Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle
Monday Lifestyle Education Discussion:
“Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle”
Low-grade chronic inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and auto-immune disorders. One of the most powerful ways to combat inflammation in the body is to adjust your diet. The Western-style diet which is high in sugar, fat and calories, while low in micronutrients and phytochemicals is surely a slow form of poison. Many of the chronic diseases above take years and even decades before any symptoms are realized, so early intervention/prevention is best. Do I have your attention now ☺ ?
Here’s the good news: You. Can. Do. Something. NOW! Many of you who come to the classes are enrolled in the optifast meal replacement program. This is smart. Starting in this way gives you a fresh start by allowing you to detox your palate and to get rid of habits that don’t serve you. At it’s core, the Optifast program is a behavior modification program. The goal is to help a person transition to a whole-foods based nutrition plan that is right for that person, but this often takes time, dedication and much patience. Others choose not to use meal replacements and that’s ok too! Everyone is heading towards the same goals. You all want to get healthy, avoid diseases and live a full, rich life. This means embracing the Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle.
The Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle involves managing stress, sleeping well, eating nourishing foods (get rid of toxic foods), maintaining your healthy weight and getting plenty of exercise.
Foods that calm inflammation:
– Vegetables and Fruits
– Nuts, Seeds
– Beans and lentils
– Heart healthy fats such as extra virgin olive oil & avocado
– Fish such as salmon, sardines, anchovies
– Whole grains/seeds such as brown rice and quinoa
– Herbs such as ginger and turmeric
Foods that can promote inflammation:
– Refined carbs (chips, cookies, fries, pastries, cakes, etc)
– Excess sugar intake
– trans fat and saturated fat
Some specific anti-inflammatory foods to include: Leafy greens such as spinach, kale and collards… Tomatoes (lycopene), Organic berries (frozen works well when out of season), extra virgin olive oil, almonds, walnuts, wild caught fish such as salmon, sardines and anchovies (but less common fish good too). Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the fresh produce. Visit local farmers markets and get to know where your food is grown. In South Carolina, we are very fortunate to have such a long growing season!
Read more by clicking on the article below and remember, it’s a process: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/anti-inflammatory-diet-road-to-good-health?page=4
