Manage Inflammation through Diet

How can we manage two prime contributors to premature aging: inflammation from diet and free radicals? Diet, nutritional supplements and just plain “living wisely” can add substantially to our defenses against these culprits. Step one is to establish and maintain a ph balanced diet of 80% alkaline foods and 20% acidic foods. Maintain this alkaline diet by taking the time to select six servings of fruits and vegetables (wherever possible from organic sources) each day. These six selections will provide us with the alkaline/acid balance that we require. Beware of a diet with higher levels of acidity, which leads to inflammation.

A healthy daily combination of fruits and vegetables in our PH balanced diet will deliver additional benefits. For example, Carrots, pumpkin, peppers, tomatoes, mangos, and papaya are all orange and “red coded” and protect our genes. Asparagus, broccoli, bok choy, onions, and mustard greens are ‘green coded’ and help improve cellular nutrients and detoxify our body. Blackberries, cherries, beets are “purple and blue coded” and reduce inflammation. Barley, mushrooms, tofu, and wild rice are “tan coded” and reduce insulin resistance and balance hormones.

While our PH balanced diet works to lower the inflammation otherwise produced by foods, we work to neutralize free radicals. Herbs and spices such as garlic, tumeric, cinnamon, curry, ginger, and cayenne help to neutralize free radicals while adding attractive flavors to our meals. Generally, meats, grains, nuts, and sugar are acidic and promote unhealthy free radicals. Therefore, by choosing a diet primarily made up of fruits and vegetables we lower acids and substantially reduce the free radicals that we need to neutralize. The few meats that we do include in our diet should be “free range,” and free of hormones and antibiotics. If you have a taste for fish, we recommend a diet of farm raised salmon, tilapia, flounder and sardines. Avoid swordfish, which is widely known to have high levels of mercury.

Summary: control inflammation from diet by emphasizing lean organic protein, and combine vegetable sources, eat selectively, avoid sugary sweets, nitrates, nitrites, smoked meats, and trans-fats, watch portion sizes, do not eat on the run, and chew your food. You should have six servings of fruits and vegetables; preferably green and orange red color selection. Drink plenty of liquids between meals; no soda, eat meals at regular times; do not eat late, and avoid processed foods. Reduce dairy consumption. We are the only species that consumes another species milk!

Body Naturals, Ltd. & Dr. Georgeann Dau specialize in nutritional counseling to promote holistic health. Please contact Body Naturals at (631) 351-6166 to learn more.