Anti-Inflammatory vs . Inflammatory Foods
Do you need to be ready for a certain event and fit in that special dress you bought a month ago ?
Do you need to be bathing suit ready because you are going to a special destination to be kissed by the sun in front of the beach ?
The answer is to limit inflammatory foods .
According to Dr . Frank Hu , a professor at Harvard , if you choose the right foods , you can reduce inflammation and prevent conditions like obesity and certain illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease . But if you make wrong decisions , you may be dealing with inflammation and promoting degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer ’ s .
Inflammation is a normal process that occurs in the body following an injury . Basically , the body releases a lot of white blood cells as part of the immune system ’ s response . There are different types of inflammation . There is acute inflammation that involves pain , redness , swelling ( not all these symptoms need to occur at the same time , all the time ) and chronic inflammation which can occur in the body for years , such as arthritis . What happens is , our bodies go into over activity mode . In other words , our immune system keeps working and working and working . One of the best ways we can help our bodies is to reduce the amount of inflammatory foods we eat . By doing this , we can be ready for those special occasions I asked about earlier . The dress , or the bathing suit . The party , or the beach . The cruise , or the pool . We can be ready anytime and for anything and the best news is , by reducing foods that promote inflammation , we will feel more energetic . It all starts with creating better eating habits and making them part of a new lifestyle .
Know your limits Certain foods are not going to help us with our health and can promote inflammation such as : sugar , trans and saturated fats , processed foods , refined carbohydrates , gluten , sodas , fried foods , certain types of dairy , lard , shortening , emulsifiers and many others . By reducing , limiting or eliminating these many foods from our diet we can help our energy levels , wrinkles , lean body mass , muscle tissue , metabolism and our overall health . Also , we can help our mood in terms of depression and anxiety . Hold on –– some mood disorders are fed by certain foods ? You bet ! For example , foods high in sugar make us feel really good at first but later can disrupt blood glucose levels . After the insulin
By Julie Alvira , MD , MBA
boost , they can make you feel fatigued and tired . The same goes for some artificial sweeteners and foods high in sodium . They can make an individual irritated . Plus , remember the “ be ready for the bathing suit anytime , anywhere ”? High sodium foods can also make you bloated and promote water retention . Other foods block serotonin ( neurotransmitters ) and can contribute to mood swings and headaches . Alcohol , among many things , can exacerbate symptoms associated with depression . Remember moderation .
Let ’ s go shopping ! Where are we going to look for the foods we need ? The grocery store or your favorite market . We should shop for foods with fiber , nuts ( especially almonds ), seeds , tomatoes , green leafy vegetables , and antioxidant fruits like strawberries , blueberries , oranges , cherries , whole grains , fatty fish , certain dairy , beets , garlic , ginger , and many others .
Nowadays , popular add-ons like turmeric are receiving big attention and , of course , the antioxidants in green tea and certain supplements . Likewise , some of the foods mentioned above might affect you in other ways in terms of sensitivity , allergies , digestion process , etc . So practice moderation and see what works individually for you . Your body and health will appreciate the changes you make .
“ It ’ s not a short-term diet . It ’ s a longterm lifestyle change .”
Julie Alvira , M . D ., MBA Healthcare Management . Health & Wellness consulting . Corporate wellness . Addictions recovery coaching . Personal trainer . Sports nutrition specialist . “ I like to focus on women and helping them get into a healthier lifestyle .” You can reach Julie via julie @ ajbodysculpt . com or www . ajbodysculpt . com .
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COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MAY / JUNE 2017