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Chronic inflammationhas been linked to a whole host of health issues, including many of the leading causes of death in the U.S. (heart disease,Alzheimer’s diseaseand cancer, to name a few). So it’s no wonder scientists are constantly searching for the bestanti-inflammatory foodsand lifestyle habits—and anything related to the topic that might help us keep this internal inflammation at bay.
(By the way, not all inflammation is bad; short-term, site-specific inflammation is how we heal from cuts, bruises, burns and beyond. It’s the longer-lasting inflammation that happens near our organs that can do a number on our longevity and overall well-being.)
One of the most recent discoveries related to inflammation—and pain-related conditions:A traditional Western high-fat diet can increase the chances that an individual might suffer from chronic pain and inflammation.
Unlike our genes, this is something each of us can control. And changes in diet (start here with our anti-inflammatory meal plan!) “may significantly reduce or even reverse pain from conditions causing either inflammatory pain—such as arthritis, trauma or surgery—or neuropathic pain, such as diabetes,” the team of study authors from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio explain toUT Health San Antonio Newsroom.
Chronic pain is a major cause of disability. Lower-fat and lower-sugar diets are often recommended tomanage diabetes, autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular diseases, but the role of dietary fats in relation to chronic pain has yet to be researched extensively.
The #1 Food to Eat to Lower Inflammation
For this study, the team tracked mice and humans to examine the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in pain conditions. In both cases, a typical Western diet—one that’s high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats in particular—was a significant risk factor for both inflammation and chronic pain. (ICYMI,wedoneed some omega-6s, but most Americans' ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s is skewed too 6-strong.)
Taking your omega-3 index is a great place to start so you know where your current levels stand. If you fall into this common Western diet pattern, stock up on theseomega-3-rich foodsand sample your way through our38 best anti-inflammatory recipes. An easy way to make sure you’re getting plenty of omega-3s and other anti-inflammatory foods is to follow a Mediterranean-style diet. (On this healthy delicious eating plan, you don’t even have to give up pasta or wine. In fact, they’re encouraged in moderation!).
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