“Inflammation is a natural process in the body to help protect us against foreign invaders and pathogens as well as injuries. White blood cells come to the rescue to protect the injury site, we develop redness, swelling and heat,” Barton says, “This is called acute inflammation. Inflammation becomes a problem when it becomes chronic, due to too much “alarm” in the body at all times.” Things like toxins, certain foods, and stress are the biggest offenders of what causes inflammation to become chronic.
So what are some of the risks of your body being stuck in this “alarmed” state? “If we are not taking care of our bodies, inflammation will start taking a toll on our bodies by creating atherosclerosis, pain, weight gain and leaky gut. All of these can lead to our common chronic diseases.”
First of all, it’s important to know what foods trigger inflammation, so that you can know what to avoid, or at least cut back on. “Heavily processed foods, sugar, and it’s processed forms are the biggest inflammatory drivers. But also low-quality fats/trans-fats, which mostly come from a diet high in fried foods.” Additionally, inflammation can be caused by food sensitivities, the most common ones are gluten, dairy, corn, and soy. If you think that you may have sensitivities to one of these foods, consult with your doctor to come up with a plan of action.
If you don’t have any particular food sensitivities, cutting back on these foods and adding in foods that reduce inflammation is a good way to heal your body from the inside out. The most important thing to focus on when following an anti-inflammatory diet is whole, natural foods that are free of any preservatives or chemicals. “Your best bet is organic vegetables/fruit and sustainably raised (grass-fed/pasture raised) meat and fish as well as healthy fats,” she says, “Cleaning up your diet by only eating whole, unprocessed foods is a great way to start.” If you are unsure of how exactly to begin, Butterfly offers meal plan services specially designed for those wanting to reduce inflammation.