Sunday 5.15.11

What is inflammation? And What foods can help fight inflammation?

Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation. We are all familiar with the classic signs of inflammation (swelling, redness and pain) that occur when we hurt ourselves or have some kind of infection. However recent research1 has shown that eating the wrong foods can cause inflammation within our bodies. In fact being overweight can itself be the cause of inflammation.

Body fat causes inflammation
The fatty tissues of the body secrete hormones that regulate the immune system and inflammation, but in the case of an overweight individual this can become out of control. Three of the hormones that play a role in metabolism are leptin, resistin and adiponectin.

• Leptin is involved in appetite control.

• Resistin is a hormone that increases insulin resistance.

• Adiponectin lowers the blood sugar by making your body more insulin sensitive.

The fact that it is the fatty tissue that produces these hormones makes the fat self regulating, as the hormones should act to bring the increased fat under control. Bodies with more fat will produce more leptin bringing the appetite under control. However in cases where the body is inflamed there is often a problem with leptin resistance, and the self regulation of fat does not occur. Leptin resistance is where to body stops responding to the appetite controlling effects of the hormone.

In addition to these metabolism regulating hormones your fatty tissue also produces chemicals that cause inflammation and this can make the problem of leptin resistance worse. This is why obesity can cause an increase of these inflammatory chemicals which in turn inhibit the correct balancing function of the weight controlling hormones. This results in a vicious circle of weight gain causing inflammation which inhibits hormone function thereby causing further weight gain.

Food and inflammation
Another major cause of inflammation in our bodies is the food we eat. Inflammation can be aggravated by diets high in refined or hydrogenated vegetable oils such as those found in margarines, potato chips and baked goods and by diets high in sugars. But food can also be part of the solution to the problem of inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory foods, if eaten regularly, can reduce inflammation in the body and bring the problem under control. This page contains a list of anti-inflammatory foods that if incorporated into your regular diet will help bring a balance to inflammation in your body. Try and feature some kind of anti-inflammatory food into every meal that you eat, and eliminate pro-inflammatory foods from your diet all together. People who have done this often describe noticable relief from previous discomforts and a greater ability to control their weight.

Please also remember that exercise is one of the greatest ways to counter inflammation. Check out our article on the best way to burn fat here.


Vegetables

Bell Peppers

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Broccoli Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Chard

Collards

Fennel Bulb

Garlic

Green Beans

Green Onions/Spring Onions

Kale

Leeks

Olives

Spinach

Sweet potatoes

Turnip Greens



Herbs & Spices

Basil

Cayenne Peppers/Chilli Peppers

Cinnamon

Cloves

Cocoa (at least 70% cocoa chocolate)

Licorice

Mint

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Thyme

Turmeric



Oils

Avocado Oil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil



Drinks

Green Tea


Fruits

Acerola (West Indian) Cherries

Apples

Avocados

Black Currants

Blueberries

Fresh Pineapple

Guavas

Kiwifruit

Kumquats

Lemons

Limes

Mulberries

Oranges

Papaya

Raspberries

Rhubarb

Strawberries

Tomatoes


Nuts & Seeds

Almonds

Flaxseed/Linseed

Hazelnuts

Sunflower Seeds

Walnuts


Fish

Cod

Halibut

Herring

Oysters

Rainbow Trout

Salmon

Sardines

Snapper Fish

Striped Bass

Tuna

Whitefish








Reference: http://www.metabolismadvice.com/anti_inflammatory_food/