Five Foods to Ease Seasonal Allergies

Five Foods to Ease Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis can be a nuisance causing itchy throat, runny nose and water eyes. These symptoms develop when the immune system overreacts to allergens like plant pollen, dust or animal dander.

Treatment usually involves an over-the counter medication. However, lifestyle changes and adding certain foods to your diet may help mitigate the nuisance of allergy symptoms. Below are five foods/spices that you may want to add to your allergy fighting arsenal to help alleviate those annoying allergy symptoms.

1. Ginger

Ginger Root

Ginger has been used for thousands of years for the treatment of colds, nausea, joint pain, migraines and inflammation. Because of ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties, it may help to alleviate symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

A study in the BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies assessed the efficacy and safety of ginger extract in comparison with loratadine for allergic rhinitis treatment. It was concluded that ginger extract is as good as loratadine in improving nasal symptoms and quality of life.

However, the ginger extract caused less side effects like drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness and constipation. Adding ginger to curries, stir fires and baked goods or making ginger tea is a great way to incorporate this powerful spice into your diet.

2. Turmeric

Golden Milk

Turmeric is a traditional Indian spice with a powerful compound called curcumin that provides anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic benefits. A study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology that showed an improvement in nasal airflow and a positive effect on immune response in patients with allergic rhinitis who took curcumin.

Fresh or ground turmeric can be used in cooking or taken as supplements. When cooking with turmeric, it’s recommended to pair turmeric with black pepper because it can increase the bioavailability of curcumin by up to 2000%. The piperine in black pepper helps your body absorb more curcumin.

Try this delicious Golden Milk recipe that’s infused with turmeric and ginger to your bedtime routine which may help you get a more restful sleep.

3. Vitamin C Rich Foods

Broccoli

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant which helps to counteract the inflammatory allergic responses that cause allergy symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. Taking vitamin C during allergy season can help slow down the overreaction of environmental triggers by decreasing histamine production.

Adding broccoli to your diet will provide you with a good source of vitamin C. In addition, broccoli contains naturally occurring compounds which may protect against respiratory inflammation causing conditions like asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to findings published in the journal of Clinical Immunology. Below are foods that are rich sources Vitamin C that you can incorporate in your diet:

  • Broccoli- higher in vitamin C than oranges
  • Sweet yellow peppers
  • Berries
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Tomatoes
  • Kiwi

4. Green Tea

Green Tea

Sipping on hot tea can help you to feel better when you have a stuffy nose or sore throat. Green tea is is a natural anti-inflammatory and is rich in antioxidants. The antioxidant compound called EGCG that’s found in green tea may help ease allergy symptoms.

In addition, green tea is rich in quercetin, a plant compound that promotes anti-inflammatory protection against allergens. Quercetin gives green tea its color and helps to block allergic reactions caused by pollen, dust and animal dander.

The antioxidants in green tea may provide you with many other health benefits from improved brain function, fat loss, protection against cancer, and lowering the risk of heart disease.

5. Tomatoes

Fresh Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene an antioxidant that can help reduce inflammation caused by an allergic reaction. One study suggests eating 2-4 servings of tomatoes daily helps to alleviate symptoms that were associated with asthma, such as wheezing and shortness of breath.

It’s important to note, previous studies have shown the absorption of lycopene is greater from processed tomatoes than fresh tomatoes. The processing of tomatoes breaks down the cell matrix and makes lycopene more bioavailable.

A study in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the addition of olive oil in diced tomatoes during cooking greatly increases the absorption of lycopene.

Not only does lycopene offer anti-allergic benefits but also offers other health promoting benefits such as protection against certain types of cancer, promoting heart health and protecting your skin against sunburn.

To sum it up, while there are no foods that can prevent seasonal allergies, choosing foods that are nutrient-dense with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic compounds can help to alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms and reduce inflammation..

Finally, it is best to consult with a registered dietitian nutritionist or your healthcare provider before adding supplements to your daily regimen or changing your diet significantly in order to avoid a food-drug interaction.

Good Mood Foods to Fight the Blues

Good Mood Foods to Fight the Blues

When you’re feeling down, what do you do to improve your mood? Do you binge watch your favorite movies? Maybe you meditate or go for a run? Any of these can make you feel better or improve your mood temporarily.

But, what if you were able to eat a certain way every day that could reduce your risk for getting depression, or even improve a bad mood after it started? Would you want to know which foods are considered to be “mood boosting foods”? If so, keep reading.

Using Food to Protect your Mental Health

Many people experience depression at some point in their life. Depression can create a major obstacle to accomplish even the smallest of task and can contribute to chronic disease or make existing health problems worse.

When your mental health suffers, your entire body can feel the effects. Fortunately, evidence suggest dietary changes can improve your mood and quality of life and possibly prevent the need for medication intervention.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry analyzed the dietary patterns and risk of depression in 3,486 participants over a five year period. Individuals eating whole foods reported fewer symptoms of depression compared to those who ate mostly processed foods.(1) In addition, when comparing a vegetarian diet verses an omnivorous diet, vegetarians reported better moods verses the meat eaters, according to a study published in Nutrition Journal. (3)

How can Food Affect your Mood?

We know that what we eat affects us physically, for example, food affects our energy levels, blood sugar, weight, etc. Your mental health may be just as affected by your diet as your physical health.

The relatively new field of “nutritional psychiatry” is finding that the foods and nutrients you eat can improve how you feel emotionally-both in the short and long term. This is because of the complex array of actions that nutrients and foods have on your overall health and wellness.

Food provides you with essential nutrients to make important mood-boosting compounds like serotonin, food feeds your gut microbes, and food can decrease or increase inflammation. Therefore, choosing nutrient dense foods are vital to optimize and protect all aspects of your health.  

Food is often referred to as “fuel” for your body, but actually, what and how you eat has a profound effect on almost every aspect of your physical and mental health. To keep it simple, think of it like this, calories provide fuel to give us energy to move, think, digest, breathe, etc.

Essential vitamins and minerals from food are used to make neurotransmitters (chemical messengers for our brains and nerve cells to transmit messages to each other). Fiber and some starches that is found in plant foods feed your friendly gut microbes that have their own nervous system which communicates with the brain to make neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters and Mental Health

Neurotransmitters have very important roles when it comes to moods. You may have heard of serotonin that has been linked with poor moods and depression when serotonin levels are low. The brain uses the amino acid tryptophan to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter mostly responsible for feelings of well-being and happiness.

Several medications prescribed for depression try to improve levels of serotonin. Likewise, food can be used to raise serotonin levels, but without the negative side effects that many medicines cause such as nausea, diarrhea, or even weight gain.

Recent evidence shows that 90 percent of serotonin receptors in the body are located not in the brain, but in the digestive system. Therefore, it is vital to maintain a healthy gut. Tryptophan can be found in plant-based foods such as pumpkin seeds, leafy greens. watercress, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, broccoli, soybeans, and peas.

12 Antidepressant Nutrients

In 2018, in a study published in the World Journal of Psychiatry the authors created an antidepressant food score by conducting a systematic review to derive a list of Antidepressant Nutrients. They compiled a list of twelve nutrients that are considered to have “antidepressant” roles in the body. They include:

  • Folate
  • Iron
  • Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA)
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Selenium
  • Thiamine
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin C
  • Zinc

Top Anti-Depressant Plant Foods

The top four plant foods with nutrients known to support mental health are leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, lettuces and peppers.

  1. Leafy Greens

Leafy greens are super nutritious and are especially high in folate, vitamin C, Vitamin B1, potassium, iron, magnesium, beta carotene, and various bioactive compounds. Examples of leafy greens to include in your diet include:

  • spinach
  • beet greens
  • watercress
  • mustard greens
  • turnip greens

2. Peppers

All varieties are excellent sources of vitamins A and C, potassium, folic acid, and fiber. All colors of peppers have nutritional benefits, however, red peppers may have the higher antioxidant and phytonutrient levels due to their ripeness. Vitamin C can help to fight off depression and anxiety. They are a good source of phytochemicals such as flavonoids and lycopene which may offer protection against heart disease and cancer. Examples of peppers to include in your diet are:

  • Bell Peppers
  • Jalapenos
  • Serrano Peppers

3. Lettuces

Eating leafy greens may slow mental decline. Lettuce may help in lowering cholesterol levels, moderating sleep, reducing inflammation, controlling anxiety, and may provide a consistent supply of antioxidants. As a rule of thumb, the darker the leaf the more nutrient dense. Four main categories of lettuce include:

  • Romaine
  • Iceberg
  • Loose Leaf
  • Iceberg

4. Cruciferous vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are nutritional powerhouses. They have many health benefits and are rich in compounds known as glucosinolates, which may help to fight cancer. Certain enzymes in cruciferous vegetables may help protect cell DNA from damage. The chemical chromium this is found in cruciferous vegetables may increase your body’s levels of brain chemicals related to positive feelings, energy and alertness. Some examples of cruciferous vegetables to include are:

  • cauliflower
  • broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • kale
  • cabbages
  • argula
  • radish

More Tips to Support Mental Health

  • Add a wide variety of colorful plants to your diet. More color, more nutrients.
  • Choose unsweetened fruits and vegetables over juices.
  • Add more fiber rich foods. More plants in your diet will naturally increase the fiber in your diet.
  • Add Whole grains and legumes which are high in fiber.
  • Include fermented and probiotics rich foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, miso, kimchi, etc.
  • Buy fermented and probiotic foods in the refrigerator section as these contain live active cultures.
  • Reduce sugar intake, by using less sugar and substitute with fruits like berries or cinnamon.
  • Avoid highly processed foods that are in high trans-fat, saturated fat, refined flours, and sugars which are linked to higher levels of inflammation.

To Sum It Up

The connections between what you eat and how you feel are strongly linked. Focusing on eating whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, legumes and seeds supports mood boosting benefits and may ward off depression. Ultimately, the benefits consuming a wide array of plant-based foods in your diet go far beyond improving your mood including reducing your risks for heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancers.

*If you are experiencing severe depression or other mental health issues, you may need additional therapies beyond food, if this applies to you, consult with your licensed healthcare provider.

5 Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds

5 Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds

Not to worry, these hemp seeds won’t get you high-but they will provide a lot of health promoting nutrients. While hemp is a variety of the cannabis (marijuana) plant, hemp seeds have little to none of the psychoactive compound THC that’s found in marijuana. Technically, the seeds are a nut and are super-nutritious in healthy fats, protein, fiber, and various minerals. They can be eaten raw, or used to make milk, oil, cheese substitutes, or protein powder.

1. May Help You Sleep Better

Hemp is very.high in magnesium, which is a mineral that naturally helps your muscles to relax and promotes restorative sleep. Its nutrient profile helps to support high quality sleep because the combination of the amino acid tryptophan and vitamin B6 which serves as a precursor for melatonin. To promote good quality sleep, I recommend consuming a serving a few hours before bed.

2. May Reduce PMS & Menopause Symptoms

Tired of the cramping, mood swings, and cravings? Hemp Seeds have essential fatty acids (EFA) which may help alleviate the vast majority of your PMS symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the psychiatric symptoms of PMS including depression, anxiety, and lack of concentration and may also reduce the somatic symptoms of PMS including bloating, headache, and breast tenderness. Because hemp seeds are high in GLA several studies have indicated that they may reduce menopausal symptoms too.

3. May Protect Your Heart

Hemp seeds contain high amounts of arginine, which turns into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide makes your blood vessels dilate and relax which can lower blood pressure and reduce risk of heart disease. The gamma-linolenic acid found in hemp seeds has been linked to reduced inflammation which may decrease your risk of heart disease.

4. Can Improve Skin Disorders

Anti-inflammatory compounds in hemp seeds may help conditions such as atopic dermatitis and acne which can result from chronic inflammation. Acne may be linked to dietary causes and a deficiency in omega-3s. The high omega-3 content in hemp seeds may help to manage and reduce acne symptoms.

A 2018 review investigated the effects of dietary changes on skin diseases. While they found evidence that eating more omega-3s may improve symptoms of acne, determining the extent of the effect will need more research.

5. Provides A Great Source of Protein

A 30 gram serving (3 Tablespoons) of raw hemp seeds contains almost 10 grams of plant-based protein. They contain all nine essential amino acids and is well-absorbed by our bodies, according to research. Considering swapping the protein powders and add some protein-rich hemp to your smoothies or oats to switch it up.

Overall, hemp seeds are considered safe when eaten in moderation. However, if you are pregnant, taking anticoagulants, suffering from digestive issues, or recovering from cannabis dependence- discuss with your healthcare professional before adding them to your diet.

How to Prevent & Lower High Blood Pressure

How to Prevent & Lower High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is the most prevalent underlying condition in COVID-19 deaths in Mississippians, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. In the United States, nearly half of adults have hypertension and only about 1 in 4 adults with hypertension have their condition under control. Having hypertension puts you at higher risk for heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of deaths in the United States.

WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. A normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg. The guidelines used to diagnose high blood pressure may differ with each health care professional.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTENSION

Unfortunately, high blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Hence, high blood pressure is also known as “the silent killer.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT OR MANAGE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

  • Get a least 150 minutes of physical activity each week ( 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)
  • Eat a plant-rich diet, limit salt and alcohol
  • Obtain and maintain a healthy weight
  • Manage stress
  • Implement the DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension)

HEART HEALTHY BENEFITS OF POTASSIUM

The recommended potassium intake for an average adult is 4,700 milligrams per day. Foods that are rich in potassium are important in managing high blood pressure because of the effect potassium has on sodium. Potassium also helps to ease the tension in your blood vessel walls, which helps to lower blood pressure.

Foods that are rich in potassium includes:

  • Lentils
  • Black beans
  • Cantaloupe
  • Avocados
  • Bananas
  • White Beans
  • Edamame
  • Beets
  • Dried Apricots
  • Sweet Potato
  • Butternut Squash
  • Greens (All green leafy vegetables are high in nitrates as well which may improve the flexibility and function of your arteries)
  • Quinoa
  • Broccoli
  • Zucchini

Treatment for high blood pressure most often starts with lifestyle changes, including losing weight, if needed, stopping smoking, decreasing salt in your diet, cutting down on alcohol consumption and getting regular exercise.

Controlling your blood pressure should be a priority in your healthy living and lifestyle. Unfortunately, the damage that high blood pressure causes does not cause any symptoms until serious damage has been done. Taking control of your health is one of the most important acts of self-care that you can do. There are so many things in life that are out of your control, why not control the things that you can?

Can Eating a Plant-Based Diet Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?

More than 34 million Americans have diabetes and approximately  90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes. Sadly, almost three times as many people have pre-diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most often diagnosed in people over the age of 45, but it is becoming more prevalent in children, teens, and young adults. The financial burden is huge for Americans with diabetes as they have two to three times greater healthcare cost than those who don’t have diabetes. Fortunately, with healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices, type 2 diabetes can be prevented and may even be reversed.

Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include:

  •  excess weight
  •  increased age
  •  family history
  •  certain ethnic backgrounds
  •  physical inactivity
  •  poor diet
The Standard American Diet

Current nutrition composition of the Standard American Diet intake revealed 57% intake was from refined carbohydrates, 32% intake from animal products, and only 11% from plant-based foods according to USDA findings.

The standard American diet is high in refined carbohydrates, saturated fat, and trans fats and is a major contributing factor to the development of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease and some types of cancer.

What is a plant-based diet?

Eating plant-based does not mean you can’t eat meat. It means you eat mostly plants such as vegetables, whole grains, fruits, beans, seeds, and nuts. Generally, a plant -based eating pattern includes:

  • Emphasizing whole, minimally processed foods
  • Limiting or avoiding animal products
  • Focusing on plants, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, which should make up the majority of what you eat
  • Excluding refined foods, like added sugars, white flour and processed oils
  • Eating locally sourced, organic foods whenever possible
  • Limiting overall fats may be a focus for some eating patterns

Transitioning to a plant-based has a multitude of health benefits. Research suggest that eating more plant-based foods has positive health benefits for people with diabetes.

Health Benefits with Plant-Based Nutrition

  • Improved Glycemic management (HgbA1C, fasting glucose)
  • Improved Blood Lipids (total and LDL- Cholesterol)
  • Better Management of Body weight and BMI
  • Decreased Inflammation
  • Prevent Premature Death

More Potential Benefits

  • Improved Sleep
  • Reduce oxidative stress
  • Improve immunity
  • Increase Satiety
  • Better digestion
  • Reduced risk of coronary artery disease
  • Reduced neuropathy
  • Reduced risk of developing chronic kidney disease

The more plants, the more fiber

Natural fiber which is only found in plants, slows down the absorption of carbohydrates, and blunts a spike in blood sugar helping you to keep blood sugar under control.  A diet high in fiber also helps to maintain bowel health, lower cholesterol, and may help you achieve a healthy weight. Plants have unique nutrients that you can not get from other foods which is why it’s important to get a variety of them in your daily meals. The phytochemicals and antioxidants found in plants helps keep your cells healthy so that your immune system can function optimally which is extremely important.

Whether you choose to go vegan, vegetarian, or non-vegetarian, adding more plants on your plate will provide you with multiple health benefits. If you would like more nutrition information on how to prevent or manage diabetes or transition to plant-based eating, schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation with Julie at http://www.corenutritionhw.com/services

Nutrition and Lifestyle Habits to Reduce Inflammation

Nutrition and Lifestyle Habits to Reduce Inflammation

You may remember having a cut, sprain, or a sore throat. The injured area feels painful and hot and looks red and swollen. These are physical signs of inflammation. Inflammation is a natural and essential process that your body uses to defend itself from infections and heal injured cells and tissues.

The inflammatory response produces specific biochemicals that can destroy invaders like bacteria and viruses, increases blood flow to areas that need it, and cleans up debris. It can be a good thing. But, sometimes it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.

You may be thinking what does nutrition and lifestyle habits have to do with inflammation? We’ll get to that but, first let’s look at the two types of inflammation.

Types of Inflammation (Acute vs. Chronic)

There are two kinds of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is short-lived. It’s like a flaming fire that produces the painful, red, hot, swollen symptoms described above. When inflammation is acute it’s usually at high levels in a small localized area in response to an infection or some kind of injury to the body. It’s necessary for proper healing and injury repair.

When your cells detect an infection or damage, they send out warning signals to call over your immune system to help out. Your immune system sends over many types of white blood cells to help fight off invading germs [bacteria/viruses/pathogens] and cleans up the damage so you can heal.

Acute Inflammation

Symptoms of acute inflammation may need short-term treatment such as pain relievers or cold compresses. More serious symptoms like fever, severe pain, or shortness of breath may need medical attention.

In general, acute inflammation goes away after the injury is healed, often within days or even hours. Acute inflammation is the “good” kind of inflammation because it does an essential job and then quiets itself down.

Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is different. It’s more of the slow-burning and smoldering type of fire. This type of inflammation can exist throughout your whole body at lower levels. This means that the symptoms aren’t localized to one particular area that needs it. Instead, they can appear gradually, and can last much longer—months or even years. This is the “bad” kind of inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is often invisible without immediate or serious symptoms, but over the long-term it’s been linked to many chronic diseases such as:

  • Acne, eczema, and psoriasis
  • Allergies and asthma
  • Autoimmune diseases (arthritis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus)
  • Cancer
  • Chronic pain
  • Gastrointestinal disorders (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
  • Heart disease and stroke
  • Lung diseases (emphysema)
  • Mental illnesses (anxiety, depression)
  • Metabolic diseases (type 2 diabetes)
  • Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s)

How does chronic inflammation begin? It may start acutely—from an infection or injury—and then instead of shutting off, it becomes persistent. Chronic low-grade inflammation can also occur with exposure to chemicals (e.g., tobacco) or radiation, consuming an unhealthy diet or too much alcohol, not being very physically active, feeling stressed or socially isolated, and having excess weight. Now that we see that inflammation underlies so many of our medical conditions, here’s what to do to put out those slow-burning, smoldering fires.

Nutrition and Lifestyle Tips for Reducing Chronic Inflammation

Studies suggest that reducing inflammation can reduce the risk of several of these conditions including heart disease and cancer. There are medications used such as corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics to help lower inflammation and to treat some of these diseases.

Fortunately, there are also several simple lifestyle changes—including a healthy whole food, plant-based diet—which by the way doesn’t have any negative side effects, and can be very helpful to prevent or reverse inflammation therefore, reducing its damaging effects on the body.

“For chronic low-grade inflammation not caused by a defined illness, lifestyle changes are the mainstay of both prevention and treatment,” says Harvard Health. The good news is that anti-inflammatory foods help you stay healthy and reduce your risk of many diseases. In fact, it’s estimated that 60 percent of chronic diseases could be prevented with a healthy diet. Here’s how.

Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

  • Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains (brown rice, oats, bran), nuts (almonds), seeds, fish, legumes (beans, lentils), and healthy oils (olive oil)
  • Pay particular attention to foods high in antioxidant polyphenols, including colorful plants such as berries, cherries, plums, red grapes, avocados, onions, carrots, beets, turmeric, green tea, and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale
  • Omega-3 fats can help to reduce pain and clear up inflammation and are found in salmon, soy, walnuts, and flax
  • High fiber foods (whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes) encourage friendly gut microbes to help reduce inflammation
  • Avoid charring foods when cooking at high temperatures
  • Avoid inflammatory foods such as red and processed meats (lunch meats, hot dogs, hamburgers), fried foods (fries), unhealthy fats (shortening, lard), sugary foods and drinks (sodas, candy, sports drinks), refined carbohydrates (white bread, cookies, pie), and ultra-processed foods (microwaveable dinners, dehydrated soups)

Be Physically Active

  • Regular exercise reduces inflammation over the long-term, so try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (brisk walking) per week; about 20-30 minutes per day
  • To this add two or more strength training sessions (using weights or resistance bands) each week

Get Quality Sleep

  • Disrupted sleep has recently been linked to increased inflammation and atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the vessels that’s linked with heart disease), so aim for 7-9 hours of restful sleep every night to help the body heal and repair
  • Tips for better sleep: try to maintain a regular sleep-wake schedule every day, get exposure to natural daylight earlier in the day, avoid caffeine later in the day, cut out screens an hour before bedtime, and create a relaxing nighttime routine

Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol

  • Quitting smoking can help reduce inflammation and several other health concerns by reducing exposure to toxins that are directly linked to inflammation. Avoid places where you may be exposed to second and/or third hand smoke.
  • Limit your alcohol intake to no more than one or two drinks per day

Stress Management

  • Engage in relaxing stress-reducing activities such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or tai chi

Be Sociable

  • New research suggests that feeling socially isolated is linked with higher levels of inflammation, so reach out to family and friends (or make new ones)

See your Healthcare Provider Regularly and Dentist

  • Get your cholesterol and blood lipids tested because high amounts of “bad” LDL cholesterol is linked to inflammation and negatively affects your blood vessels
  • You can request a blood test to measure levels of CRP (C-reactive protein) which is a marker of inflammation (this test is also used to check your risk of developing heart disease)
  • If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, this may be a sign of gum inflammation (gingivitis), so ramp up your oral hygiene and see your dentist

Key Points to Remember

Chronic, long-term, low-level inflammation is linked with many health issues. The first approach to preventing and improving this is through food and lifestyle changes. Start by focusing on adding colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fish to your diet. Implementing a healthy lifestyle such as physical activity, restful sleep, and stress management is beneficial for the management of inflammation and will promote optimal health.

These changes can be integrated into your day-to-day practices. First try adding one additional fruit or vegetable to your day. Then, several times a day at each snack or meal. For inspiration, try recipes from my Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan.

If you’d like a plan designed to help you enjoy more of these anti-inflammatory foods, consult a registered dietitian nutritionist who can provide personalized research-based nutrition advice for your health, lifestyle, and goals. If you’d like to learn more about how simple, delicious whole food plant-based nutrition can help to prevent or reverse inflammation along with many other chronic diseases, book a free phone consultation https://www.corenutritionhw.com/services.

References

Harvard Health. (2018, November 7). Foods that fight inflammation. Retrieved from

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation

Harvard Magazine. (2019 May-June). Could inflammation be the cause of myriad chronic conditions? Retrieved from https://harvardmagazine.com/2019/05/inflammation-disease-diet

Harvard Health. (2020, April). Understanding acute and chronic inflammation. Retrieved from

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-acute-and-chronic-inflammation

Harvard Health. (2020, May). Quick-start guide to an anti-inflammation diet. Retrieved from

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/quick-start-guide-to-an-antiinflammation-diet

Harvard Health. (2020, June). All about inflammation. Retrieved from

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/all-about-inflammation

Mayo Clinic. (2017, November 21). C-reactive protein test. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/c-reactive-protein-test/about/pac-20385228

Mayo Clinic. (2018, May 25). Home remedies: How a healthy diet can help manage pain. Retrieved from https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-how-a-healthy-diet-can-help-manage-pain/

Mayo Clinic. (2019, August 13). How to use food to help your body fight inflammation. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/how-to-use-food-to-help-your-body-fight-inflammation/art-20457586

Medscape. (n.d.). Inflammation, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/923743

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2020, April 4). Inflammation. Retrieved from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/inflammation/index.cfm

Neuroscience News. (2020, March 5). Social isolation could cause physical inflammation. Retrieved from https://neurosciencenews.com/social-isolation-inflammation-15864/

University of California Berkeley News. (2020, June 4). Fitful nightly sleep linked to chronic inflammation, hardened arteries. Retrieved from https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/06/04/fitful-nightly-sleep-linked-to-chronic-inflammation-hardened-arteries/

University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. (2018). The anti-inflammatory lifestyle. Retrieved from https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/files/webfm-uploads/documents/outreach/im/handout_ai_diet_patient.pdf