Inflammation…
A balancing act!
Any injury induces inflammation, the body’s natural response, a necessity for healing from that injury. Of course, as expected, this inflammation creates some damage along its way.
The problem starts when the initial inflammation is not resolved and the body is not able to repair it’s damage. In fact, that’s how chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune, diabetes and cancer start.
In short, we need inflammation and its resolution as an overall balanced response to prevent chronic disease developing over the long-term. Otherwise, the buildup of chronic unresolved inflammation wreaks havoc in the body, disrupting the immune system.
Our lifestyle is the most important controllable factor for resolving this inflammation. This lifestyle must be individualised, what suits one person may not be right for someone else.
Lifestyle includes many aspects: exercise, sleep, meditation, sun exposure...and most importantly nutrition.
The basic principles of anti inflammatory nutrition are:
- A largely plant based diet rich in polyphenols, the compound that gives fruit and veg their colour
- Adequate protein intake, 0.8-1.2g per kg of body weight
- Reduced calories, 1,500 - 2,000 a day
- Adequate levels of vits/minerals maintained, such as Vit B12, D, calcium,especially for vegans
- No refined carbs, sugars or alcohol
- Low fat but high Omega 3s (mainly from fish oil or algae supplements so as to avoid toxic pollutants from the oceans), requirements depending on existing levels of inflammation in the body
Once the required individualised diet is worked out, it should be maintained over the rest of our lives. Don’t panic, life is still very enjoyable!
@inflammation @immunesystem @nutrition #diet #cancer #autoimmune #heartdisease #diabetes #Alzheimers #sugar #vitamins #minerals #healing
