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Latest Research on Inflammation

C-reactive protein an indicator but not a cause of heart disease
July 1, 2009
Researchers conclude that C-reactive protein does not itself cause damage to arteries or heart disease. The protein merely signals the presence of systemic inflammation, which is linked to higher incidence of heart disease and other conditions. Experts still recommend screening for C-reactive protein to assess risk and monitor treatment effectiveness.

Inflammation signals higher risk of deadly heart attack
July 1, 2009
Researchers in Glasgow find that elevated inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein indicate an increased risk of fatal (as opposed to non-fatal) heart attacs. Inflammation markers may be a valuable indicator of the severity or prognosis of heart disease.

Balancing omega-3s and omega-6s reduces inflammatory tendencies
June 1, 2009
Testing the hypothesis that an overabundance of omega-6 fats in the diet can lead to an increase in inflammation-related disease, Floyd Chilton and colleagues found that a diet that balanced omega-6 and omega-3 fats led to changes in gene expression that reduced the tendency to produce inflammatory chemicals.

More research.

Inflammation: The Root of All Disease?

Hay fever, heart disease, depression, and diabetes...four very different conditions with one common denominator: Inflammation is at the root of all four. And that's just the beginning!

"Researchers are linking inflammation to an ever-wider array of chronic illnesses," reports Newsweek's Anne Underwood. "Suddenly medical puzzles seem to be fitting together, such as why hypertension puts patients at increased risk of Alzheimer's, or why rheumatoid-arthritis sufferers have higher rates of sudden cardiac death. They're all connected on some fundamental level."

Even our crow's feet and laugh lines are due to an inflammatory process in the skin! Celebrity anti-aging doctor Dr. Nicholas Perricone (The Perricone Weight Loss Diet, The Wrinkle Cure) considers inflammation "the single most powerful cause of the signs of aging."

What can be done to prevent and reverse the damage caused by systemic inflammation?

Healthy lifestyle habits such as exercising regularly, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and minimizing stress all help to reduce inflammation. But the most important factor in fighting inflammation is the food you eat every day. That's why all the experts, from diet doctor Barry Sears (The Zone) to alternative medicine guru Andrew Weil (Healthy Aging) recommend an anti-inflammatory diet for everything from weight loss to heart disease prevention.

Foods affect inflammation in complex and unpredictable ways. The IF Rating™ System is a new tool that takes the guess work out of an anti-inflammatory diet by showing you exactly how different foods fuel or fight inflammation. Using the IF Ratings, you can create your own healing, inflammation-reducing diet. The Inflammation Free Diet Plan contains the complete listings of IF ratings for over 1600 foods.

The benefits of reducing inflammation are immediate as well as long term. You'll notice that your skin looks younger, your joints feel better, and your allergy symptoms improve. At the same time, when you reduce inflammation, you also reduce your risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other complications of aging.

Click here to read what people have to say about The Inflammation Free Diet Plan.

Click here to listen to a recent interview with author Monica Reinagel on the subject of inflammation and health. (mp3 file, 6MB, courtesy of KMOX-AM, St. Louis)