Barry Sears, M.D., author of the "Zone" book series, describes in his book, "The Anti Inflammation Zone," how avoidable internal inflammation is at the root of most major degenerative diseases. Doctor Sears is not the only authority to write about the hazards of internal inflammation. Floyd H. Chilton, Ph.D., has a good book on this subject, titled "Inflammation Nation." Nicholas Perricone, M.D., has written much on this subject as well in his books. He was among the first to research and write about internal inflammation. A dictionary definition of inflammation is a "response to injury or irritation, characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat." Inflammation in response to injury is natural and good. Inflammation caused by irritation is not good. The later is what these doctors are describing. These doctors assert that bad food choices and negative lifestyle factors are early major factors in internal inflammation, which is the underlying foundation of the conditions discussed below: 1. One-third of Americans have arthritis or related problems. 2. Some 64 million Americans have cardiovascular disease. 3. An estimated 50 million American have allergies. 4. There are 18 million diabetics in the USA. And there are 1.3 million new diabetics annually. 5. An astonishing 65% of American adults are overweight or obese, and 16% of children are too tubby as well. Are you included in these statistics? If not, are you on the way to becoming a statistic? Don't let this happen to you! What can we do to extinguish the fires of internal inflammation and avoid its dreadful disease consequences? 1. Since Americans consume 10 to 20 times more Omega 6 oils than Omega 3's due to imbalance in our national diet, eat wild, ocean fish two or three times per week. Salmon is ideal for this. We need many more Omega 3 oils in our diets--an amount at least equal to our Omega 6 oil consumption. DO NOT eat "farm raised" fish, unless you enjoy mercury and other toxins. Take supplements heavy in Omega 3 oils, too. 2. Stop eating all trans fatty acid foods, such as margarine and anything else hydrogenated or made with "shortenening." Trans fatty acids are not recognized by your body and cause havoc. 3. Don't eat food drenched in chemicals. If you read a food label in store and you don't know what the terms mean, as you weren't a food chemistry major in high school or college, refuse to buy it. Or, to quote exercise guru Jack LaLanne, "if man made it, don't eat it." That includes cold cereals, noodles, chips, candy, sodas and sugary beverages, white breads, pastry and processed meat--to name just a few. Don't buy foods in boxes or cans and those with more than six ingredients. 4. To the extent possible, eat organic food. It's more nutrient dense and far more wholesome. While it costs more to purchase, it's more satisfying--and you will wind up buying and eating less food, experiencing no net increase in the cost of total food purchases. You can put out the fires of internal inflammation. Take action now. |
