How Eating Healthy Can Help Prevent Chronic Inflammation

We all know that eating healthy is good for us, but what exactly does that mean? In other words, what does “good for us” translate to, specifically? One of the most basic interpretations of this phrase is that consuming nutrient packed foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbs helps prevent chronic inflammation which, as it turns out, is the key to reducing your risk of a number of different potentially life threatening diseases and conditions.To best understand how this happens requires that you understand what chronic inflammation is, as well as the effect that it has on the body. Let’s look at its definition first.
 
Chronic Inflammation Defined.
Chronic inflammation is defined as inflammation that exists in your body over long periods of time, therefore having a negative effect on your health. Sometimes it is visible, such as when you have a red or bruised spot that is hot to the touch, and sometimes it is so deep inside that you can’t really “see” it at all.
Causes of chronic inflammation can be physical trauma-related, such as suffering an injury in an automobile accident, or they can even be due to lifestyle choices, like eating unhealthy foods or living a sedentary life. No matter what the underlying cause of the inflammation, one thing is clear – it can have a major impact on your life if it is not resolved.
For instance, a few of the diseases linked to chronic inflammation include diabetes, heart disease, cancer, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, as you can see, this type of inflammation can affect you mentally as well as physically.
The Problem with Chronic Inflammation.
The problem with chronic inflammation is that you can be inflamed without even realizing it, as pointed out in an article published online by U.S. News & World Report. This means that your body could be in prime condition to support the development of various major health conditions like the ones listed above and you don’t even know it. Talk about scary!
While there are certain blood tests available to help determine whether or not you are chronically inflamed (by checking your c-reactive protein levels), most people don’t undergo this type of testing. This leaves the door open for disease to walk right into your life, potentially leaving you very sick…or worse.
Fortunately, eating healthy can go a long way in reducing and/or preventing inflammation, thus helping to protect you against disease at the same time.
Eating Healthy to Avoid Chronic Inflammation.
Eating a healthy diet can help lower the levels of inflammation you currently have in your body, whether they are realized or not. This not only makes you feel better via all of the nutrients typically found within these types of foods, but it also has a preventative effect against some of the diseases that chronic inflammation can contribute to. What does healthy eating look like?
In general, a healthy diet involves consuming a variety of different whole foods in their natural state, all of which provide various nutrients your body needs for optimal health. At the same time, this also means reducing the number of processed foods you eat, which equates to fewer chips, cookies, boxed meals, and a lot of other “quick and easy” options that you find on supermarket shelves today.
The reason for this is simple: white flour and white sugar have been found to be two of the most inflammatory ingredients on the market today. Therefore, greatly reducing them in your diet is imperative if you want to enjoy maximum health not only now, but well into the future.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods.
Additionally, certain foods and food ingredients have been found to have an anti-inflammatory effect, thereby reducing your risk of various diseases and promoting better health simply by increasing them in your regular menu. These items include:
    Fish, Dark Leafy Greens, Peppers ,Tomatoes, Garlic, Onions, Berries, Olive Oil ,Beets ,Ginger, Turmeric nuts. Once you truly understand what eating “good for you” foods actually means, it is often easier to make better food choices in an effort to protect and enhance your health and wellness. Also, don’t forget to use your portion control plates to help you get just the right amount of key vitamins and minerals in your diet without getting more calories than you need. What healthy foods do you like to eat?