How to Fight Out-of-Control Inflammation

Warnings about inflammation can be seen or heard on every medical television show, in every health magazine and in every doctor’s office.  You should definitely be concerned.

However, there is a difference between inflammation that helps us and inflammation that is out of control.

Healthy inflammation is an essential mechanism that heals wounds, fights cold and flu viruses, and fends off various other invaders that may attack our bodies.

This cycle of attack and conquer is a healthy immune response that is necessary to keep your body in a healthy state. Once the body’s army of attackers has done its job, they withdraw, and your body can begin to heal and start to feel better. This is inflammation at its best.

The problem emerges when inflammation goes awry and become chronic. This happens when the attackers don’t quit when they’re no longer needed.

One of the key contributors to this chronic condition is the food that we eat. Consuming foods to which we are allergic or sensitive, causes a continuous attack by our in-house army on our organs, tissues, cells or joints.

In fact, many experts believe that inflammation is the root of all major diseases — cancer, diabetes, depression, heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s.

To quell the fires of inflammation, I recommend that you avoid foods that could cause an allergic reaction or other negative response in your body. The top food allergens, according to Health Canada, include peanuts, eggs, milk, tree nuts, wheat, gluten, soy, sesame seeds, seafood, sulphites and mustard. These foods will often cause inflammation and contribute to ill health.

To restore overall good health, you should eat foods rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. You will find these in whole foods eaten in their natural state.

If you are a health-conscious person seeking foods that will reduce inflammation, Irecommend that you eat berries and other fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and lean sources of protein such as chicken or turkey.

Since gluten is listed as one of the top food allergens, many people are avoiding this dangerous protein which is found in many grains. Unfortunately, many gluten-free products available in stores contain high amounts of sugar, which contributes to inflammation.

Most of these products also do not contain significant amounts of fibre and nutrients. Fibre acts as a magnet in the blood stream by pulling cholesterol and toxins out of the body. This reduces inflammation and strengthens your immune system.

When buying a gluten-free product, such as a bread mix or muffin mix, make sure that it contains less than 4 or 5 grams of sugar, and more than 2 grams of fibre. Some of the healthier gluten-free products are made with bean flours, which are high in fibre and protein, and help reduce inflammation.

When purchasing food to reduce inflammation, be sure to read all labels. If your grandmother wouldn’t recognize the ingredients as wholesome and natural foods, the product is likely to contribute to inflammation.

Carol Fazari, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, is a recognized leader in the field of nutrition, and has worked for more than a decade in clinical practice. She is also co-founder of Allergic Solution Inc. and can be reached at www.allergicsolution.com , www.carolfazari.ca or (905) 727-5797.

This article includes excerpts from Carol’s latest book “Freedom from the Fire”, a Nutritionist’s Guide to Healing Inflammation with Food.

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