What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is a natural
process with the biological purpose to initiate healing by increasing
circulation. It is a complex process involving both the immune system
and vascular system and the interplay of various chemical mediators.
Increased circulation brings white blood cells and nourishment to the
site of injury or infection so that invading pathogens are killed and
damage may be repaired. Characteristic signs of inflammation include
pain (dolor), heat (calor), swelling (tumor) and redness (rubor).
When Inflammation Goes Awry:
While
some inflammation is beneficial and appropriate for healing, chronic or
excessive inflammation, serving no purpose produces damage. Chronic
inflammation has a bad reputation because it is implicated in various
disease processes including (but not limited to)...
- autoimmune diseases
- arthritis
- diabetes
- Alzheimer's disease
- atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries that leads to heart attack and stroke)
- ADD and ADHD
- allergies & asthma
- cancers
- inflammatory bowel disease
Soft tissue swelling and chemical mediators involved in inflammation can also irritate nerve endings, contributing to pain.
What is the Anti-Inflammatory Diet?
It
is a well-known fact that different foods are metabolized differently,
some promoting inflammation and others reducing it. The purpose of the
anti-inflammatory diet is to promote optimal health and healing by
choosing foods that reduce inflammation. If one can successfully control
excessive inflammation through natural means (like through diet), it
reduces one's dependence on anti-inflammatory medications that have
unwanted and unhealthy side effects and don't solve the underlying
problem. While anti-inflammatory medications (such as NSAIDs) are a
quick fix to ease symptoms, they ultimately weaken the immune system by
damaging the gastrointestinal tract which plays an important role in
immune system function (1).
Anti-inflammatory Diet Basics:
In
general, eat an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains,
anti-inflammatory fats and nuts while limiting processed foods, meat
protein, milk products, refined sugars, artificial
colors/flavors/sweeteners and food sensitivities.
Vegetables:
Eat and Enjoy:
Enjoy an abundance of fresh vegetables and
fruits in a variety of colors (preferably organic). Fruits and
vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber which
give the body the essential building blocks for health. Examples include
beans, squash, lintels, sweet potatoes, cruciferous vegetables,
avocados, dark leafy greens... There are so many choices! As for fruits,
pineapple and papaya are particularly good because they are high in
bromelain, a powerful natural anti-inflammatory. Fruits and vegetables
also make great, healthy snacks.
Avoid / Limit:
Avoid
produce that is not grown organically. Toxic chemical residues from
herbicides and pesticides can remain and when ingested are foreign
irritants to the system. Many crops in North America are also
genetically engineered and are put on the market without rigorous
scientific study to determine safety for human consumption. Independent
research is finally being done to show toxic effects of consuming
genetically modified organisms (2). Foreign DNA is randomly inserted
into the genome of a crop. Examples include herbicide resistant corn and
soy which are resistant to the herbicide Roundup, made by Monsanto.
Roughly 90% of all corn and soy sold in North America is genetically
modified. Also be aware of derivatives of genetically modified
ingredients (such as corn starch and corn syrup etc.). It has also been
suggested that consuming GMOs is a contributing factor to the rise in
allergies as our bodies are recognizing these food substances as foreign
(3). By choosing items with the "certified organic" label, you avoid
both GMOs and toxic herbicides/pesticides.
For some people,
vegetables in the nightshade family may pose a concern. Examples of
nightshade vegetables include tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and eggplant.
Nightshades contain alkaloids which are thought to exacerbate
inflammation and joint damage in certain susceptible individuals with
arthritis (though research is conflicting). Thus, for some individuals,
limiting or avoiding nightshade vegetables may be beneficial.
Fats:
Eat and Enjoy:
Enjoy healthy, anti-inflammatory fats including
olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, nuts, salmon and sardines. In humans,
there are two essential fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3)
and linoleic acid (an omega-6). These are "essential" because they are
required for good health but the body does not synthesize them. Omega-3
fats are anti-inflammatory. Omega-6 fats can be pro-inflammatory or
anti-inflammatory (as it can be metabolized by two different pathways).
Researchers suggest that keeping the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 between
2:1 and 4:1 is best for health. The modern diet tends to be high in
omega-6 as it is abundantly available in cooking oils. Thus, including
rich sources of omega-3 is important (such as fish, flax and walnuts
especially).
Avoid / Limit:
Fats to limit or avoid include
margarine, butter, shortening, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, saturated
fats, and milk fat. Omega-6 fats are very high in corn oil, safflower
oil and sunflower oil. Trans fats are linked with inflammatory diseases
(4).
Meat:
Eat and Enjoy:
In general, limit animal proteins because they
tend to acidify the body and also promote inflammation. When selecting
animal protein, enjoy fish, poultry (especially free-range and
organically raised), lamb and omega-3 eggs.
Avoid / Limit:
Limit
beef, pork, shellfish and factory farmed eggs. In general, grass-fed is
superior to grain-fed. Avoid charred foods, smoked foods and cold cuts.
Cold cuts contain nitrates and nitrites which promote cancer. Barbequed
foods contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic
amines (HCAs) which also promote cancer.
Dairy:
Eat and Enjoy:
Enjoy dairy substitutes in moderation (such as almond milk).
Avoid / Limit:
Avoid
or limit dairy products in general. This includes milk, yogurt, cheese
and ice cream. As we age, we lose the enzyme that digests dairy,
resulting in lactose intolerance and inflammation. The milk protein,
casein, is also acidifying which (despite what many people are brought
up thinking) robs the bones of calcium.
Grains:
Eat and Enjoy:
Enjoy whole grains as opposed to refined
grains. Refined grains are grains in which the germ and bran have been
removed. This means there is loss of fiber, minerals and vitamins. In
other words, the good stuff is removed in exchange for a longer shelf
life. Some good examples of healthy grains include (organic) whole
wheat/oats/bulgar/coucous, quinoa and whole oats (like steel-cut oats).
Whole
grains are also a rich source of complex carbohydrates. Complex
carbohydrates (as opposed to simple sugars) will prevent spikes in your
blood sugar level. Sugar promotes inflammation.
Avoid / Limit:
Avoid or limit refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pastries, sweet things and pastas.
Nuts:
Eat and Enjoy:
Enjoy nuts and nut butters such as almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax.
Avoid / Limit:
Avoid any specific nut allergies.
Beverages:
Eat and Enjoy:
Enjoy plenty of pure, filtered water (avoiding
chlorine, fluoride and other contaminants which are irritants that
promote inflammation). Other great choices are lemon water and herbal
teas.
Avoid / Limit:
Avoid sugary sodas, fruit juice (with sugar added) and milk.
Spices:
Eat and Enjoy:
Many spices reduce inflammation. Some great
examples are turmeric, oregano, rosemary, ginger, garlic and cinnamon.
Bioflavenoids and polyphenols reduce inflammation and fight free
radicals. Cayenne pepper is also anti-inflammatory, as it contains
capsicum. Capsicum is often used in pain-relief creams.
Sweeteners:
Eat and Enjoy:
Enjoy stevia, molasses, maple syrup or honey as better alternatives for refined sugar.
Avoid / Limit:
Avoid refined sugar, fructose and especially high fructose corn syrup which promote inflammation. Avoid artificial sweeteners.
Other:
Eat and Enjoy:
Enjoy fermented foods such as kimchi, miso soup
and sauerkraut. Fermented foods are probiotic and help to rebuild the
immune system by supporting healthy microflora in the gut and to reduce
inflammation. Fermented foods also tend to be easy to digest and are
also factories for B vitamins.
Avoid / Limit:
In general,
eliminate processed foods, artificial colors, artificial flavors and
preservatives. Also avoid foods that you have a known sensitivity or
allergy to as this promotes inflammation. Low grade sensitivities are
easy to miss, so if you're unsure, have a food allergy test. Some of the
most common problem foods include wheat (gluten), corn, soy, milk and
nuts.
Everything we need for health, can be found in nature. We
just need to choose well. If you need help and ideas of what to eat,
there are plenty of anti-inflammatory diet recipe books available.
What Else Can You Do to Reduce Inflammation?
- Chiropractic care boosts immune system and reduces inflammation!
- Reduce exposure to environmental toxins (such as smoke)
- Reduce stress (5)
- Certain types of exercise reduce inflammation - specifically, long
term, gradually progressive training, avoiding over-exertion (6)
1)
Singh G & Triadafilopoulos G. (1999). Epidemiology of NSAID induced
gastrointestinal complications. The Journal of Rheumatology,
Supplement; 56:18-24.
2) Seralini, GE, Clair E & Mesnage R et al. (Sept. 2012). Long
term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically
modified maize. Food and Chemical Toxicology.
3) S. J. Khan, S. Muafia, Z. Nasreen and A.M. Salariya. (2012).
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Food Security or Threat to Food
Safety. Pakistan Journal of Science; 64(2):85-91.
4) Lopez- Garcia, E, Schulze, M & Meigs, J et al. (2005).
Consumption of Trans Fatty Acids Is Related to Plasma Biomarkers of
Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction. Nutritional Epidemiology;
135:562-566.
5) Cohena, S, Janicki-Deertsa, D & Doyleb, W et al. (2012)
Chronic stress, glucocorticoid receptor resistance, inflammation, and
disease risk. Psychological and Cognitive Sciences.
6) Ploeger HE, Takken T, de Greef MH, Timmons BW (2009). The effects
of acute and chronic exercise on inflammatory markers in children and
adults with a chronic inflammatory disease: a systematic review. Exerc
Immunol Rev. 2009;15:6-41.
Dr. Miron, DC, BSc(Hons) graduated Cum Laude with Clinic Honours
from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. Dr. Miron witnesses the
benefits of chiropractic care every day in her North York chiropractic
office. From pain relief to wellness care, chiropractic works!
