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Anti-Inflammatory Foods and Aging
It has only recently been shown that some foods have anti-inflammatory properties.
- What does anti-inflammatory mean?
- Why are inflammatory effects important in the body?
- Which foods are anti-inflammatory?
What does anti-inflammatory mean?
An anti-inflammatory is something that reduces the level of inflammation. Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ice are all examples of anti-inflammatory treatments. (Acetominophen (tylenol) is not an anti-inflammatory.)
Anti-inflammatories can decrease swelling, lessen pain and reduce the levels of inflammatory signaling compounds that the body makes.
Why are inflammatory effects important in the body?
Inflammation can be acute (short lived) or chronic (long lived).
Short term inflammation is part of healing wounds and fighting infections. Therefore, short term inflammatory responses are usually helpful to the body.
If inflammation is prolonged it can become damaging. In chronic inflammation there is destruction of tissue as well as repair. Also long term inflammation can become self-sustaining. The inflammation, itself, causing more inflammation, which causes ...
Chronic inflammation plays a role in a number of diseases
Many age-related diseases are considered to be inflammatory diseases.
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) In the inner walls of blood vessels, as atherosclerosis develops, an inflammatory response is activated, which feeds back increasing the level of atherosclerosis. In this way atherosclerosis becomes a chronic inflammatory process, which results in hardening and narrowing due to the buildup of plaque. Both heart disease and stroke can be caused by atherosclerosis.
Alzheimer’s disease Once Alzheimer’s disease has developed, it is thought that one of the responses of the body to the changes occurring in the brain is to start an inflammatory response. This inflammation in the brain probably contributes to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Cancer Recent research suggests that inflammation may play a role in the progression of cancers, and that chronic inflammation may increase the rate of metastasis (spread) of cancers. It is suggested that the inflammation may interfere with the body’s own defense mechanisms.
Diabetes Inflammation plays a role in insulin resistance. Belly fat is considered an inflammatory tissue. Within belly fat there are high levels of cells (called macrophages) that release signaling compounds that cause inflammation. This leads to chronic inflammation.
Other diseases There are a number of other diseases that are linked to chronic inflammation, including; asthma, arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis) and psoriasis.
Chronic inflammation and aging
Recently, there has been a focus on the role of systemic (throughout the body) inflammation in aging. It is not yet clear exactly why, but as we age the level of chronic inflammation in the body increases. Therefore, as we age it becomes more important to reduce inflammation. Two ways to do this are to reduce belly fat and eat a diet that is high in anti-inflammatory foods.
