An uptick in chronic inflammation has long been seen as an inevitable result of getting older, a phenomenon known as “inflammaging.” But a fascinating new study suggests that the type of inflammation linked to chronic disease may have more to do with industrialized lifestyles than with aging. A Closer Look at Inflammaging In studies of […]
In April 1999, during a trip to France, I woke up with my bottom lip swollen to twice its normal size. I assumed I’d eaten something I was allergic to. But when I got home to Canada, the swelling kept happening—on my arms, my feet, my face. I was eventually diagnosed with idiopathic angioedema, a […]
For much of my life, I was the stereotypical “never going vegan” guy: double cheeseburgers, meat-lovers pizzas, Mmmm…bacon jokes. My parents are retired dairy and cattle farmers, and I farmed pigs and chickens myself. I was also an avid fisherman. Veganism was not remotely appealing to me. In fact, I ridiculed it. In 2019, my […]
Inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases, from heart disease and Type 2 diabetes to autoimmune disorders, and it can even contribute to certain types of cancer. Yet, despite its profound impact on health, inflammation remains widely misunderstood. Shilpa Ravella, M.D., a gastroenterologist and author of A Silent Fire, is working to change […]
A recent large-scale analysis has found that the majority of Americans are eating an inflammatory diet, increasing their risk for a range of health problems, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Conducted by researchers at Ohio State University’s College of Public Health, the analysis looked at the self-reported diets of a nationally representative […]
Anytime you’re injured or sick, you count on your immune system to kick in. Inflammation is an essential part of the healing process, but when it becomes chronic, it does more harm than good, contributing to a range of health conditions, including allergies, autoimmune diseases, Type 2 diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer’s. “Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle […]
I’m from the South, and I grew up on foods like fried chicken, instant mashed potatoes, white rice, and pork. By the time I was a teenager, I was carrying extra weight, and I was diagnosed with scoliosis. As an adult, I continued eating the same way. On top of being overweight, I started experiencing […]
About 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). My doctor told me I could take medication to reduce the impact of RA, but once I started the medication, I would need to take it for the rest of my life. A friend convinced me to wait a month, to see if we […]
Growing up with divorced parents who were often locked in court battles, my earliest childhood memories were stressful and tumultuous, and these mental and emotional difficulties were compounded by struggles with my physical health. My battle with inflammation began at age 4; by age 5, I was regularly receiving allergy shots, which I continued to […]
As far back as I can remember, my father instilled in me the value of a healthy lifestyle. Though I know now that what he thought of as “healthy” was a bit off, it was the thought that counted, and it led me to always strive to eat well. At the very least, it inspired […]
Inflammation can be likened to the bogeyman of the health and wellness realm: Most people know they want to avoid it, but they can’t quite define it, and there’s a lot of misinformation clouding the truth. Linda Tyler—who has dedicated years of research to understanding the diet-based triggers of inflammation and chronic disease—is here to […]
What Is Inflammation? Inflammation is a protective response of the body to clear infections, repair tissues, and heal itself after injury. Signs of inflammation include redness and warmth from increased blood flow; swelling from increased blood vessel permeability; pain; and loss of function. A common example of inflammation occurs after spraining an ankle. When injured, […]
