How Your Diet and Lifestyle Can Tame Chronic Inflammation for Good
Inflammation plays a key role in how the body heals and fights off infections. While short-term inflammation is a natural defense, long-lasting inflammation can contribute to chronic diseases. Experts now highlight how diet and lifestyle choices can influence this process—with some foods helping to reduce harmful effects while others may worsen them.
Acute inflammation is the body’s immediate response to injury or infection, aiding recovery. However, when inflammation persists over time, it has been linked to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Factors such as smoking, obesity, stress, poor sleep, and lack of exercise can all increase the risk of chronic inflammation.
The best way to combat harmful inflammation remains a diet rich in whole foods, combined with regular exercise and good sleep hygiene. While targeted diets can help those with specific health conditions, most people benefit simply from eating a variety of nutritious foods. Avoiding unnecessary restrictions—unless medically advised—helps maintain a balanced intake of essential nutrients.
