Eating an anti-inflammation diet can help prevent disease and increase longevity
Alzheimer’s. Cancer. Heart disease. Diabetes. Arthritis. These are all words that we come to fear more and more as we age.
The good news is, there is actually a very simple way to help protect yourself against these and other chronic diseases: control inflammation in the body.
A bit of inflammation is a good thing—it is part of the body’s immune response and can help the body fight off threats. However, sometimes the immune response fails to turn off, or activates even when there is no real threat. When this happens, we end up with a condition called chronic inflammation. The immune system begins attacking healthy tissue, triggering the chronic diseases mentioned above. So by controlling inflammation, you can lower risk factors for illness.
Bonus: Controlling Inflammation Preserves Your Telomeres
As if protection from some of the scariest diseases related to aging weren’t enough reason to change your diet to fight inflammation, reducing inflammation delivers another benefit: protecting your telomeres from damage.
Your telomeres are the cap-like structures that protect the DNA in your chromosomes from damage during cell division. Telomeres shrink with age—especially if you have chronic inflammation. Research has shown that individuals with longer telomeres also tend to be better protected from many age-related illnesses.
Foods that Cause Inflammation
Inflammation can be caused by many factors, including your diet. Common foods that can cause inflammation include:
- Refined carbohydrates
- Fried foods
- Soda
- Red meat and processed meat
One of the biggest issues with these foods is that they can contribute to obesity and issues with insulin control. Insulin is a powerful inflammatory hormone that must be controlled to protect against many chronic diseases.
Foods that Fight Inflammation
Fortunately, by changing your diet you can fight inflammation. Cutting out the unhealthy foods mentioned above will help. However, you will also want to add healthy foods to your diet.
According to Harvard Medical School researchers, the best foods for fighting inflammation are:
- Tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna
- Fruits like blueberries, strawberries, oranges, and cherries
These foods help to fight inflammation in two primary ways. First, they help with insulin control when consumed as part of a healthy diet. Secondly, many of them contain antioxidants, which are important for controlling oxidative stress in the body that would otherwise trigger an inflammatory response.
The Most Powerful Antioxidant for Healthy Aging
If you want to maximize your protection from chronic age-related diseases, one of the most powerful antioxidants you could want is Alpha Lipoic Acid. In addition to defending against oxidative stress for inflammation control, Alpha Lipoic Acid also has a specific protective effect on your telomeres. Renew Man™ offers a quality Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement that is perfect for supporting your anti-inflammation diet. Give us a call to purchase.