The Anti-Inflammatory Action Planis your guide to understanding inflammation and how you can incorporate anti-inflammatory foods into your everyday diet. Cut your finger accidentally and the area will swell, redden, and heat up. This type of acute inflammatory response is the body's reaction to trauma, and it's an essential part of the healing process. Butinflammation can be harmfulwhen it hangs around too long and refuses to leave. When the inflammation switch refuses to turn off, the body operates as if it is always under attack(the older we get, the more likely this is to happen). White blood cells flood the system for weeks, months, and even years. Researchers are now linking low-grade, persistent inflammation to premature aging, heart disease, M. S., diabetes, Alzheimer's, psoriasis, arthritis, and cancer. While anti-inflammatory drugs do exist, they can injure the stomach or suppress the immune system. Fortunately, the situation can be remedied by a change in diet, specifically by altering the kinds of fats you eat. Omega-3 fatty acids tend to decrease inflammation while omega-6 fats and trans-fats increase inflammation. While many foods in the standard American diet (unrefined white flour, sugar, red meat, dairy, fast food, and food additives) exacerbate inflammation, a healthy diet made up of fish, nuts, seeds, oils, lean grass-fed meats, and fruits and vegetablescan help lessen or prevent inflammation. Likewise, certain spicessuch as turmeric, cloves, and ginger have proven anti-inflammatory properties. | The Anti-Inflammatory Action Plan by Barbara Rowe, Paper over Board | Indigo Chapters