How to live longer: Early warning signs of inflammation and foods to reverse it

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Are you showcasing signs of excess inflammation? According to Scripps Research – a charity in the field of biomedical science – feeling slightly fatigued could be a vague, but important, indication. As inflammation progresses, health conditions could start to appear such as:

  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes.

What is heart disease?

Coronary heart disease “is a major cause of death in the UK”, warned the NHS.

Symptoms include:

  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain throughout the body
  • Feeling faint
  • Feeling sick (nausea)

What is diabetes?

“Diabetes is a life-long condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high,” explained the NHS.

The main symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Peeing more frequently than usual, particularly at night
  • Feeling very tired
  • Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
  • Itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
  • Cuts or wounds that heal slowly
  • Blurred vision

READ MORE: Heart attack: A surprisingly ‘common’ symptom of a heart attack not to be dismissed

Scripps Research confirmed that people can “control, and even reverse”, inflammation.

This involves an “anti-inflammatory diet”, which includes fresh vegetables and fruits.

It’s also highly recommended to reduce the amount of refined sugar (i.e. added sugar) you consume.

Added/refined sugar may be labelled as:

  • Corn sugar
  • Dextrose
  • Fructose
  • Glucose
  • High-fructose glucose syrup
  • Honey
  • Maple syrup
  • Agave syrup
  • Invert sugar
  • Isoglucose
  • Levulose
  • Maltose
  • Molasses
  • Sucrose

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It can be found in jams, table sugar, chocolate, sweets, alcoholic drinks, squash cordials, biscuits, cakes, and fruit yoghurt, said the NHS.

The Scripps Research charity advises to eat more food containing omega-3 fatty acids.

“Some of the best sources of omega-3s are cold water fish, such as salmon and tuna, and tofu, walnuts, flax seeds and soybeans.

“Other anti-inflammatory foods include grapes, celery, blueberries, garlic, olive oil, tea and some spices.”

Anti-inflammatory spices:

  • Ginger
  • Rosemary
  • Turmeric.

The Mediterranean diet is a great example of an anti-inflammatory diet.

This is because meals centre on fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains.

In addition, the diet limits unhealthy fats such as:

  • Red meat
  • Butter
  • Egg yolks
  • Processed and refined sugars and carbs.

“One easy rule to follow is to avoid white foods, such as white bread, rice and pasta, as well as foods made with white sugar and flour,” said the charity.

Instead, “build meals around lean proteins and whole foods high in fibre”.

Examples include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, such as whole wheat pasta, rice and bread.

You can also reduce inflammation by doing regular bouts of activity, whether it’s a brisk walk, jog, or swim.

It’s recommended to complete around 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, and up to 25 minutes of weight training, at least four to five times per week.

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