Do you struggle with a chronic illness that includes pain, fatigue, digestive problems, or an autoimmune disorder? Are you frustrated after appointments with excellent medical professionals, multiple medication trials, and efforts to comply with their advice?  Symptoms may be complicated by a family history of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity that plagues Americans.  Remain hopeful that there is something you can do to improve your overall health and vitality.

The best investment in your long-term health and joie de vivre (enjoyment of life) is an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle.  Small steps in changing your diet can make tremendous improvements long-term. You don’t have to do it overnight. 

The major premise of the anti-inflammatory diet is that you enjoy and relish your food.  That you eat mindfully, slow down, and enjoy your meal. You don’t eat stressed, you don’t wolf down your food; it is an important time of your day to be grateful, talk around the table and find out how everyone else is taking in their day.

It is not about restriction. All foods are allowed, but most that contribute to your health are valued and improve wellness and laboratory indicators. I would say that your sense of well-being is enhanced with a sense of vitality by an anti-inflammatory approach. Most of all, it is an enjoyable approach to eating delicious food.

The overall benefits come from lifestyle changes along with improvements in your diet.  This includes getting enough restorative sleep, managing stress rather than stress controlling you, and moving or getting daily activity.  Again, small steps equal success, and accomplishments tend to urge you forward.

Take stock of your current health.  Look at your family history.  The Standard American Diet (SAD) is leading to the burden of many ailments.  Health care can keep you alive with medical breakthroughs as you age, but you control your health and symptoms by caring for yourself.

Benefits of an Anti-inflammatory Diet

Inflammation is a lifesaver that allows your body to heal.  When your immune system is working well and you get an infection or wound, your body’s defense mechanism launches an inflammatory response that promotes redness, swelling, and pain due to an increased blood flow and immune cells that repair the wound.  Soon you forget that cut and the acute inflammation subsides.  Chronic long-term inflammation is a much bigger issue. The immune system continues to fight at a level you may not notice but can promote or contribute to a poor health environment.  Lifestyle factors such as diet, stress, inactivity, or exposure to environmental toxins like cigarette smoke, can contribute to chronic inflammation.  Many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, hepatitis, and autoimmune diseases contribute to long-term inflammation. An anti-inflammatory diet can limit chronic inflammation and support healing.  It is a delicious, healthy diet that can bring you a renewal of energy and wellbeing.

Start simple, perhaps with one meal. Make it a day, or a week. Get a recipe book. Evaluate and continue with a good attitude.

Need more help? I specialize in helping men and women overcome their chronic inflammation with a combination of dietary and lifestyle changes. Explore my services here – I look forward to hearing from you!