Inflammation and aging
Inflammation is not all bad if there is a healthy balance in the body. In younger individuals, the body’s immune system creates an inflammatory response to help us heal or fight off viruses or bacteria that can cause us to become ill. Once the job is done, the inflammation subsides until the next time it is needed. However, as we age, our immune system’s ability to balance inflammatory responses in the body decreases. Therefore, our immune system triggers inflammatory responses all the time, instead of only when needed. This reduces the effectiveness of the immune system in fighting off diseases.
This problem is further exacerbated by certain lifestyle habits such as your diet. Many of the foods that are common in today’s diet are highly inflammatory.
Here are a few examples of inflammatory foods that are adding to inflammation that is occurring as a result of the aging process.
Processed foods
Sugars
Chips
Cookies
Cooking oils - corn, vegetable, stafflower, sunflower, soy
Eating foods that contain herbicides and pesticides. Typically, these are conventional products especially produce, which contain large amounts of glyphosate or commonly referred to as roundup.
Lack of physical activity can cause a buildup of belly fat or visceral fat which can promote inflammation.
Conventional beauty products (cosmetics,lotions, soaps, etc.) that we put on our bodies can damage your hormones and promote buildup of inflammation.
Conventional cleaning products are loaded with harsh chemicals that can damage your hormones and increase inflammation.
While most of this sounds bad and you cannot totally eliminate all unhealthy inflammation, the good news is that you have it in your control to reduce your exposure to additional inflammation.
Here are a few ways to reduce exposure to inflammation in your body
Detoxify your body. A detox is a safe way to remove exess inflammation from the body. Execss toxins in the body can cause inflammation to build up. A detox is a way to remove toxins from your body. Toxins are stored in fat cells. The more toxins stored in your body, the more fat your body needs to hold on to. Once you remove the toxins, your body will be able to release excess weight.
According to Dr. Mark Hyman,“If you don’t address inflammation by eliminating hidden food allergens or sensitivities and by eating an anti-inflammatory diet, you will never succeed at effective and permanent weight loss.”
Start with eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods and eliminating processed options.
Fats are necessary to create hormones, reduce inflammation, boost your metabolism and promote weight loss. Some great sources of healthy fats include wild caught salmon.
Incorporate more physical activity.
Get rid of your conventional beauty products and cleaning products. The chemicals in these products increase inflammation in the body.
Reduce exposure to environmental toxins. Tobacco smoke directly or indirectly adversely impacts the immune system and increases inflammation in the body.
In Good Health,
Deon
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DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to provide medical advice. The purpose is to provide education and broader understanding to my readers. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. I do not recommend or prescribe, or recommend changing dosage or discontinuing, any prescription medications or pharmaceutical drugs.
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