THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET AND AGING
The new buzz in medical research is the role inflammation is playing in aging and its link to diseases of aging. Inflammation is a normal metabolic process when the immune system is activated in response to an infection, irritation or an injury. Think of a bug bite, characterized by an influx of white blood cells that results in redness, heat, swelling, and pain. This is the body’s attempt to “clean up” the site of injury or irritation. Much like a slow burning fire, when inflammation persists, the immune system is always activated and creates chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation produces chemical agents, such as cytokines, that contribute to degenerative changes leading to chronic disease and aging of our cells.
