Inflammation can be good for your body, sometimes….but it also can be very harmful. Inflammation often causes anxiety, depression, stomach problems, fatigue, hormone imbalances, diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune conditions. Our lifestyle-the food we eat, the stress we are under, the lack of sleep and exercise contribute to the inflammatory process. Those inflammatory fires within our bodies start their slow burn long before we begin to notice physical or mental problems. In fact, by the time our doctor diagnoses us, inflammation has already left its ugly marks while wreaking damage and havoc on our bodies. We do not want to encourage this inflammation! In a mini-episode, Dhru Purohit speaks to Dr. Will Cole and Dr. Mark Hyman to discuss why we are all so inflamed and what we can do to alleviate the effects of inflammation and have better health. Here are some key points:
*Inflammation impacts our brains, mental and physical health. It sits in the front seat as the driver of autoimmune disease, diabetes, cancer, digestive problems, fibromylasia, anxiety, depression and fatigue.
*Don’t wait until things get really bad. It takes 4-10 years of slow burning inflammation before being diagnosed with a health problem. Check in with yourself, know your own body. Ask, “Am I feeling the way I should for optimal health? Do I have anxiety, constipation or bloating? Am I moody; Am I sleeping well?” You know your body better than anyone. It tells you what you need to know. Pay attention, don’t ignore the signs of inflammation.
*Shoot for metabolic flexibility-choose the right foods and focus on the quality as best as you can. For example, dairy, in particular, a1 Casein is super inflammatory and very problematic due to how animals are raised and handled. Remember, “It is Not The Cow, It is the How”-This form of dairy can lead to cancer and digestive issues among other health problems. Look for sheep’s or goat’s milk or a2 casein or heirloom cow milk. Think about it, sheep and goats eat wild plants, goats eat shrubs!
*Get off Gluten and Dairy(the highly inflammatory choices).
*There is not one way we should all be eating. We have different biologies and preferences. What is good for one person’s biology may be awful for the next person’s. Pay attention to your own biology! And remember, “Don’t let your ideology override your biology.”
*When it comes to eating, get rid of extremes.
*Most agree on the following: no dairy, eat lots of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, good fats, and whole foods.
*Most also agree that the Standard American Diet(SAD)-highly processed sugar and starchy foods- is the #1 cause of disease and death.
*Consider this food plan: First, think of food as your medicine. Food regulates every single system of our body and affects our, gut, hormones etc. Food is not just calories. It is information. Quality of food is very important. Try and know your food source.
*Dr. Hyman does not put his patients on a diet. He never tells them to restrict their diet. Losing weight is a side effect if people get rid of the Standard American Diet, add whole foods, different colored fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, and good fats.
*Listen to your own body. Leverage personalized nutrition or precision nutrition. We are all different. Look at your lab tests and see how you personally are feeling.
To listen to the full podcast click the link below.
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