It is likely one of the scourges of life within the fashionable world: persistent irritation. This unhelpful response by the physique’s immune system is linked to accelerated ageing and situations similar to stroke and coronary heart illness.
What if we might dampen it down by consuming sure meals, similar to spinach, walnuts and salmon? That’s the promise of anti-inflammatory diets, usually advocated in obscure phrases by the media and vitamin trade. That may immediate eye-rolling from the scientifically minded. However latest analysis reveals that this method isn’t as faddish because it sounds and paints a nuanced image of the hyperlinks between meals, irritation and our long-term well being.
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Irritation is a vital a part of our response to damage and illness. However when the physique continues to deploy it even when there isn’t any trauma, this leads to persistent irritation. Precisely why this happens is unclear, however genetics, surroundings and way of life play roles. It may be detected by measuring sure chemical markers within the blood, and has been more and more linked with poor well being.
“Chronic inflammation is a driver of many common diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis and dementia,” says John Mathers at Newcastle College within the UK. It has additionally been implicated in some psychological well being situations.
However how…
