish oil supplements goosed the results even further, bringing the final tally of those feeling an improvement up
to 31 percent. Small studies suggest that an anti-inflammatory diet may also hold Alzheimer's disease at bay. In a French study of cognitive decline, scientist followed the diets of 1,600 seniors for seven years. In the end, those who ate fish at least once a week were less likely to develop the disease.
The Bottom Line:
1. Get friendly with fish. Eat fish at least twice a week. Why? Because it overflows with two key omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA for short), that are potent
anti-inflammatories. Recent research has established that fish oils play a crucial role in the prevention of atherosclerosis, heart attack, depression and cancer. A high
intake of fish has been linked to a significant decrease in age-related memory loss and cognitive function impairment and a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's
disease. An enormous amount of medical literature testifies to the fact that fish oils prevent and may help ameliorate or reverse atherosclerosis, angina, heart attack,
congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Fish oils help maintain the elasticity of artery walls, prevent blood clotting, reduce blood
pressure and stabilize heart rhythm.
2. Choose fats wisely. Replace trans fats with those high in omega-3s. Good fats include fatty fish, extra-virgin olive oil, walnuts and their oil, hemp oil and flaxseed or
flaxseed oil.
3. Embrace your inner herbivore. Load your plate with fruits and vegetables, the more colorful the better.
4. Cut back on white foods. Give dairy, sugar and refined grains a smaller spot on your plate. Too much dairy and white flour can kick the immune system into high gear.
5. Take supplements. If you want to take just one supplement every day, make it fish oil and my recommendation is HSG Omega-3 Fish Oil available
online at www.hammond-simmonsgroup.com. But a host of vitamins and herbs can help. The most rigorously tested herbal anti-inflammatories are ginger and
turmeric. Vitamin E is a good bet.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
How to find out if you're inflamed. Take the test. Inflammation is measured by a marker called C-reactive protein or CRP. As inflammation creeps up , so do CRP levels in the blood. Those who have the most to gain from being tested are people at moderate risk (poor diet plus a lack of exercise) with otherwise healthy-looking cholesterol levels.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
I hope you find this information informative and begin to implement your plan today to feel better, look better and live longer.
To your good health and better living,
Clem
References
1. Simopoulos, Artemis. Omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease and in growth and development.
2. Uauy-Dagach, Richard and Vanzuela, Alfonso. Marine oils: the health benefits of n-3 fatty acids.
3. Connor, William E. Importance of n-3 fatty acids in health and disease.
4. Yehuda, S, et al. Essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and cognitive function in very old men.