Maybe you have heard of anti-inflammatory dietary changes. But what exactly does it mean—and how do you take the steps to implement this lifestyle change?
First, we’d rather avoid the word “diet” completely when it comes to nutrition. That’s because there are already so many negative connotations that come with the idea of a “diet.” Often times we think of what we have to give up, or, in other situations, we immediately start to think of a meal-to-meal, short-term approach to how we eat (1).
How to Avoid Acute & Chronic Dietary Inflammation
Think of an anti-inflammatory approach as eating healthy, anti-inflammatory foods that support and encourage normal—and optimal—body function. This would be what Dr. David Seaman, in his book, The DeFlame Diet, calls foods that are in a “DeFlamed” state.
Dr. Seaman writes, “… we can definitely ‘DeFlame’ ourselves, which refers to creating an anti-inflammatory state of body metabolism; a healing state. In other words, the DeFlame Diet is specifically named for the dietary and health goal of inflammation reduction,” he adds (1).
This “deflamed state” (or anti-inflammatory state) is in contrast with foods that are pro-inflammatory. These are foods that hurt our body and can promote disease.
Anti-Inflammatory vs. Pro-Inflammatory Food Choices
Food choices that support optimal function in the body include grass-fed meat, wild game, wild caught fish, shellfish, chicken, omega-3 eggs, vegetables and leafy greens, nuts (raw or dry roasted), spices, olive oil, coconut oil, butter, cream, avocado, bacon, coffee, tea, and more. Even red wine and stout beer fall under this category. Food choices that create a pro-inflammatory state often are ones that are refined. Refined sugar, refined grains, grain flour, trans fats, and refined omega-6 seed oils (corn, safflower, sunflower, peanuts, etc.) and more fall in this category (1).
And just how often are we, in general, eating the foods that promote inflammation in the body? As much as 60 percent of all calories that the average person in America consumes come from foods that promote inflammation (1).
If we do eat refined sugar or flour, or refined omega-6 seed oils, and/or trans fats, the body responds immediately: our body will generate an immediate, low level inflammatory response. Over time, this becomes chronic. If we adopt the DeFlame Diet mindset, we can ask an important question when we are about to eat something. The question we can ask ourselves, is, “Will this food inflame my body or help to ‘DeFlame’ my body?” The answer can help us make decision that will positively impact our health (1).
More About Inflammation
Keeping in mind how chronic diseases are diseases of chronic inflammation, you can see just how important our long-term choices are when it comes to food. But, if you need more motivation, consider how you will age more gracefully, feel better, heal quicker and you will even respond better to your ongoing chiropractic adjustments.
Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, has been tied to cold symptoms, the flu, frequent allergies, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sinusitis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, hypertension, depression, diabetes, and more (1).
Keep in mind that food isn’t the only factor that can add an inflammatory burden on our bodies. If our lifestyle has regular stress, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and eating inflammatory foods, then chronic inflammation can also develop.
Learn More About Making Choices to Reduce Inflammation
Ready to reduce diet-induced chronic inflammation? Or do you want to learn more about lifestyle changes that can help you reduce chronic inflammation?
Talk to Dr. Bradford if you are interested in learning more about this approach, and/or the steps you can take to have a supportive environment if you are looking to implement lifestyle change. Give Cincinnati Rehabilitation Center a call today at 513.772.9065 to learn more.
Information from this article was taken from Dr. David Seaman’s book on the topic, The DeFlame Diet. DeFlame your diet, body, and mind.
Source
1. Seaman, David R. (2016-04-02). The DeFlame Diet: DeFlame your diet, body, and mind (p. 2). Shadow Panther Press. Kindle Edition.