Research shows, and it’s becoming increasingly clear, that chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses – including arthritis, chronic pain, heart disease, many cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease. We all recognize inflammation on the surface of the body as local redness, heat, swelling, and pain. It is the cornerstone of the body’s healing response, bringing more nourishment and immune activity to a site of injury and infection.
When inflammation persists, however, it serves no purpose, it damages the body and causes illness. Stress, lack of exercise, genetic predisposition, and exposure to toxins (like tobacco smoke), can all contribute to chronic inflammation, but dietary choices play a major role as well. Learning how specific foods influence the inflammatory process is the best strategy for containing it and reducing the risk of chronic pain and long-term disease.
At Excel Chiropractic and Wellness we are huge proponents of an anti-inflammatory diet to battle disease and protect spinal health. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet is not a diet in the popular sense – it’s not intended as a weight-loss program (although people can and do lose weight on it) nor is it an eating plan to stay on for a limited period of time. Rather, it is a way of selecting and preparing foods based on scientific knowledge of how food can help your body maintain optimum health. Along with regulating inflammation, this diet will provide steady energy and ample vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, dietary fiber, and protective phytonutrients.