Food for Thought Spring 2013 | Page 14

FOOD THYMES SPRING 2013 Inflammation and Cancer By Maria Inauen Researchers have found that a lot of precancerous and cancerous cells show signs of inflammation. Apparently, the longer inflammation is present, the higher the risk of getting cancer. Researchers further conclude that inflammation is a significant factor in the development of solid tumor malignancies. Scientists now know that inflammation is a lead player in many degenerative diseases. Along with this knowledge we also now know how to take preventative measures to avoid inflammation. One of those preventative measures is checking our CRP levels. CRP is short for Creactive protein which measures the inflammation in the blood. Smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise and poor nutrition can be contributors to high CRP levels. Diet influences inflammation. Following an anti-inflammatory diet is really quite simple. Eating a variety of wholesome foods (the less processed, the better), lots of organic fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains and one good source of omega 3-fatty acids will be of tremendous benefit to our body. Fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation and help prevent irregular heartbeats. They also reduce plaque from the artery walls and decrease blood clotting, blood fats and blood pressure. They further he ???????? ????e???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????I??????????????????????????????????????????????????%????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????e????????????????1????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????M????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????e???????????????????????????????????????????????????????%??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????()I??????????!????????????9??????!??????%??????????????????????=???????????((??((