Is your diet a source of inflammation?

By Nutritionist Sami Bloom – @samibloom 

Inflammation can be triggered by a variety of sources. With so much out of our control – the outside environment, unavoidable stress, chemicals in clothing, furniture, food production etc. – we can minimise the devastating impact of inflammation through paying attention to our diet.

Eating for longevity largely involves following an anti-inflammatory diet. This is because inflammation in the body contributes to chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and autoimmune conditions. Research has long found that following an anti-inflammatory diet not only prevents disease, but also slows down the ageing process. It does this through many ways, including keeping blood sugar stable, increasing metabolism and flooding the body with protective antioxidants.

Inflammation is actually a completely normal and necessary bodily function. In fact, it is a protective response our body mounts to keep homeostasis (balance). When our immune system identifies something that shouldn’t be there, or recognises damaged tissue, it stimulates it’s natural defence mechanism. Our white blood cells are called upon to produce substances designed to reduce damage. This happens in everything from an injury to the common cold, as well as allergies and food sensitivities, invading pathogens, ageing and chronic disease. We would be in grave danger if we did not have this inflammatory response.

There is both acute and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation occurs swiftly, usually within minutes to hours e.g. an injury. Chronic inflammation has a slower onset, and signs are much less obvious. This is more likely to cause progressive tissue damage and serious inflammatory disorders.

We aren’t looking to stop the inflammatory response altogether. As previously mentioned, it is a normal and necessary bodily response. It is only when the immune system is unnecessarily overactive that it becomes problematic. This is why it is a good idea to ensure your diet is not an added source of “stress” on your body.

If you experience joint pain, frequent headaches or migraines, skin rashes, chronic digestive discomfort, weight gain, and unexplainable fatigue, you may have excess inflammation. The good news is, this can often be improved with better choices.

Following an anti-inflammatory diet, or at least avoiding some of the most common triggers, is one of the most effective ways to combat inflammation. If the main portion of your diet revolves around processed and packaged foods, overly refined/sugar-laden meals, or overconsumption of animal products, it may be contributing to inflammation. The good news is, an anti-inflammatory diet can be simple and tasty to follow.