| If you want to stay healthy, you need to control | | | | Researchers have found that inflammation plays a |
| the things that cause cellular aging, DNA | | | | role in cancer, heart disease and arthritis and |
| degeneration, disease and eventually death. Those | | | | cellular aging, in general. They believe that natural |
| things occur on a molecular level throughout our | | | | anti-inflammatories are the keys to reducing |
| lives. We can't stop them completely, but we can | | | | inflammation throughout the body. |
| keep them to a minimum. Here's what they are | | | | Many of the plant foods mentioned above have |
| and how to control them. | | | | anti-inflammatory activity, as do the oils of fatty |
| Free Radical Damage | | | | fish. The primary benefit of fish oils supplements, |
| Most people have heard of free radicals, because | | | | which are the best-selling supplement on the |
| there are thousands of antioxidant-rich | | | | market, is due to the anti-inflammatory activity. |
| supplements on the market. Vitamin C | | | | If you want to stay healthy, eat more fish and |
| manufacturers speak of free radical damage as | | | | learn how to reduce inflammation throughout your |
| though it is the ultimate cause of every disease | | | | body. Adding more plant foods to your diet could |
| from the common cold to cancer. | | | | be the solution. |
| The truth is free radicals cause oxidation. | | | | Glycation |
| Oxidation is basically "rot". Everything on the | | | | Until recently, not too many people knew about |
| planet must eventually rot; otherwise it would | | | | the danger of glycation. We realized that simple |
| become overcrowded very quickly. | | | | carbs, which include white bread, white potatoes, |
| Your goal should be to keep oxidation to a | | | | white rice and processed sugars, were bad for |
| minimum. You do that by avoiding things that are | | | | our health, but the molecular activity was not well |
| known to cause increased production and activity | | | | understood. |
| of free radicals. Those include overexposure to | | | | Now, we know that those foods cause spikes in |
| UV radiation from the sun, any exposure to | | | | blood sugar and insulin levels that start a chain |
| cigarette smoke and tobacco, as well as other | | | | reaction, which ends in the production of "advance |
| toxins. | | | | glycation end-products" or AGEs. If we want to |
| Vitamin C is not the only antioxidant. In fact, it is | | | | stay healthy, we need to keep the production of |
| not one of the most potent ones. You need | | | | AGEs to a minimum. |
| plenty of vitamin C to stay healthy. But, you also | | | | In order to do that, we need to cut simple carbs |
| need other, more potent, antioxidants. | | | | out of our diets, at least as much possible. Not |
| You can get them by including more fruits and | | | | only will it help reduce our risk of some serious |
| vegetables in your diet. Some of the most potent | | | | age-related diseases like Alzheimer's, it will help us |
| antioxidants are found in broccoli, kale, cauliflower, | | | | maintain a healthier weight, relatively easily. |
| red grapes and spices, such as turmeric, ginger, | | | | Of course, if you want to stay healthy for life, |
| garlic and chili peppers. | | | | you need to be physically active, too. Nothing |
| Inflammation | | | | takes the place of a regular walk in the park. |